122 Journal of the Mitchell Society [June 



Of the two species described by Moller 8. ovispora agrees best, 

 but differs in the very thin context and the shorter spores and smaller 

 sacs (basidiospores 7-8 x 13/x, sacs up to 8 x30/a). The crimp or knee 

 where the basidium joins the stalk is also not mentioned by M'oller 

 or shown in his figures. 



Our plant also is not M-hite but a pale, dull yellowish. These dif- 

 ferences are hardl}' important enough to require the establishment of a 

 new species and I am calling our plant a variety. Drying takes place 

 quite slowly, resulting in a thin, dark membrane which looks like 

 dried cartilage. When placed in water again it revives perfectly to 

 the original form, even the sacs appearing quite normal under the mi-- 

 croscope. 



Our finding this South Brazilian genus here is remarkable and 

 wholly unexpected. It was brought in by Mr. J. N. Couch, Instruc- 

 tor in Botany, and adds a genus to our North American flora. 



4078. Ill hollow oak tree near Meeting of the Waters, February 4, 1920. The 

 plant formed an almost continuous layer over several square feet of 

 the hollow. Photo. Type. 



PLATYGLOEA 



We take the following from the original definition of the genus 

 by Schroeter (Krypt. Fora v. Schlesien (Cohn) 3:381. 1889) : Fruit 

 bod.v waxy, flatly spread out or weakly swollen; hymenium waxy, 

 smooth. Basidia crowded, divided by cross walls into mostly four 

 cells. [In our Chapel Hill species into only 2-3 cells.] Spores single, 

 colorless. Saccardo adds: spores, lunate, continuous, "producing no 

 sporidia on sprouting (as it seems)." Nine species (none from 

 North America ) have been described, eight on wood, one on dung. All 

 are quite small and easily overlooked. Our plants seems to be new. 

 The genus Tachaphantium of Brefeld (I.e. p. 78) is not distinct from 

 this. 



Helicogloea of Patouillard (Bull. Soc. Myc. de France 8:121. 

 1892) is also not different from Platygloea.* One species H. Lager- 

 heimi Pat. has been described. It is effused, hyaline, more or less 

 tuberculose, cinereous, 4-5 cm. broad. Basidia 80-100;u, long, 7-8;u 

 thick, attentuated below, obtuse above, 3-4 spored. Spores hyaline 



* Patouillard writes me: "The genus Helicogloea is not a good genus! It is a true 

 Platygloea, which differs from the typical form in its texture of clav. At the most, it 

 couUl be kept as a section of Platvgloea." 



