7,9;?0] The Lower Basidiomycetes of North Carolina 125 



This is <inite distinct from the preceding species, differing in pres- 

 ence of sterile threads in the hymenium, in fused and crust-like form 

 with indefinite margin, in color, in larger spores which are more 

 curved and in larger basidia. The form and habit are more like those 

 of a Sebacina than a Dacrymyces. This seems near ]\Ioller's Platy- 

 gloea Mastomyces from South Brazil, but differs in the thicker and 

 shorter basidia. Phitygloea effusa Schroeter is also near, but has ba- 

 sidia with four cells and the color is said to be bluish to yellowish 

 white. 



4062. On bark or dead limb of crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia), February .'], 1920. 

 Photo. Type. 



SEPTOBASIDIUM 



A curious and anomalous genus forming a resupinate crust on liv- 

 ing twigs and branches that are usually and probably always infested 

 with scale insects ; supposed to be parasitic on these insects. The 

 plants seem more nearly related to the rusts than the higher basidio- 

 mycetes, for the basidium arises from a previously formed, subspheri- 

 cal to pyriform cell, suggesting a one-celled teliospore, and is, when 

 mature, elongated, curved and divided across into cells which give 

 oft" the long, bent, white spores at right angles on short sterigmata. 

 These structures have been imperfectly or incorrectly understood. 

 Texture coriaceous and resembling a Corticium. Of the seventeen 

 species recorded by Burt two are reported from North Carolina. See 

 Burt in Ann. Mo. Bot. Card. 3 -Md. 1916. Also Lloyd : ^Myc. Notes 

 51:720. 1017; and 61:887. 1919. 



Key to the Species 



Surface rugose-wrinkled like some lichens S. retifnrmr (2) 



Surface even 



Parapliyses bent over and interwoven at tlie sur- 

 face S. pscudopcdiciUaiuiii ( 1 ) 



Paraphyses straight or nearly so S. Schwei)nt-ii (.'i) 



1. Septobasidium pseudopedicellatum Burt. 



Plates 34, (>(). and ()7 



Plant t'oi'iiiiiig a t'cit-Iikc, tliickisli crust usually about 2-.") cul long 

 and 1-2.5 cm. bi-oad ; surface smootli until ])rokcu up in ag(\ whitish 

 whoi young, then passing through pale brown to avdlancous oi- wood 



