NOTES ON IOWA SAPROPHYTES. 



BY THOMAS H. MACBRIDE. 



The saprophytic fungi of Iowa have been very slightly studied. 

 Owing to their high economic importance parasitic forms have claimed 

 almost exclusively the attention of mycologists. Pure science, how- 

 ever, must not be neglected. Without it applied science is impossible 

 and no study of natural objects is more praiseworthy than that which 

 seeks to know these for themselves alone. 



Accordingly I venture to present a few plants this morning which 

 have no interest apart from the fact that they exist. They are forms 

 in which life finds expression; that is all. But like every other such 

 form these, too, represent accomplishment, a response in one way other 

 to the demands of the environment. That so many different answers 

 can be given to apparently identical problems is sufficiently interesting. 



The plants I would discuss are both common and uncommon types. 

 The first two species mentioned are the commonest saprophytes in 

 Iowa; those discussed later are more rare. 



In 1879 Dr. Peck of New York (Am. Rep. State Botanist of N. Y.) 

 called attention to the fact that Daedalea confragosa Pers. probably 

 included a number of American forms described by Berkeley and others 

 under different specific if not generic names. Thus the species named, 

 evidently in New York passed easily into the following forms: 



Lenzites crataegi Berk 

 Lenzites cookei Berk 

 Lenzites proxima Berk 

 Lenzites klotscliii Berk 

 Trametes ruhescens A. & S., etc. 



Dr. Peck's conclusions have been abundantly verified by collectors 

 everywhere, who have taken trouble to assemble collections of consid- 

 erable extent; nevertheless, taken by themselves, all these forms as 

 described are distinct enough. But occasionally from what is evidently 

 the same mycelium two or three of these species or genera will appear 

 at once. The favorite habitat is dead or dying birch and willow. On 



