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P H Y S A R U M AUREUM.
Goldenryellow Physarum.
C l a s s a n d O h d e r CRYPTOGAMIA FUNGI, A in a—N a t . O u d . GASTROMYCr,
Link, Grev.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Sporangium (minutum) subglohosum aut difforme. Peridium simplex, dehis-
cens, squamulosum. Columella nulla. Sporuke Jilamentis inta-mixta;.
Sporangium (minute) subglobose or shapeless. Peridium simple, bursting,
squamulose. Columella 0. Sporules intermixed with filaments.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
P h y s a r u m a u r e u m ; peridio subgloboso, aureo; stipiie tenui, elongalo, subfuU-
gineo ; spondis globosis,
p . peridium s u b g l o b o s e , fine yellow; stipes slender, rather long, greyish-
b row n ; sporules globose.
P h y s a r u m a u r e u m , Pers. Disp. Fung. p. 8. t . 1 . f. 6.— Ejusd. Syn. Fung.
p. 17S .~ A lb . et Schwein. p. 9L— Sturm’s Deutschl. FI. cum icone.— Schwein.
Syn. Fung. Carol. No. 375.
H ab. On decaying trunks of tre e s; not unfrequent, in spring and autumn.
Gregarious, minute. Stipes rather more than a line high, slender, o f a brownish
grey colour, smooth, long for the size of the plant. Sporangium subglobose,
umbilicated, nodding, of a fine yellow colour. Peridium membranaceous,
bursting, one portion deciduous, b u t several unequal lacinise
are somewhat persistent, and partly reflexed. Sporules very dark, globose.
This elegant species of a beautiful genus, is a frequent inhabitant
of clamp woods, its favourite situation being on the decaying
stumps of fir and other trees. Many other species have
been described as natives of this country; and some of them
are so difficult to distinguish, on account of their general resemblance
to each other, that authentic figures would be highly
desirable. Subjects of this nature have received particular attention
in the course of the present work ; hut my primary object
is to illustrate as many genera as possible, and consequent-
YOL. I I I .