1920] The Lower Basidiomycetes of North Carolina 131 



1. Exidia gelatinosa (Bull.) Sehro^t. 

 E. recisa (Dittm.) Fr. 

 Tremella corrugata Sclnv. 

 Tremella creuata Schw. 



Plates 35 and 55 



Plant if horizontal from the sides of branches forming' flattened, 

 shelving-, bracket-like caps ; if borne on top or beneath the branch they 

 form crnmj)led, rather shapeless, more or less flattened masses which 

 are attached by a point or by a more extensive area to the wood ; dorsal 

 surface sterile, wet-looking and when seen with a lens showing minute, 

 dark dots ; hymenial surface dryer and glaucous from the pro- 

 jecting sterigmata and spores, ridged irregularl}- like an ear as in 

 Hirneola; there are no papillate projections as in E. glanduJosa. 

 Texture soft and gelatinous but holding its shape ; not so firm as 

 Hirneola, which it rather resembles in form and in the deep blackish 

 wine color ; black and sln-unken and shapeless when dry. Internal 

 hyphae of fruiting body 2/x in diameter ; with cross walls but no 

 clamp connections. 



Basidia much as in Tremella, oval and divided into four cells by 

 two longitudinal walls, each cell with a long sterigmata which pro- 

 jects considerably above the surface. Basidia short-oval, 9-10 x 11- 

 11.3^, situated at and near the surface to a depth of 45/ii. Spores 

 white, smooth, sausage-shaped, 3.8-4.5 x 11.2-13.4/i.. 



Under a microscope the black dots on the dorsal surface are seen 

 to be crusty-looking patches partly embedded and partly free and with 

 much the appearance of small, thickish flakes of bark. These furnish 

 an unfailing means of determination. The absence of the papillae and 

 the flattened form also distinguish this from E. glandulosa, while the 

 sausage-shaped spores and smaller size separate it from Tremella 

 frondosa. 



Very common on fallen oak branc-hes of various species and con- 

 spicuous in wet weather. Also on grape, Pnoius, sweet gum, and elm. 

 Gilbert's figs. 5 and 6 (I.e. PI. 82) are good of our plant. Bref eld's 

 figure also is good (I.e. PL 5, fig. 19). Bulliard's plate 460 (as Peziza 

 gelatinosa) gives a poor impression of the habit. For the hymenium 

 and spores see Tnlasnc I.e. PI. 12, fig. 2. 1853. From an examination 

 • if a collection in the Sebweinitz Herbarium I find that Tremella 

 cornigatd is tiiis species, it has the same characteristii' encrusting 



