On the Fructification of the ffenei'a Clathrus and Phallus. 327 I'iff. 9. Sterope armatus. Fig. 10. Sterope interrupius. Fig. 11. Sterope ovalis. Fig. 12. Carril/iis ohlongus. Fig. 13. Second thoracic leg of Carrillus ohlongus. Fig. H. First abdominal extremity of Carrillus. Fig. 15. Second abdominal extremity. XXXVII. — On the Fructification of the genera Clathrus and Phallus. By M. Maurice Lespiault*. The Rev. M. J. Berkeley^ in a notice published in 1839t, described the fructification of Phallus caninus, Huds. [Cijno-phallus caninus, Fries) ; he demonstrated by delicate observations^ that, in this genus, until then 'OTongly separated from the Hyme-nomycetes, or rather the Basidiosporce of Leveillej the spoi'es were supported on basidia, as in the Boleti, the Agarici, and other mushrooms of the same class. Mr. Berkeley thence presumed that an analogous organization must be found in all the Phal-loidetB, but no further recent observations had as yet supported this hypothesis. M. Corda, whose analyses have thrown so much light on the intimate structure of Fungi, denies the existence of the basidia in the genus Phallus : " Sporte in strata congestce, muco primuni firmo dein diffiuente immersoi, simplices, basidia nulla ^." (^V.nleitung, P-1^9.) The investigations of botanists on this subject have not gone further ; the fructification of the genus Clathrus is still more im-perfectly known. Nor can we be surprised, when the analysis of these mushrooms presents such great difficulties. It is, in fact, not sufficient to subject to examination indivi-duals little developed or inclosed in their volva ; the substance which contains the fructiferous organs must be firm and of an almost fleshy consistence. As soon as it has begun to soften, the spores are displaced, and the basidia disappear. It is moreover very difficult, even with the aid of a perfectly tine-pointed lancet, to remove very thin sections of a mucilage which yields to the slightest pressure : we are therefore obliged, in order to obtain * Translated fVom the ylnnales des Sciences Naturclles for Jul}'. — The position which Clathrus cancellatus should occupy in the class of ihe Ba-sidiosporer, and the mode of insertion of the spores of this curious plant, have been already established by Mr. Leveillc, but, notwithstanding the priority and accuracy of the observations of M. Leveillc, we think the me-moir of M. Lespiault , who has extended his researches to other plants of the group of the Phalloidece, will be read with interest. — {^Ed. Ann. des Sci, Nat.) f Annals of Natural History, vol. iv. p. 155. X There is no question here of the Phallus caninus, which has become the type of a new genus.
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