I 



T 



I 





315 



state. Here the sac is considerably elongated, the stipe is larger, 

 the pits are more perceptible, and the wrinkled inner wall of the 

 peridium is plainly apparent. Finally the thickness of the outer 

 layer of the peridium, filled with grajash matter so abundant in 

 the preceding figures, has diminished greatly. Figure 7 is still 

 more elongated, the stipe is well developed and the inner wall 

 of the peridium is nearly perfected. The outer layer of matter 

 has almost disappeared. Figure 9 is apparently the last stage 

 before final development. The outer skin is very thin at the 

 apex, the future point of rupture, the inner layer is well de- 

 veloped, and the stipe is nearly ready to appear. Lastly, figure 

 10 represents the fully mature fungus, which is bright pink, full 

 01 small holes, surmounted by the gleba, and springing from the 

 ruptured sac which formerly enclosed it. Figure 8 shows the 

 outward appearance of the fungus in its immature state. The 

 specimen from which figure 9 was drawn, contained a consider- 

 able quantity of liquid, and what seemed to be a mass of froth 

 near the centre of the stipe. This is shown by the dark shading. 

 The disproportion in size between the fully mature fungus 

 and the ruptured sac is considered by DeBary as due to the fact 

 that before rupture takes place the fungus'is really mature, but 

 is crowded into a small space; and that the apparent great ra- 

 pidity of growth is due merely to the straightening out of the 

 wrinkles, as it were, in the fully formed stipe. As the latter 

 elongates, the peridium shrinks downward, and so becomes greatly 

 diminished in size. 



The odor of the fully developed specimens is extremely fetid 

 and disagreeable, equalled only by PhaUus. As the specimens 

 get older the gleba disappears, the odor is dissipated and the 

 whole assumes a bright pink color. In one example the blackish 

 me was found near the base, just above the ruptured sac, the 

 apex being bright pink. That the stipe elongates rapidly was 

 shown in one specimen collected. This was not fully mature, 

 tiut it lengthened half an inch or more in the course of an hour 

 while lying on the table. 



sli 



Joseph F. James, M. Sc. 



Agricultltrat, College, Maryland. 



