IOWA DISCOMYCETES 121 



white or whitish, plane or a little convex especially when moist ; 

 asci broadly clavate, 8-spored; spores oblong, rounded at the 

 ends, slightly curved with (usually) 2 oil-drops, large, 24 to 30 

 by 1 to 9 /jl; paraphyses present, slender. 



On wood of various kinds, Mt. Pleasant, common. 



The plants are quite easily recognized by the elongated white 

 patches on the surface of old pieces of wood and logs, the white 

 patches which are often several millimeters in length being sur- 

 rounded by the rough torn edges of the broken epidermis. This 

 is a variable species and a long list of synonyms might be given. 

 It has been collected by the writer at Mt. Pleasant on the follow- 

 ing kinds of wood; Plat anus occidcntalis, Vitis vulpina, and Car- 

 pinus caroliniana. 



The species has also been collected by the writer in New York 

 and North Dakota and probably has a wade distribution. 



ORDER IV. HYSTERIINEiE. 



Apothecia at first immersed or always free on the substratum, 

 more or less elongated, simple or occasionally branched, opening 

 with a longitudinal cleft; asci 8-spored; paraphyses present, 

 slender. 



FAMILY 12. HYSTERIACE.E. 



Apothecia free on the substratum, elongated, straight or bent, 

 occasionally branched, opening with a longitudinal cleft; asci 8- 

 spored, spores variable. 



HYSTERIUM Tode, Fungi Meckl. 2 : 3. 1791. 



Apothecia superficial or erumpent becoming superficial, ob- 

 long or elliptical, carbonaceous or subcarbonaceous, opening with 

 a longitudinal cleft; asci clavate or cylindrical, mostly 8-spored; 

 spores elliptical, straight or curved, 2 to many-septate, brown. 



One species of the genus reported here. 



Hysterium pulicare Pers., Syn. Fung. 98. 1801. 



Hysterographium pulicare Corda, Ic. Fung. 5 : 77. 1842. 

 Apothecia scattered or gregarious, superficial, variable in form, 



VOL. VI — l. 9 



