GEOGLOSSUM. 491 



Among grass in pastures, &c. 



Somewhat gregarious ; sometimes with an olivaceous tinge. 

 Very closely allied to G. ghitinosum, of which I am inclined 

 to consider it a variety ; distinguished by being more viscid, 

 ascophore not becoming compressed, and large, globose heads 

 of the paraphyses. This last character is, however, very 

 variable, and examination of a very large series of specimens 

 of G. ghitinosum and G. viscosum shows a perfect sequence 

 from abruptly globose to narrowly pyriform tips of para- 

 physes. I find — contrary to descriptions — the paraphyses 

 constantly septate in both species. 



Subgregarious, carnoso-coriaceous, 1-2 inches in height, 

 black, paler with a brown tinge at the base of the stipes, 

 which is slender, cylindrical, slimy, especially in moist 

 weather. ITymenium black, confluent with the stem, some- 

 times of the same diameter, at others sometimes thicker, and 

 of an oblong form ; obtuse at the apex, rounded, not com- 

 pressed. This species is chiefly distinguished by its cylin- 

 drical or rounded hymenium ; that of G. ghitinosum (to 

 which species it is most nearly allied) being compressed. 

 (Greville.) 



t Spores 1-septate. 



Geoglossum glabrum. Ters., Obs. Myc, ii. p. 61 

 Phil., Brit. Disc, p. 36 ; Cooke, Mycogr., fig. 1. 



Ascophores gregarious, 3-7 cm. high, everywhere blackish, 

 dry; ascigerous portion, or club, about half the entire 

 length, c}dindric-clavate, glabrous; stem rather slender, 

 often crooked, minutely squamulose ; asci clavate, apex 

 slightly narrowed, pedicel elongated, slender, 8-spored; 

 spores arranged in a parallel fascicle in the ascus, narrowly 

 cylindric-clavate, the upper half slightly thickest, often 

 slightly curved, 7-septate at maturity, often very slightly 

 constricted at the septa, each cell generally 1-gnttulate, 

 brown, 70-75 X 7 fx ; paraphyses septate, upper septa rather 

 close and more or less constricted, apex clavate, 7-9 /x thick, 

 brown, straight or curved. 



Geoglossum ophioglossoides, Sacc, Syll., viii. n. 141. 



On the ground among grass. 



Specimens in Eehm, Ascom., n. 503, and Phil., Elv. Brit., 



