138 THE GASTEROMYCETES OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA 



The other has the inner peridium 9.5 mm. broad, pulverulent-granular; mouth 

 creamy gray, 19-ridged. Spores faintly rough, 4.5-6.5/u. 

 Inner peridium of both creamy gray (pale leather color). 



Type plants of G. involutus from St. Domingo at the New York Botanical Garden 

 show that no important difference can be made out to distinguish it from G. Drum- 

 tnondii. The appearance is identically like that of the plant with spiny peridium, 

 except that the mouth is not dark. The spores are the same, minutely warted, 4-5m 

 thick. The inner peridium is asperate and the mouth beautifully sulcate with 12 or 14 

 ridges. Hollos gives G. avellaneus Kalch. as a synonym of this species, and both as 

 synonyms of G. ambiguus Mont. The former was published only as a figure, with no 

 written description. The spore sac is shown as white and not dotted; the outer per- 

 idium evidently hygroscopic, in one case folded over the spore sac, its outer surface 

 ochraceous with some earth attached; mouth truly sulcate. 



Illustrations: Berkeley. Journal of Bot. for 1845, pi. 1, fig. 4. 



Cunningham. Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W. 51: pi. 4, figs. 17-18. 



Fries, Th. C. E. Sveriges Gasteromyceter, fig. 27. 



Hennings. Engler's Bot. Jahrb. 14: pi. 6, fig. 7. 



Lloyd. Lycoperd. of Australia, etc., fig. 8 (types of G. Drummondii). 



St. Domingo. Part of type of G. involutus at N. Y. Bot. Gard. Herb. 

 Australia. Victoria. (Kew Herb., as G. argentakts). 



MYRIOSTOMA Desv. 



Outer peridium as in Geaster, coriaceous, pliable, splitting in a stellate way with 

 segments expanded or reflexed; inner peridium with several short stalks (rarely one by 

 coalition), membranous, papery, opening by several to many mouths (rarely one). 

 Columellas several, slender. Capillitium threads free, simple or nearly so. 



There is only one species of this genus known, as it has been shown by Patouillard 

 that Geaster columnatus Lev. is a synonym (see Lloyd, Myc. Notes, p. 156) . 



Myriostoma coliformis Corda 



Plate 117 



Plants subterranean until dehiscence, lobes usually 5-7, acute; fleshy layer thin, 

 brown, adherent at first but wearing away; outer layer nearly smooth, usually with 

 adherent sand or trash. Inner peridium subspherical to compressed, 1.5—5 cm. broad, 

 roughened by minute points and lines, silvery brown. Mouths small, fibrous to 

 lacerate. 



Spores (of plant from Lloyd Herbarium) spherical, strongly warted with irregular 

 pale warts, 4-6m thick, rarely abnormal ones up to 8/z. Capillitium threads long, 

 slender, tapering at both ends, entirely free from the peridium and columella, about 

 2-5/i thick, with a thick wall which often closes the lumen. 



This species has a wide but erratic distribution in this country and in Europe. 

 It is not known from the Carolinas, but has been found in both the northern and 

 southern states. 



Illustrations: Destree. 1. c, pi. 6, fig. A (as Geaster). 

 Hollos. 1. c, pi. 7, figs. 1-10; pi. 8, fig. 8; pi. 29, fig. 18. 

 Lloyd. The Geastrae, figs. 1-4. 

 Petri. Flora Ital. Cryptogama (Gasterales), fasc. 5, figs. 49 and 50. 



