120 Journal of the Mitchell Society [June 



Texture waxy, form crustaceous and resii2:)in- 

 ate on the wood; basidia arising from a 

 pear-shaped, hanging sac Saccohlastia 



Texture \vaxy ; basidia not arising from a 



sae Platygloea 



Texture dry and leathery Septobasidium 



AURICULARIA 



Plants sessile on dead wood by a narrow or broad base, crowded 

 and often shelving, more or less cup-shaped ; firmly gelatinous and 

 tremelloid when wet, becoming hard when dry ; spore-bearing surface 

 rugosely channelled and pitted to resemble an ear. The basidia are 

 long rods with cross partitions dividing them into cells, and from 

 each cell arises a long sterigma bearing a single spore on its end. 

 Spores white, smooth, sausage-shaped. We have but o)ie species. 



Auricularia auricula- judae (L.) Berk. 



Plates 32 and 53 



Plants sessile on dead wood by a narrow or broad base, up to 8 cm. 

 in diameter, crowded and often shelving, more or less ear-shaped or 

 cup-shaped, firmly gelatinous, tremelloid and translucent when damp 

 and fresh, becoming hard when dry, a light yellowish-brown color 

 much like that of rubber gloves. The under surface bearing the 

 spores is more or less rugosely channelled and pitted like the inside of 

 an ear, hence the name Jew's Ear. The dorsal surface is dens?ly 

 velvety tomentose with short, simple, crooked hairs. 



Basidia long, slender, with cross partitions dividing them into 

 four cells, each cell producing a long sterigma bearing a single spore 

 on its end. Spores (of No. 3129) white, smooth, sausage-shaped, 

 4.3-5.4 X 10.8-14/i. 



Not rare on fallen branches of deciduous trees. Edible. In 

 China this or a closely related species is an important article of food. 

 For illustration see Gilbert in Trans. Wis. Acad. 16: PI. 82, fig. 1, 

 1910. 



1074. On a. dead oak branch on ground close to Battle's Branch, May 7, 1912. 

 107.5. On a dead oak twig east of Prof. H. H. Williams', October 18, 1911. 



These Avere small plants, not over l..j em. broad. 

 2494. On fallen hickory by Morgan 's Creek, 100 yards above Scott 's Hole, May 



8, 1917. Photo. 

 3129. On fallen oak tree southwest of athletic field, April 29, 1918. 

 3835. On fallen oak branch in woods east of cemetery, December 7, 1919. Spores 



jjure white, smooth, bent, 4.8-6.3 x 11-13. 7(U. 



