Helvellaceee 



sometimes it grows in considerable profusion in wet mossy places in 

 woods, so that it would not be difficult to gather a pint of them in a 

 short time. Its beautiful bright yellow color makes it a very attractive 

 object. It is our largest species of Mitrula and occurs in autumn. 



It was first reported as an edible species in the forty-second report. 

 Its flesh is tender and its flavor delicate and agreeable. Peck, 48th Rep. 



Ontario, Dcarncss (LI. R. 4). West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsyl- 

 vania. Common, gregarious in moist woods. September to Novem- 

 ber. Mcllvaine. 



Those fortunate enough to find this species will hunt for it again 

 assiduously. Even raw, when cut in strips, it makes a picturesque and 

 delicious salad. 



SPATHULA'fttA Pers. 

 A spatula. 



Receptacle erect, spathulate, compressed, hollow, adnate to the stem, Spathuiaria, 

 down which it runs for some distance on opposite sides, everywhere 

 covered with the hymenium. Stem subcylindrical, hollow; asci clavate, 

 apex narrowed, 8-spored. Spores elongated, cylindric-clavate, multi- 

 septate at maturity, arranged in a parallel fascicle in the ascus ; para- 

 physes filiform, septate. 



Distinguished by the broad, flattened ascophore running down oppo- 

 site sides of the stem. 



Growing on pine leaves or on the ground among moss. Massee. 



Resembling a spatha, an instrument for stirring a liquid, shaped like 

 an apothecary's spatula. 



Pileus irregular, compressed, folded, running down into the stem on 

 either side. 



S. clava'ta ( Schaeff. ) Sacc. club-shaped. S. flavida Pers. Elvela 

 clavata Schaeff. (Plate CXXXVI, p. 508. ) Head spathulate or broadly 

 clavate, obtuse or sometimes more or less divided at the apex, hollow, 

 much compressed, running down the stem for some distance on opposite 

 sides, glabrous, margin crisped or undulated, surface wavy or slightly 

 lacunose, yellow, rarely tinged red, .8-1.2 in. high, .6-1 in. broad, 

 Stem white then tinged yellow, 1.2-2.4 in. long, .2-3 lines thick, 



549 



