168 Journal of the Mitchell Society [March 



scarcely firmer than that of the cap, surface white or cream, smooth- 

 ish, the apex dotted with the fading spines. 



Spores ovate-elliptic, smooth, white, 4-4,4x6-6.8/^. 



This plant is new to ilSTorth Carolina and has not, in fact, been found 

 before outside the type locality in Alabama. It is a good species, 

 easily distilict from H. repandum. 



1991. Oak and pine woods south of old schoolhouse, Novembei' 21, 1915. Photo. 



3. Hydnum imbricatum L. 



Sarcodon imhricatus (L.) Karst. 



Plates 4 axd 27. 



This is our largest terrestrial Hydnum, the cap reaching a width 

 of 22 cm. It grows from the ground on a distinct stem, is single or 

 sometimes cespitose, and may be distinguished by its scaly cap and 

 deep smoky-bro^vii or umber color. Cap expanded from a central or 

 eccentric stem, irregular, strongly imbricate-scaly as a rule, with the 

 margin thin and lobed (usually) and with smaller scales; color a 

 deep brown, often blackish in drying. Flesh soft, but toughish and 

 pliable, pale brownish, thin except in center. 



Stem usually short for the size of the plant, about 3-6 cm. long, and 

 1.5-3.5 cm. thick, rarely up to 9 cm. long; surface irregular, smooth 

 below, marked at top by the descending spines, color like that of cap 

 or lighter. 



Spines color of the cap, about 1 cm. long, shortening towards the 

 margin, which they almost reach. 



The species is not uncommon in deciduous woods in summer and 

 fall. It reaches a much larger size than allowed by Banker for the 

 plants he describes under H. imhricatum, and he is inclined to believe 

 that there are several distinct forms now passing under that name. 

 Lloyd thinks (Myc. Xotes 40:552. 1916) that most, at least, of the 

 records of H. imbricatum in America are really for H. adpressum or 

 H. suhsquamosum. But our Chapel Hill plant is just like his figure 

 of H. imhricatum (fig. 758) and varies into forms having other names. 

 Figures of the European plant, such as Krombh., PI. 49, and Schaeff., 

 PI. 140, could easily be substituted for ours. I feel sure that we have 



