Page:Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, Volume 12.djvu/438

Rh

, which appears to be a nondescript species of Rhizomorpha, was communicated to me by Mr. Francis Boott, an American botanist, who met with it during his visit to Derby, in the course of last spring. It was first observed, many months before, by Mr. Bainbrigge, house-surgeon to the Derby Infirmary, and seems to have excited attention as a troublesome intruder into the reservoir destined to supply the baths. That gentleman thus describes the appearance and situation of the fungus in question.

"The reservoir in which it was found is a kind of circular cellar, with an opening at the top. It is situated in the shrubbery, and contains water to supply the baths, which is conveyed by leaden pipes. As the water is sent by a forcing-pump, a piece of timber was fixed across the upper part, to support a perpendicular pipe that admitted the water. From this timber, which was deal, and not in the least decayed, the plant hung, and as the depth of the water varied, a greater or less quantity floated on the surface. I believe the whole of it would be seldom immersed; but the wood, and every part of the plant, would be always wet, in consequence of the water going in with considerable force. I saw the joiner measure the fungus immediately on our getting it out, and he says the length was 12 feet. This I have quite forgotten, but