lines in thickness, but varying in this respect considerably, being sometimes
incrassated upwards, and even bifid, or slightly irregular at the
ap ex ; it is mosdy solid, acquiring, however, a small cavity in age, firm
between the fingers, b u t remarkably brittle, smooth, in age subrugose,
colour varying to every shade between white and golden-yellow. I t is
generally flexuose, and sometimes quite crooked.
• » ii
It is very difficult to clear up the confusion that exists in
the older authors respecting the unbranchcd Clavarioe, and indeed
in many modern ones also. The figures of M i c h e l i are
but of little use, where the species approach so near to each
other, and his descriptions amount almost to nothing. P e r -
sooN was the only author, previous to the publication of the
Systema Mycologicum of F r i e s , on whom any dependence
could be placed ; but even his uncertainty is evinced by the
changes he was constantly making in his own works, from the
Commentatio to the Synopsis Fungorum. In his new M ycologia
Europæa, the first part of which has appeared, he does
not seem to have removed the difficulties attending this tribe,
but rather to have increased them, by unnecessarily multiplying
species, as will he perceived hy tlie synonymes, and consulting
his work. F r i e s , whose first volume appeared before
P e r s o o n ’s Mycologia, has been much more judicious ; but
he has perhaps fallen into a contrary extreme. In regard to
the present species, however, lie has in my opinion shown a
correct judgment ; and I have, after an examination to satisfy
myself, gladly followed him.
Fig- 1. Plants, nat. size. Fig. 2. A plant divided. Fig. 3. Spornlifei '(ms ('cU.s
and .ipoi-nles. Figs. 2. & 3. magnified.