116 Mycologia 



In Fayod's account (4) of the generic characteristics of 

 GomphidiiLS , due attention was given to the cystidia, which other 

 authors since then have all too often neglected. These remark- 

 able structures, cylindrical, large, and protruding markedly above 

 the hymenium, Fayod considered as a unique means of distinc- 

 tion, separating this genus from all the others. As seen from the 

 synopsis following, he was nearly correct; only G. oregonensis 

 Peck and G. nigricans Peck have so far been examined by me 

 in which the hymenium either lacks these characteristic cystidia 

 or relatively few occur. Atkinson (1), in his account of G. 

 nigricans, does not mention any cystidia although I was able to 

 locate a few in my own examination of his material. There is 

 little doubt that Atkinson had the true G. nigricans. In all my 

 mounts of Peck's type material, I was unable to locate any 

 cystidia. 



Fayod, in his description of the cystidia (I.e.), mentions a 

 crust-like covering over the main body of the cystidium, and 

 illustrates this characteristic in his figure of the cystidia of G. 

 viscidus (PI. 6, fig. 7b). In the figure referred to, this crust 

 appears to be of a crystalline nature. Neither Ricken (13) nor 

 Rea (12) mention this peculiarity of the cystidia in the European 

 species, although the cystidia are described by these authors. 

 In all the material which I have examined, which included most 

 of the species in the fresh condition as well as all of the American 

 type collections, I have rarely seen anything approaching Fayod's 

 figure. The cystidia are extremely abundant in some species 

 and hence such a character should be easily seen. However, 

 occasionally one does find a sort of sheath, of a somewhat 

 roughened or crystalline character, but normally the wall is 

 entirely smooth. Therefore I am inclined to consider this en- 

 crusted condition a fleeting or developmental condition, not to 

 be used as a specific character. 



The relationship of the genus Gofnphidius is not very clear. 

 In the opinion of Fries (Monographia 1: 149) "they have the 

 stature of Limacium, but seem to hold closest relationship with 

 Cortinarius, from which, nevertheless, they are far removed by 

 the nature and color of their spores" (7). In Hymenomycetes 

 Europaei (6), p. 399, he placed the group between Cortinarius 

 and Paxillus. 



