Gastromycetes 



GENUS II. POLYSAC'CUM De C. 



Polus, many; saccus, a sack. 



(Plate CLXXX1.) 



Poiysaccum. Peridium irregularly globose, thick, attenuated downward into a stem- 

 like base, opening by disintegration 

 of its upper portion; internal mass 

 (gleba) divided into distinct sack- 

 like cells. 



Allied to Scleroderma and distin- 

 guished by the cavities of the gleba 

 containing distinct peridiola. Mas- 

 see. 



P. pisocar'pium Fr. Gr. a pea ; 



Gr. fruited. Peridium irregularly 

 globose, indistinctly nodulose, pass- 

 ing downward into a stout stem-like 

 base; peridiola irregularly angular, 

 4-5X2-3/A, yellow. Spores globose, 

 warted, coffee-color, 9-1 3/x, Massee. 

 P. pisocarpium was quite common 

 at Mt. Gretna, Pa., from August to 

 October, 1898, in open pine and 

 mixed woods, growing from sandy 

 ground. The height reached 5 in. 

 and diameter 2 in. The shapes were 

 usually those of inverted pears, more 

 or less flattened along their lengths. 



Skin hard, polished, olivaceous-black with dull yellow mottlings, not 

 unlike rattlesnake skin. When broken the peridiola (small ovate cylin- 

 ders which bear the spores within) are very distinct, often over K in. 

 long. The entire interior is dark when mature, and the rupture of the 

 plant is irregular and by disintegration of the upper part. They often 

 dry without rupturing. Search as I would, I could not find a young 

 one, or one in edible condition. The plant is here given because in- 

 teresting and one the student will wish to identify. It is so odd that it 

 is not surprising to find it employed as a medicine in China. 



POLYSACCUM PISOCARPIUM. 



Natural size. 



6l8 



