292 University of California Puhlications in Botany [Vol. 6 



proach fundamental differences than those separating Balsamia and 

 Pseudohalsamia. A thorough study of young ascocarps, however, will 

 be necessary to determine the actual relationsliips existing among these 

 various genera. 



Pseudohalsamia magnata (Hk.) comb. nov. 



Fseudobalsamia Setchellii Fischer, Ber. deutst-h. Bot, Gesell., 1907, p. 374; 



Bot. Zeit., 1908, pp. 154-1.56, pi Vi, figs. 11-1.3. 

 Balsamia magnata Hk., Proc. Cal. Acad. Sei., 3rd ser., vol. 1, No. 8 (1899), 



p. 264. 

 Balsamia alba Hk., Proc Cal. Acad. Sci., 3rd ser., vol. 1, no. 8, p. 264. 

 Balsamia filamentosa Hk., Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci., 3rd ser., vol. 1, uo. 8, p. 



265, pi. XLIII, figs. 13a-13/'. 

 Balsamia vulgaris Hk. iion Vitt., Proc. Cal. Acad. Sei., 3rd ser., vol. 1, no. 8, 



p. 265. 

 Balsamia platyspora Hk. non Berk., Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci., 3rd ser., vol. 1, no. 



8, p. 265. 

 Balsamia polysperma Hk. non Vitt., Proc. Cal. Acad. Sei., 3rd ser., vol. 1, 



no. 8, p. 265. 



Ascocarp orange to reddish brown, 1-2 cm. in diam., somewhat de- 

 pressed globose, infolded at apex, with more or less persistent mycelial 

 tuft at base ; surface of ascocarp divided into distinct polygonal areas 

 forming bases of more or less pointed verrucosities ; tissue of latter 

 pseudoparenchymatous, generally thick-walled throughout, cells be- 

 coming smaller and walls thinner, changing gradually to hyphal tissue 

 below verrucosities ; outer cells of cortex often extended to form simple 

 hairs, particularly at openings of venae externae, hairs continuing 

 inward, as elongations of paraphyses forming hyphal filling of canals ; 

 interior of ascocarp formed of closely crowded folds of tissue, often 

 united, separating labyrinthine canals or sometimes apparently closed 

 chambers ; inner walls of these lined with asci and paraphyses ; canals 

 and chambers filled with hyphae (formed by elongation of para- 

 physes), or completely open; canals converging at one point or at 

 several points, opening to exterior through infolded apex of ascocarp ; 

 asci irregularly arranged between canals with free ends of those l.ying 

 nearest canals turned toward latter; asci generally short-stipitate, 

 more or less globose-ellipsoid, but usually much deformed by irregular 

 arrangement and ci'owding of spores, 25-35 by 50-70^; spores smooth, 

 colorless, varying in single plant from long cylindrical with rounded 

 ends to globose-ellipsoid, 12 by 24 to 14 by 22|U., usually with three oil 

 drops; paraphyses irregular in shape, 4 to 6/a wide, quite regularly 

 arranged in palisade, some elongated and branched, forming loose 

 hyphal tissue of canals. 



