i
^ 'I- !
GEOGLOSSUM v is c o s u m .
Slimy Earth-tongue.
I ;
I .
r
J■ : i
i »
C l a s s a n d O r d e r CRYPTOGAMIA FUNGI, Linn— R iT . O r d . F U N G I, Link, Grev.
GÉNEHIC CHARACTER.
Hymenium breve, clavi/orme, stipitatum, plerumque compressum, a stipite sub-
disiinctum sed vero discretum Genus colore nigricante vel obscure viridi.
Hymenium short, club-shaped, furnished with a stem, mostly compressed,
somewhat confluent with the stem, b u t truly distinct— genus in which
black or dull green is the predominating colour.
S PE C IF IC c h a r a c t e r .
G e o g l o s s u m viscosum ; glabrum, nigrum, viscosum, hymenio iereti, cum stipite
plus minusve confluente.
G. glabrous, black, glutinous, hymenium rounded, more or less confluent
with the stem.
G e o g l o s s u m v i s c o s u m , Pers. Comment, p. Sg.—Ejusd. Syn. Fung. p. 609.—
Fjusd. Mycol. Furop. v . 1. p. 197.— Fries, Syst: Mycol. 1 . p. 489— Crev. Fl.
Fdin ined.
H a b . Moist pastures. Foxhall, Captain W a u c h . October.
Subgregarious, carnoso-coriaceous, 1-2 inches in height, black, paler with a
brown tinge at the base of the stipes, which is slender, glabrous, cylindrical,
slimy, especially in moist weather. Hymenium black, confluent
with the stem, sometimes of the same diameter, at others somewhat
thicker, and of an oblong form ; obtuse at the apex, rounded, not compressed.
Sporuliferous elongated cells, occupying the whole surface of the
hymenium, and. containing S linear, dark bodies (sporules ?).
This species is chiefly distinguished by its cylindrical or
rounded hymenium; that of G. glutinosum (to which species
it is most nearly allied) being compressed. In Great Britain,
five true Geoglossa have been found, hirsutum, glabrum, vis-
cosum, atro-purpureum, and viride. The last, which is a rare
and beautiful species, was brought to me in autumn (1822)
from the banks of the Tweed by my friend Mr W a l k e r
A r n o t t . G . atro-purpureum, I insert on Mr G r a y ’s authority,
though, (as in another instance quoted in the present
number) he does not mention where or by whom his plant was
VOL. I.