l iE A N G IU M ? T b e v e ly a n i.
Sessile many-cleft Leangium.
C l a s s a n d O r d e r CRYPTOGAMIA FUNGI, Z ,i™._NAX . O r d . GASTROMYCI,
Link, Grev.
GENERIC c h a r a c t e r .
Sporangium suhglohosum. Peridium simplex, membranaceum, plerumque sleUa-
tim dehiscens. Columella intra peridium. Sporulce filamentis inspersæ.
Sporangium subglobose. Peridium simple, membranaceous, mostly dehiscent
in a stellate manner. Columella within the peridium. Sporules
arranged among the filaments.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
L eangium ? Trevelyani ; sporangium sessile, peridio segmentis plurimis lineari-
bus subregularibus rejkxis dehiscenli; columella minima; sporulis pediceU
latis.
L. sporangium sessile ; peridium splitting into many linear, subregular, reflexed
segments ; columella very minute ; sporules pedicellated.
H a b . On the leaves of the larger mosses. On Bryum ligidatum, Northumberland,
W. C. T r e v e ly a n , Esq. Woods about Edinburgh, exceedingly
rare. Autumn.
various. Sporangium sessile, ovato-globose, about a line in diameter,
reddish-brown, splitting into a number of pretty regular, linear segments,
which gradually become reflexed in a very beautiful manner.
Colour of the inner surface pale reddish-grey. Columella extremely small,
globose, sessile, surrounded by a black light mass of filaments, to which
the globular sporules are irregularly attached by minute pedicels, as in
the genus Bovisla.
This is the most elegant of all the minute Gastromyci I
ever beheld. Whether we regard the extreme symmetry of its
form, or its delicate structure and pleasing colour, it forms one
of the most charming little objects the eye can possibly rest
upon. A diminutive moss * infused life and hope into the exhausted
frame of the African traveller M u n g o P a r k , when
VOL. I II .
* Dicranum bryoides.