66 Clavarias of the United States and Canada 



other microscopic detail of C. cristata and is most like the rugose 

 form of that species, but it differs in the more consistently dis- 

 crete stem and different color. However, as some forms of C. 

 rugosa have very distinct stems, it may be that the present species 

 is also nothing more than a form of the polymorphic C. cristata. 

 Similar plants were collected by Curtis years ago at Society Hill, 

 S. C, and determined as C. fuliginea. In regard to this collection, 

 Curtis says (in Curtis-Berkeley Ms. at Kew Gardens, copy at 

 N. Y. Bot. Gard.) : "Base of stem pale brown. Branches white 

 clay color, solid, brittle, turgid, becoming hollow, tipped with 

 brown. July. Shade of trees." 



We have carefully compared the type of C. amcthystinoides 

 with our plants and find them closely similar. The microscopic 

 detail in both cases is that of all other species of the C. cristata 

 group, and we are entering this detail under the collections cited 

 below. We have found the thickness of the hymenium to be of 

 no importance in classification in this group, as it increases with 

 the age of the plant. 



Clavaria Barlae Bres. is near this species, but the color of the 

 dried plants is brighter and the spores are smaller, "4-5 x 5-6(jl" 

 (compared in the Bresadola Herb.). 



Near this species seems also C. gigantula Britz. which is very 

 similar in shape and with a distinct stalk, but that is paler and 

 larger and has larger spores, 9-10 x 10-12[/.. (Bot. Centralblatt 

 71: 95. 1897 and Clavaria fig. 98). Clavaria ligata Britz. 

 (Hymen. Siidb. 5: 290, fig. 37) seems also related and is possibly 

 the same. 



Illustration : Burt. Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard. 9 : pi. 8, fig. 63. 1922. 



North Carolina : Chapel Hill. No. 4532. In damp sphagnum bog among 

 moss, July 26, 1920. Characters exactly like No. 42 except running 

 larger and more branched ; a few quite simple. In a few cases part of 

 the hymenium was darker, approaching fawn. Spores spherical, 7.4-9/* 

 in diameter. No. 4565. By pond opposite cemetery, pine woods, damp 

 soil, July 27, 1920. Hymenium 37/x thick in young plants and up to 

 1 10ft thick in old ones. No. 5296. On damp, mossy bank under beech, 

 July 6, 1922. A very large form, up to 10 cm. high. Spores 6-8 x 7.4-10/*. 



Blowing Rock. Coker and party, No. 5626. In black leaf mold at Glen 

 Mary Falls, August 20, 1922. (U. N. C. Herb.). 



South Carolina: Hartsville. No. 42. In loose sandy soil or with thin moss 

 and liverworts under Pimis tacda with undergrowth of sweet gum, etc., 



