114 THE GASTEROMYCETES OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA 



layer made up of delicate threads that run approximately parallel to the surface. The 

 threads of the four layers of the outer peridium pass into each other, but at maturity 

 the fleshy layer and the two outer layers (which are an inseparable unit) are easily 

 removed from the third layer. The columella, inner peridium, and all the layers of the 

 outer peridium are continuous with each other at the base. 



In this species Cunningham finds (1. c.) that the basidia are uninucleate and the 

 plant appears to be haploid throughout its development. The nucleus divides to form 

 nuclei for each spore, usually four. Clamp connections were not found in any part of 

 the plant. All attempts to germinate the spores were unsuccessful. 



A rather common, large plant that prefers pine woods. It is easily distinguished 

 from its relatives of similar habit by the larger size and minutely felted-tomentose, 

 not hairy, outer peridium which splits into two persistent layers. In many individuals 

 there is plainly to be seen on the under side a circular scar marking the area of attach- 

 ment. From a part of the type collection of G. Readeri from Australia (Grevillea 16: 

 73. 1888), at the New York Botanical Garden, it is shown that it is the same as G. 

 velutinus, the plants not being distinguishable from the American ones in any way, 

 the surface pale, velutinate, peeling off in part; peristome distinct, size and shape of 

 plant the same; spores spherical, very minutely warted, 2.8-3.3^ thick. There are two 

 other plants mounted in the same herbarium that are also marked "type specimens." 

 These have some sand on the outer surface, but the spores are the same, 3-3.5/j, thick. 

 The plant was first named G. australis by Reader, a name previously used by Berkeley. 

 A plant from New Zealand determined as G. Readeri by Massee (N. Y. Bot. Gard. 

 Herb.) is not the same. It has the surface more strigose-tomentose and not peeling 

 off, and the spores are distinctly different, warted, 3.8-5/*. The plant distributed by 

 Rick in Fungi Austro-Amer., No. 13, as G. triplex is G. velutinus. We have a plant from 

 Brazil (Murrill, coll.) which seems intermediate between velutinus and subiculosus. 

 The silky peristome is very distinct, and the button has almost the same surface as G. 

 velutinus; the mature plant is nearly smooth. The spores are minutely warted, 2.5-3.6/t 

 thick. 



Illustrations: Cunningham. Trans. N. Z. Inst. 57: pi. 10, fig. 33; pi. 11, fig. 34. 1926. 

 Hard. Mushrooms, fig. 489. 

 Lloyd. The Geastrae, figs. 62-71. Also pi. 101, figs. 1-2. 



846. In pine woods, October 13, 1913. 

 1260. Under pines in woods, September 24, 1914. Spores 2.7-3m thick, minutely asperulate. Capil- 



litium threads 3-5.5^ thick, minutely roughened. 

 7133. In rotting leaves under shrubs in Arboretum, September 22, 1923. Buttons exposed, subspheri- 



cal, not umbonate when fresh. 

 Also Nos. 999, 1000, 1381, 4095, 7114, 7164, 7219, 7442, 7503. 



Statesville. Coker, coll. In pine needles, Aug. 1922. (U. N. C. Herb., No. 5499.) 

 Asheville. Beardslee, coll. 



Florida. Gainesville. Walker, coll. (U.N. C. Herb.). 

 Alabama. Auburn. Baker, coll. (N.Y. B. G. Herb.). 



Cuba. Wright, No. 254. (Curtis Herb., no name.) Button and open plant. 



Porto Rico. J. R. Johnson, coll. (N. Y. B. G. Herb.). The plant, though saccate, has slipped entirely 

 out of the sheath. 



