HYSTERANGIACEAE 21 



The variety differs from the type in the olive green and less firm gleba, thinner 

 peridium and smaller spores; differs from var. nuitabile Bucholtz in smaller spores, 

 and white peridium which does not become reddish in age or on handling.* 



It seems after a careful comparison of the present plant with Vittadini's, Tulasne's 

 and Hesse's descriptions of //. clatkroides and with European material of H. clathroides 

 determined by Torrend and with Tulasne's description of H. stoloniferum that this 

 plant should stand as a variety of the latter. Fitzpatrick's plant varies from 1-2.5 

 cm. in diameter, while //. clathroides according to Vittadini, Tulasne, and Hesse varies 

 from the size of a pea to a hazel-nut, seldom larger. The great majority of the examples 

 we have seen are about 5-8 mm. thick. The presence of a single, thick, white, cord- 

 like rhizomorph at the base of each fruit body which is very persistent and in most cases 

 is unbranched for an inch or more from the fruit body, together with the smoothness 

 of the surface of the peridium are structural characters of the most fundamental im- 

 portance with which Vittadini's, Tulasne's, and Hesse's figures and descriptions of H. 

 clatkroides are in total disagreement. In the microscopic structure of the peridium the 

 two plants disagree: The peridium of Fitzpatrick's plant is composed of large pseudo- 

 parenchymatous cells which, cut at any angle or even teased apart, present practically 

 the same appearance, and there is no outer flocculent layer; while in our study of H. 

 clathroides we have found that the peridium presents a pseudoparenchymatous cell 

 structure only when cut at certain angles and when cut at other angles or teased apart 

 it presents a filamentous structure and there is present in our specimens of H. clathroides 

 an outer flocculent layer (Tulasne and Hesse report the same condition). In the color 

 of the peridium and gleba the two plants agree fairly well according to Fitzpatrick's 

 description, but in a specimen which he sent us the gleba is deep brown with an ex- 

 tremely faint tint of olive. In basidial and spore characters the two plants are practi- 

 cally inseparable (Fitzpatrick reports three spores to a basidium but we find a few 

 with two and some with four) . 



It is a noteworthy fact that the peridium of Dr. Fitzpatrick's plant has a striking 

 resemblance in structure to that of Proto phallus jamaicensis Murrill. It is also obvious 

 that in the more globular form and single cord-like root, this species approaches nearer 

 the Phalloids than any other species of Hysterangium. 



Illustrations: Fitzpatrick, 1. c, pi. 4, fig. 10; pi. 6; also text figs. 2 and 6. 



New York. Ithaca. In humus under leaves in dense woods. Fitzpatrick, coll. (U. N. C. Herb.). 



GAUTIERIA Vitt. 



Plants subterranean or partly so, subglobose to tuberous; peridium thin and dis- 

 appearing entirely or in large part by maturity so as to expose the gleba and some of the 

 cavities; base attached by one or more strands, columella and radiating plates present 

 or absent; glebal cavities not filled at any stage. Spores shaped like an oblong canta- 

 loupe with longitudinal ridges and grooves. 



Seven species have heretofore been described, two of which are doubtful. Of the 

 five good species three occur in America and two of these in the eastern states. Gym- 

 nomyces, in which the peridium is thin and often entirely or partly lacking, is dis- 

 tinguished by the very different spores. 



• Note below that in the plants sent us, preserved in formaldehyde, there is practically no green color, while in all conditions 

 of 11 . clathroides the gleba is a clear olive. 



