122 THE GASTEROMYCETES OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA 



trash and tending to split away in patches from the fibrous layer which is flesh colored 

 when fresh; rays splitting about half way to the base into about 7-9 lobes, or only 

 shallowly into many more, the lobes when fresh are expanded or recurved, when dry 

 recurved or the tips incurved, the unsplit basal portion convex above (vaulted beneath) 

 as in the fornicate group. Fleshy layer of outer peridium very thick when fresh, up to 

 5 mm.; when dry forming a thinner crust with a felted-looking, brown surface on the 

 face of the fibrous layer. Spore sac up to 4 cm. thick, depressed-globose, the base 

 usually constricted into a short thick stalk, not rarely with a low apophysis around the 

 lower side of the spore sac some distance from the stem; color when fresh varying from 

 pale flesh color to grayish flesh or deep brownish gray, when dry brown to gray brown, 

 the surface not glabrous but covered with very minute, inherent scurfy dots (granular- 

 velvety). Mouth slightly elevated, fibrous and becoming fimbriated, without a definite 

 peristome (indeterminate). Columella large and subglobose, up to 1.5 cm. thick, the 

 basal part with a peripheral extension as far as the apophysis. 



Spores (of No. 985) globose, deep brown when mature, 3^1.4yu thick, minutely 

 warted or asperulate, with a halo. Capillitium of simple threads which are about 

 3.5-4.8n thick. 



This fine species, which is not at all rare in America, grows usually around the bases 

 of oak stumps and occurs in groups. One of the most remarkable characters is the very 

 pleasant and decided fruity fragrance of the unopened and just opened plants. There 

 has been considerable confusion regarding this plant and G. limbatus. As understood 

 in Northern Europe (Fries, Berkeley, Massee), the latter differs in the expanded, not 

 reversed rays, the darker and smoother inner peridium, the thinner and less spongy 

 fleshy layer, and the more obvious peristome. For G. limbatus in the sense of Bresadola, 

 in which sense we are using the name, see under that species. European specimens of 

 G. rufescens are rare in American herbaria. One from Bresadola in the Lloyd Her- 

 barium is like our plants, with spores 3.6^1.2/* thick, minutely warted. For comparison 

 with G. triplex see that species. 



Illustrations: Bulliard. Herb. Fr., pi. 471, fig. L. 

 De Toni. 1. c, pi. 62, fig. 1. 

 Hollos. 1. c, pi. 11, figs. 7, 8. 



Lloyd. The Geastrae, figs. 38-41. Also pi. 97, figs. 6-8. 

 Morgan. North Amer. Geasters, fig. 11. 1884. 

 Petri. 1. c, figs. 45, 46. 

 Rea. 1. c, pi. 19. 



985. At base of an old oak stump, November 17, 1913. 

 2984. On old oak stump, December 4, 1917. Spores 3-iAn thick, apparently pitted in water, but 



upon application of KOH the surface appears spiny and with a halo. 

 7221. On damp clay soil, November 25, 1923. A small form; the spore sac only 1 cm. thick. Spores 



3.3-4 M . 

 Also Nos. 683, 1033, 6025, 6053, 6066. 



Carolina. (Schw. Herb.; also in Michener Herb, from Schw. Herb.) 



Alabama. Auburn. Under a rotting log, August 1897. Baker, coll. (N. Y. Bot. Gard. Herb., as 

 G. limbatus) . Two folders, each with three buttons, which are up to 3 cm. broad, subspherical 

 to compressed and completely covered with rotten wood held on by flocculence. Also a col- 

 lection from Alabama by Peters. (Curtis Herb., as G. limbatus.) This is typical G. rufescens 

 with a short stalk; outer surface covered with earth held on by flocculence. 



New York. Botanical Garden. Williams, coll. (N. Y. Bot. Gard. Herb.). 



