46 THE GASTEROMYCETES OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA 



young and old basidia 3-7 x 16-25/u long, which, when young, are cylindrical but which 

 collapse after the spores are formed. 



Spores 2-4 to a basidium, smooth, elliptic, deep brown under the microscope, 

 6.5-7.4 x 10-13,u (not counting the utricle), with an open cup on the proximal end (at 

 first appearing like two prongs), the spore body surrounded at some distance by a very 

 thin, hyaline, bladdery utricle, which is in contact with the spore only at the cup end. 

 The surface of the utricle is faintly rugulose. 



This plant clearly belongs in the Hymenogastraceae in the obvious origin of the 

 tramal plates from the peridium. Of the genera in this order it seems closest to Hy- 

 menogasler in the absence of fibrils from the sides and top of the plants and in the 

 structure and shape of the spores, a utricle being present in several species of that 

 genus. However, the appearance of the gleba is more like that of Hysterangium, with 

 its long, radially elongated chambers, stuffed or nearly so at maturity, radiating in 

 many cases from a distinct, subgelatinous, central column. The complete continuity 

 of the tramal plates with the peridium, however, is so striking that the plant cannot be 

 placed in the family Hysterangiaceae. 



We have carefully examined the descriptions of the thirty-four species of Hy- 

 menogaster listed in Saccardo, Vol. 19, and find that our plant can be separated from each 

 of them by obvious characters. In the color of the gleba, the shape of its cavities and 

 the shape and size of the spore body, our plant resembles H. ulriculatus Harkness, but 

 that can be separated easily by the chocolate brown peridium and the fact that the 

 utricle of the spore is winged or angled. Moreover, no mention is made by Harkness 

 of any odor, while that of our plant is so strong and distinct as to be easily noticed 

 by the most casual observer. So penetrating in fact is the odor that the plants, if 

 partly uncovered by rain, can be located in the woods before being seen (10 or 15 feet 

 away). A pitcher of water put in the ice box with a dish of these plants was so im- 

 pregnated with the odor as to be nauseating. The present species is apparently nearest 

 H. Thwaitesii Berk, and Br., in that both species are externally white and internally 

 brown, and the spores of both plants are covered by a utricle. The two plants, how- 

 ever, can be separated by the distinct difference in the shape and structure of the spores. 

 Those of H. Thwaitesii are larger and the proximal end is without a cup. Moreover, 

 the utricle is attached at both ends of the spore instead of only one end as in our plant. 

 Also, no mention is made of odor in H. Thwaitesii. The New York plants which we 

 are referring to H. Thwaitesii differ strikingly from the present species in the thinner 

 peridium, the empty chambers of different shape, and much lighter color of the gleba. 



Among our plants the present species can be easily recognized when fresh by the 

 peculiar and intense odor and in all conditions by the distinct utricle covering the small 

 spores. Hymenogaster decorus Tul. also has spores with a rounded distal end or very 

 obscurely pointed and surrounded by a utricle, but it is a much larger plant, has much 

 larger spores and is nearly odorless. Dendrogaster connectens Bucholtz (Hedwigia 40: 

 316. 1901) is easily different, as shown by the brown surface, yellow gleba, more 

 extensive sterile tissue, and much larger spores. No odor is mentioned. 



7467. Partly buried in soil by branch under beech trees, by old Hillsboro road about 4 miles from Chapel 



Hill, July 30, 1924. 

 7473. Buried in soil under humus or partly unearthed by heavy rain around the base of a tulip poplar, 



by branch behind athletic field, August 4, 1924. 



