[Vol. 13 

 284 ANNALS OF THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN 



Fructifications 2-20 cm. long, 1-5 cm. wide. 



On rt)tten logs and fallen branches of both frondose and conif- 

 erous si)ecies and sometimes running over fallen leaves and the 

 ground. In Europe, throughout North America, West Indies, 

 Venezuela, and in Japan. July to December. Very common. 



C. investiens is readily recognized by chamois color and surface 

 texture like that of chamois leather. Under the microscope the 

 antler-shaped branching of its principal hyphal component is well 

 shown. This mode of hyphal branching seems to me a useful 

 specific character for the various other species which have it, 

 e. g., Lachnodadium hrasiliense, Grandinia granulosa, Stereum 

 induratum, S. duriusculum, Hypochnus peniophor aides, H. pal- 

 lescens, Peniophora phyllophila, P. piliseta, P. mexicana, and Cor- 

 ticium jamaicense but not of greater importance than other hyphal 

 modifications which are useful specific characters, hence I can not 

 accept as helpful Karsten's genus Vararia, of which the type 

 species is Corticium investiens, nor its synonym Asterostromella of 

 V. Hohnel & Litschauer. 



Specimens examined : 

 Exsiccati: Ellis, N. Am. Fungi, 517. 

 Sweden: Femsjo, L. Romell, 157, and C. G. Lloyd, 09149 (in Mo. 



Bot. Card. Herb., 55619). 

 Hungary: Kmet, comm. by Bresadola. 

 Canada: J. Macoun, 91. 

 Ontario: Niagara, /. Dearness, D586 (in Mo. Bot. Gard. Herb., 



3727); Temagami, C. G. Lloyd, 07633 (in Mo. Bot. Gard. 



Herb., 55618). 

 Maine: Kittery Point, R. Thaxter & E. A. Burt. 

 New Hampshire: Chocorua, W. G. Farlow; Shelburne, W. G. 



Farlow. 

 Vermont: Grand View Mt., E. A. Burt, 2 gatherings; Lake Dun- 

 more, E. A. Burt; Little Notch, E. A. Burt; Middlebury, E. A. 



Burt. 

 Massachusetts: Lincoln, A. B. Seymour, T40 (in Mo. Bot. Gard. 



Herb., 12955); Magnolia, W. G. Farlow (in Farlow Herb.). 

 New York: Albany, H. D. House (in N. Y. State Mus. Herb., and 



Mo. Bot. Gard. Herb., 6324, 54358, 54359); Alcove, C. L. 



Shear, 1121, 1123, 1203, 1322; Arkville, W. A. Murrill (in N. 



