20 THE GASTEROMYCETES OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA 



spored; the shape and color of the spores furnish the sharpest distinction of all. In the 

 present plant they are blunt-elliptic, rounded at the distal end, and buff to brown colored, 

 while in H. clathroides they are subelliptic, distinctly pointed at the distal end, and 

 always with a greenish tint. 



Of the species described by Tulasne, the present plant seems closest to H. potn- 

 pholyx, especially in the appearance of the gleba in structure and color. Tulasne states 

 (p. 84) "when one cuts this fungus vertically, a crowd of chambers is found in section, 

 and their transparence makes it easy to see the argillaceous color of the spores ac- 

 cumulated on the walls. One could believe, in this case, in the existence of short tubes, 

 of little fertile sacks, joined together by an agglutinative substance." The spores 

 agree well enough in size and some of Tulasne's figures agree in shape, being rounded at 

 the distal end; others however show a distinctly pointed distal end. Tulasne does not 

 mention or figure any peculiarity in the spore wall, if it did exist, and he figures all of 

 the spores as smooth. We have found in all specimens examined that the spores under 

 high magnification present a more or less rough appearance. It is quite possible that 

 Tulasne in working under rather low magnification overlooked any peculiarity in struc- 

 ture which might have been present. 



Though this slight difference in the spore shape renders our determination somewhat 

 unsatisfactory, it seems better, with the rather limited first hand information on the 

 group, not to multiply names. 



Illustrations: Tulasne. Fungi Hypogaei, pi. 2, fig. 3; pi. 11, fig. 6. 



7490a. Under soil and humus by branch in woods, August 9, 1924. 



Hysterangium stoloniferum var. americanum Fitzp. 



Plate 105 



We adapt the following in condensed form from Fitzpatrick's description (Ann. 

 Myc. 11 : 130. 1913). In addition the article contains an account of the development 

 of the fruit body in this plant and in Phallogasler and Ganlieria as well as a discussion 

 of their relationships and the derivation of the Phalloids. 



Fruit bodies subterranean, gregarious, 1-2.5 cm. in diameter, usually globose and 

 with a basal depression from which a thick, cord-like rhizomorph attaches the plant; 

 peridium at first snow white, later mottled with dingy brown, not changing color on 

 exposure, easily separable even in youth, fleshy to cartilaginous, in age tough and 

 papery and scaling off the gleba; only 0.3-0.4 mm. thick, but composed of two layers, a 

 thicker, pseudoparenchymatous, large-celled one and a thin fibrous inner one. Gleba 

 elastic and cartilaginous, olive green in section, the surface bluish just under the pe- 

 ridium ; sterile base and columella distinct, with radiating, anastomosing branches ex- 

 tending to the peridium; chambers minute, irregular, elongated. At maturity the 

 gleba softens and the columella and radiating plates become gelatinous, and a not 

 unpleasant odor resembling gasoline is given off. In alcohol the peridium turns red- 

 brown. 



Spores smooth, narrowly ellipsoidal, tapering at both ends, the base with a short 

 stalk up to lju long, olive green in mass, 5-6 x 14-17//, at maturity with gelatinous walls. 

 Basidia long, irregularly cylindrical, 3-spored. 



