SCLERODERIMA. 21 



FA2L If. 



SCLERODERMEAE. 



Peridiiim thick, clchiscing by splitting into lobes at the 

 apex, or usually by disintegration of the upper portion ; 

 gleba containing numerous cavities, tramal plates disappear- 

 ing or persistent, capillitium absent. Peridia appearing 

 above ground at maturity. 



Distinguished from the Hyinenogastreae by the v^^ell-defined 

 sterile base of the peridium, v?hich usually becomes elongated 

 into a stem-like structure, and by the mature peridium l:)eing 

 above ground. The sjDores are small, yet there is no special 

 arrangement for eifecting their dispersion, although in this 

 respect the present order forms a transition between the 

 Hymenogastreae and the higher orders. 



SCLERODERMA. Pers. (fig. 4, p. 20.) 



Peridium firm, covered -with warts or scales, indehiscent 

 or splitting in an iri"egularly stellate manner at the apex ; 

 walls of trama subpersistent ; spores globose, warted. 



Scleroderma, Pers., Syn., p. 159; Mass., Mon. Gast., p. 49. 



Distinguished by the firm, corky peridium covered w^ith 

 warts. 



Scleroderma vulgare. Fr. (fig. 4, p. 20.) 

 Subsessile, often depressed, plicate towards the base, 



peridium thick, white, verrucosa or broken up into minute 



rigid scales ; trama white ; spores in the mass blackish with 



})urple tinge, globose, warted, 9-11 fx. 



Scleroderma vulgare, Berk., Outl. 303, pi. 15, f . 4 (with 



Boletus parasiticus, growing upon it) ; Cke., Hdljk. 1090, 



f. 116 ; Mass., Mon. Gast., p. 50, f. 45. 



Uniler trees, &c. Often cespitose, 1 to 3 in. across. 



Peridium vaiiable, white or pale brown, often becoming 



pink when cut. Dehiscing by decay of upper portion of 



peridium. 



