302 . THAXTER. 



coherent, rounded or somewhat irregular spore-aggregates, of which 

 the mass as a whole is composed, and throughout which a large amount 

 of finely divided humus material is incorporated. Individual spore- 

 groups more or less rounded, or somewhat irregular, mutually coherent, 

 or readily separable, 350-700 fx in diameter, and including from ten to 

 fifty spores each, more or less; each group surrounded by an envelope 

 of hyphae among which a considerable amount of humus material is 

 incorporated; the hyphae variable in diameter, 4-18 /jl, thick-walled, 

 rather brittle, freely branched, three or sometimes four branches often 

 radiating from subtriangular or angular enlargements, especially in 

 the larger ones, which are rather conspicuously distinguished, though 

 scanty. Zygospores yellow, spherical, oblong to ovoid or piriform, 

 often irregularly subangular from pressure, 80-90 X 60-84 /x; the 

 endospore clearly defined, slightly yellowish, about 5 /x; the exospore 

 hyaline and, when freed, swelling to 8-10 jjl; the contents rather bright 

 yellow, composed of nearly spherical fatty bodies 4-8 /jl in diameter 

 which completely fill the cavity. The attachments of the suspensors 

 clearly defined, sometimes approximated, more often distant: the 

 spore surrounded by a clearly defined, relatively thick, separable 

 envelope, 8-12 /jl thick, of closely felted hyphae. 



Growing beneath the leaf cover beside a path in mixed deciduous 

 woods (oak and hickory) on Cutts Island, Kittery Point, Maine: 

 September 15, 1902. 



This species is most nearly related to E. tuberculosa, but differs in 

 various essential points. The individual spore-masses are, as a rule, 

 very readily separable, so that a small fragment of the fruiting body, 

 when teased or rubbed under the cover glass, separates to a mass of 

 rather uniform coarse granules, which represent the individual spore- 

 groups. Figure 10: the envelopes of which are composed largely of 

 humus particles which often wholly conceal the spores within. 



The material is unfortunately fully matured, and it is thus impossible 

 to determine the exact nature of the process of conjugation, and even 

 the suspensors are for the most part disorganized to such an extent 

 that their form and limits can no longer be made out. The relation 

 and attachment of the latter to the spore are very characteristic. 

 They are always quite distinct. Figures 8-9, sometimes close together, 

 but usually separated by a considerable interval; in this respect re- 

 calling the similar relation so often seen in the zygospores of Choane- 

 phora. On treatment with potash, the separable exospore and the 

 surrounding filaments become considerably swollen and gelatinous, so 

 that their limits are determined with difficulty. 



