Journal of Proceedings. lxi
Saturday, September 23rd, 1882.—Annual Cryptogamic Meeting.
The third annual gathering of the Cryptogamic clans in Epping Forest
was fixed a week earlier than before, in the hope of obtaining some
species not observed at previous meetings. The day was extremely fine,
but Fungi were not abundant, the weather having been very unfavourable
during the previous week or ten days. The following botanists kindly
acted as directors and referees :—For Fungi, Dr. M. C. Cooke, Rev. Canon
Du Port, M.A., Mr. English, Mr. C. B. Plowright, M.R.C.S., Dr. Spurrell,
Mr. Worthington G. Smith, and Dr. H. T. Wharton, M.A., F.Z.S.
For Mosses, Lichens, and Phanerogams, Professor Boulger, F.L.S., Rev.
James Crombie, F.L.S., Mr. F. J. Hanbury, F.L.S., Mr. E. M. Holmes,
F.L.S., and Mr. W. W. Reeves, F.R.M.S. The attendance of members
and friends was very large, nearly 100 persons being present, including
many well-known naturalists.
A very considerable number of species of Fungi were collected and
identified, although the individual specimens were not plentiful, and were
often in bad condition. Notwithstanding this the exertions of our experts
resulted in the addition of no. less than twenty-two species to the Epping
Forest list of Hymenomycetes (' Transactions,' vol. ii., pp. 181—191),
not including three or four, which could not be with certainty determined
at the meeting. The most interesting species belonged to the genus
Cortinarius, a peculiarly difficult one, as all mycologists know (Corti-
narius (Hydrocybe) renidens, Fr.). This was found by Dr. Cooke at High
Beach, and it is a remarkably distinct species, never before gathered in Great
Britain ('Grevillea' for December, 1882). It is scarce even in Scandi-
navia, where only it has hitherto been found.* It is unnecessary to name
all the species observed, as the bulk of the characteristic Forest species
are recorded in the reports of previous meetings (see 'Proceedings,' vol.
i., p. xlviii., and vol. ii., pp. lx. and lxxxiii.) Mr. English found
Agaricus rugosus, A. inopus, Boletus parasiticus, and B. badius in Monk
Wood, all new to the Forest. Canon Du Port, after referring to the diffi-
culty of identifying some of the species, says :—" Two species that were
new to me are, in my opinion, satisfactorily determined : (1) Agaricus
(Trich.) stans, with a dirty-tawny or yellowish-umber, viscid top, solid
stem, and flesh-coloured under the cuticle, turning slightly red when cut
and exposed to the air; (2) Russula sanguinea, with decurrent gills. It is
described in Dr. Cooke's ' Handbook,' but is rare. I found also Agaricus
spissus, a very well-marked species, the top greyish, with small, close-set,
evanescent, mealy warts. Everybody saw the beautiful Agaricus mucidus
on the Beech trees, and a somewhat deformed plant may be A. (Trick.)
portentosus, but another season must come before it can be settled. I have
satisfied myself that the form of A. (Collybia) dryophilus which we found
* A list of thirty-six new Epping Forest Fungi, discovered in 1882, was subsequently
communicated to the meeting of the Club on November 25th, 1882 (vide Report of that
meeting, infra). It, of course, includes the species to which reference is made above.