1902] Davenport, — Notes on New England Ferns, — III 7 



and North Africa, is reported by McC latch ie as abundant in Califor- 

 nia, and is said to be edible. It is grayish and very viscid. The 

 same species is called poisonous by Bresadola, in his recent popular 

 account of the edible and poisonous fungi of Middle Europe (Funghi 

 Mangerecci e Velenosi, 1899). 



Volvaria volvacea has been reported from a few other places in 

 this country, but never in such abundance as in Lawrence. It is 

 usually much smaller. It grows also in Europe and in Ceylon. 



An interesting series of buttons, collected in Mr. Silsbee's locality, 

 was shown to the writer by Mr. G. E. Morris. Even the smallest 

 were very dark colored above — almost black — and with a velvety 

 look. On the older ones, and on the ruptured volva, the color was 

 less intense. There is little doubt that this species is edible, but 

 caution is necessary. 



Other species of Volvaria reported from this country are little 

 known. One, V. Loveia?ia, found in Europe and in Canada (by 

 J. Dearness, as reported by Lloyd) has a peculiar habitat — on 

 decaying agarics (Clitocybe) and should accordingly be easily 

 recognizable. 



More information as to the occurrence of species of Volvaria in 

 New England would be welcome. They may be easily preserved 

 by drying. 



Cambridge, Massachusetts. 



MISCELLANEOUS NOTES ON NEW ENGLAND 

 FERNS,— III. 



George E. Davenport. 



(Presented to N. Eng. Bot. Club, Dec. 2, 1901.) 



Note 5. Subdivision ok the New England Aspidieae. In 



my last notes I explained my reasons for adopting Athyrium for 

 Asplenitim filix-foemina and now, as I intend adopting some gen- 

 eric changes in Aspidium it seems advisable to explain my reasons 

 for doing so, and to preface my account of a most extraordinary 

 fern by a synopsis of our New England Aspidieae. 



The genus Aspidium as recognized by Prof. Daniel Cady Eaton in 



