in botany; a genus of plants belonging to the class of cryptogamia, and natural order of algæ. It is

(b) A paste for covering the wounds of trees, and the place where grafts are inserted, was discovered long ago. It is recommended in a Treatise on Fruit Trees, published by Thomas Hitt in 1755; a third edition of which, with additions, was published in 1768. It consists of a mixture of clay and cows-dung diluted with water. This paste he directs to be laid on the wound with a brush; it adheres firmly, he says, without cracking till the wound heals. We are informed by a gentleman, to whose opinion and experience we pay great respect, that this paste answers every purpose which Mr Forsyth's can serve. Tremellius is a gelatinous membranous substance; the parts of the fructification scarcely visible. There are 11 species; of which five are indigenous; the noftoc, lichenoides, verrucosa, hemispherica, and purpurea.

1. The noftoc, or jelly rain tremella, is found in pastures and by the sides of gravel-walks in gardens after rains; not uncommon in spring, summer, and autumn. It is a membranaceous, pellucid, and gelatinous substance, without any visible root; of a yellowish dull green colour; assuming various forms, either round, angular, plaited or folded together irregularly, like the intestines, or a pocket-handkerchief; an inch or two or more in diameter; soft to the touch when moist; but thin, membranaceous, and brittle, when dry; and of a black tufcous colour.—The ancient alchemists called this vegetable the flowers of heaven, and imagined that from it they would procure the universal menstruum: but all their researches ended in discovering that by distillation it yielded some phlegm, volatile salt, and empyreumatic oil. It has been extolled in wounds, ulcers, &c. but no regard is ever paid to it by judicious practitioners. Dr Darwin says, he has been well informed that this tremella is a mucilage voided by herons after they have eaten frogs! 2. The lichenoides, or transparent tremella, is erect, plane, margin curled, laciniated, and brown. It grows on heaths and in woods, &c. 3. Verrucosa, or warty tremella, is tubercular, foli, wrinkled, roundish, and resembling a bladder; it is of a blackish yellow. It grows on stones in rivulets. 4. Hemispherica, or sea tremella, is scattered among coniferous, luci, &c. 5. Purpurea, or purple tremella, is globular, fleshy, solitary, and smooth. It grows on ditch-banks about London.