PERICH^ENA 185 



would seem then nothing to do but to apply to the form before 

 us a new specific name. 



Not common. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri. 



3. PERICH^NA CORTICALIS (BatscJi) Rost, 



PLATE II., Figs, i, i a, i b. 



1783. Lycoperdon corticale Batsch, Elench. Fung., p. 155. 

 1817. Periclitzna populina Fries, Symb. Cast., p. 12. 

 1875. Perichcena corticalis (Batsch) Rost., Men., p. 293. 



Sporangia sessile, gregarious, flattened, hemispherical ; pe- 

 ridia simple, opening by a lid ; dehiscence circumscissile, the 

 upper part chestnut brown, the lower almost black ; capillitium 

 feebly developed, smooth, attached to the lid and usually 

 coming away with it, bringing the brilliantly yellow spore- 

 mass, and leaving a delicate, shining cupule adherent to the 

 substratum; spores yellow, nearly smooth, 10-12 /a. On and 

 under the bark of dead elms of various species. 



A very handsome little species occurring rarely with us, or 

 perhaps overlooked by virtue of its protective coloration. 

 Found sometimes on the inner side of the bark where the 

 latter has separated, but not yet wholly parted company with 

 the wood. In such situations the tiny sporangia are so nearly 

 quite the color of the moist substratum as to escape all but the 

 closest scrutiny. The dehiscence is very remarkable, character- 

 istic, beautiful. Black, brown, chestnut, and gold are harmo- 

 niously blended, in the opening coffers. Prior to maturity the 

 future line of fission is plainly indicated by the difference in 

 color. 



This is clearly the species found by Batsch " ligni demortui 

 putridi in interiore corticis pagina." Bulliard has also well 

 described and figured the species, Sph&rocarpus sessilis t. 417, 

 Fig. v. 



The capillitium is nearly smooth ; the spores are only slightly 

 roughened by minute warts. 



Apparently not common. Iowa, Missouri; Black Hills, South 

 Dakota. 



