IOWA DISCOMYCETES 51 



slender above and a little enlarged below and more or less ir- 

 regular, nearly smooth; asci cylindrical, 8-spored, spores ellip- 

 tical, 20 zy 10/*. 



On the ground in grassy places, spring, Iowa City. 



This and the following species were collected in the same local- 

 ity and growing together but were so different in size and gen- 

 eral appearance that they would at once be recognized as differ 

 ent species. The pits in this species were decidedly grayish 

 within with the edge of the ribs lighter while in M. crassipes the 

 pits and ribs are of uniform color. The great difference in size 

 is also a prominent feature. 



Morchella crassipes (Vent.) Pers., Syn. Fung. 621. 1801. 



Pileus subconical, yellowish to slightly brownish, adnate at 

 the base ; ribs very irregular, thin ; pits large, irregular, shallow, 

 of the same color as the ribs ; stem very large and irregular, en- 

 larged much toward the base, 10-15 cm. high; spores 20 to 23- 

 by 10 to 12/*. 



On the ground in open, grassy places, Iowa City, spring. 



This species is quite different from any of the preceding forms. 

 The pits are very large and irregular and the ribs are very thin. 

 The large size of the whole stem is a distinguishing character and 

 this is still more enlarged toward the base and often very irregu- 

 lar in form. 



GYROMITRA Fries, Summa Veg. Scand, 346. 1849. 



Receptacle pileate, stipitate, margin reflexed, covered above by 

 the hymenium; substance fleshy; stem short, slender, even; asci 

 cylindrical, 8-spored; spores elliptical or elongate-elliptical, 

 smooth; paraphyses filiform. 



One species found in the state. 



Gyromitra esculenta (Pers.) Fries, Summa Veg. Scand., 346. 

 1849. 



Plate 4, f. i. 



Helvetia esculenta Pers., Syn. Fung. 618. 1801. 



Pileus inflated, irregularly undulated or convolute, brown, 

 margin adnate with the short stem; asci cylindrical, 8-spored; 



