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��SCLERODERMA GE ASTER, Fr., A NEW BRITISH FUNGUS.
By C. E. Broome, F.L.S.
(Plate CXVI.)
Micheli was the first to distinguish Scleroderma Geaster, Fr., iti his ' Nova Genera Plantariim,' p. 219. t. 99. fig. 1, where he published it as a distinct species under the name of Lt/coperdastrnm rotundain majus. After that it appears to have been passed over by botanical writers till Persoou took it up and designated the genus Scleroderma, from its hard integument ; his specific name for our plant, poli/rhizum, seems to have been less suitable, as it applies equally to others of the genus.
Fries, in his ' Systema Mycologicum,' iii. 46, named the species more appropriately S. Geaater, on account of its resemblance to the plants of that genus. In his monograph of the Ly coper dacece, Vittadini remarks that the species of Scleroderma are few, but so variable in character that they are only to be recognized after a long acquaintance. The differences in the colour of their peridia, the size and form of the uterus, and the presence or absence of a stem, he considers of little moment, nor are those consisting in the colour of the flesh and spores nmch more reliable, for the same species exhibits these of various tints, according to differences of soil and atmosphere ; much depends on the slowness or rapidity of develop- ment, which are manifestly connected with climate and temperature. He places more reliance on a careful comparison of specimens from different localities, and collected under various atmospheric conditions, combined with careful microscopical study of the fructitication. The greater num- ber of so-called species the Italian botanist refers to S. vxlyare, F., S. Geaater being the only other with which he is acquainted which he thinks worthy of specific rank. He describes it as possessing a very thick peri- dium splitting at the apex in a stellate manner, with a smooth, somewhat silky or furfuraceous cortex, of a yellowish-grey colour. The flesh black or brown-purple, and the spores olive-brown.
AHttadini describes two varieties, the first is emergent, sessile, globose, or transversely elongate ; flesh at first watery-white, then black, varie- gated with white walls. The inner substance of the peridium, when re- cent, whilish-ytllow ; when dry, of a pale woody tint, rather corky; in the young condition, when dry, strongly plicato-rugose, with black flesh almost stony in consistence, shining when rubbed. This is fretiuent near Mihin in oak- and pine-groves in autumn. The second variety is developed be- neatii the soil, substipitate, pear-shaped, 2-5 inches across ; perulium 2-3 lines thick, purplish-white within, clothed with scales n)ixed with sand, and of a permanent yellow colour, scarcely rugose when dry ; flesh at first watery-white, hard, at length of a dirty purple colour, soft, variegated with white flocci. He adds that he long considered these varieties as dis- tinct species, relying on Fries, who thought their cliaracters permanent ; but afterwards, on seeing S. Geaster in various localities and soils, he found that the one form evidently passed over into the other, the flesh assuming every tint between black and bluish-purple.
The species is distinguished from the rest of the genus by the singular
VOL. IX. [may Ij 1871.] K
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