AMAUROCH^ETE 



in trend, and the resemblance to a cluster of rather ragged 

 specimens of Stemonitis is sufficiently striking. 



i. AMAUROCILETE FULIGINOSA (Sowerby) Macbr. 



PLATE V., Figs. 8, 8 a. 



1803. Lycoperdon fuliginosum Sow., Eng. Fung., t. 257. 

 1805. Lycogala atrum, Alb. and Schw., Consp. Fung., p. 83. 

 1875. Amaitrochtete atra (Alb. and Schw.), Rost., Man., p. 211. 



Fructification aethalioid, varying in form and size, if on the 

 upper side of the substratum, pulvinate, if below pendent and 

 almost stipitate, covered with a delicate cortex, at first shining, 

 soon dull, black, fragile, and early dissipated ; hypothallus long 

 persisting, supporting the capillitium, which is extremely variable, 

 irregular, and for its perfection dependent upon the form as- 

 sumed by the aethalium, and the conditions of weather, etc., 

 under which it matures, sometimes, especially when prostrate, 

 in a very much depressed aethalium, spreading into long fibrous 

 threads, again under better conditions rising in columella-like 

 forms, supporting a peripheral net ; spores dark brown or black, 

 irregularly globose, spinulose, 12.5-15 /-i. 



Common in Europe, and probably not uncommon in this 

 country wherever pine forests occur. Specimens before us are 

 from New England and New York. It is reported from the 

 Carolinas (Curtis); from Ohio (Morgan). 



Sowerby, in his comment on plate 257, Eng. Fnngi, says: 

 " It appears to consist of branching threads affixed to the deal 

 and holding a dense mass of sooty powder. Over the whole is 

 a thin, deciduous pellicle." This description seems to be ap- 

 plicable to nothing else. The figure amounts to nothing. Fries 

 recognizes the English description, as does Rostafinski, but both 

 authors adopt the later name given by Albertini and Schweinitz, 

 simply because of the excellent detailed description found in the 

 Conspectus. 



B. STEMONITE^E. 



Capillitium abundant, springing usually as dissipating branches 

 from all parts of the columella ; the sporangia generally definite 



