THELEPHORA S a m b u c i .
Elder-tree Thelephora.
C la s s an d O r d e r CRYPTOGAMIA FUNGI, Lim—NAT. Ord. FUNGI, Jms.
G EN E R IC C HARAC T ER .
Hymenium cum pileo homogeneum et concrelum, papillosum vel planum, setosum
vel glahrum, undique fructijicatione obsitum.— Pileus persistens, coriaceus,
plerumque dimidiatus vel resupinatus.
Hymenium of the same substance, and not distinct from the pileus, papillose
or plane, minutely bristly or smooth, everywhere covered with the
fructification.—Pileus persistent, coriaceous, mostly dimidiate or resu-
pinate.
S P E C IF IC c h a r a c t e r .
T h e l e p h o r a Sambuci ; resupinata, effusa, tenuis, Candida, rugoso-taberculosa,
farinoso-cretacea, margine glabra.
T h. resupinate, effused, thin, very white, rugose with tubercles, somewhat
farinose and chalky, the margin glabrous.
T helephora Sambuci, Pers. Mycol. Europ. 1. p. 152.—Grev. Fl. Edin. p. 411.
—Moug. et Nestl. St. Exsicc. No. 779-
T helephora cretaeea. Fries, Obs. Mycol. 1. p. 153.
T helephora caleea, var. y? Pers. Syn. Fung. p. 581.—Alb. et Schwein. p. 283.
CoRTiciuM Sambuci, Pers. Disp. Meth. Fung. p. 31.
H ab. On dead trunks o f the Common E lde r (Samhucus nigra). Spring
and Autumn. Frequent.
Plant wholly effused, very thin, following the interstices of the bark, pure
opaque white, the surface rendered uneven by small tuberculated inequalities.
Substance somewhat mealy, and very tender. Thecæ filiform,
passing downwards into branched filaments, which compose the substance
of the inferior p a rt of the plant. Sporidia few, roundish.
I'his is a common plant, and not only grows on the trunk
and branches of the Elder, but often passes from thence to
the ground, where it becomes a little thicker in its substance,
but is not otherwise changed. Its pure white colour is very remarkable.