1920] The Lower Basidiomycetes of North Carolina 147 



Spores white, spherical, variable in size, 6.3-10.2|U. iii diameter, 

 smooth, sprouting soon in water to a short promycelium with an 

 apical spore of the same shape and a little smaller. Basidia spherical 

 to very short-oval, 14-16/^ in diameter, four-celled by longitudinal 

 walls, which are median or eccentric and often oblique, the cells often 

 of different sizes and producing spores in proportion. Sterigmata 

 long to very long, irregular, pointed, collapsing as well as the basidial 

 cells as soon as the basidiospore is formed. 



Distinguished by the small size, pale color and pulvinate form. 

 The plant dries down to very inconspicuous amber-colored crusts with 

 a thin, superficial dusting of white fibers. It revives to the origin d 

 form on wetting again. 



This cannot be 2\ viscosa, for that has elongated, sausage-shaped 

 spores according to Berkeley (Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 13 :P1. 15, 

 fig. 4) and Patouillard (Tab. Analyt. No. 475). Britzelmayr gives 

 the spores of T. viscosa as 5-6 x 10-12ja, but Schroeter gives them as 

 subglobose, 11-13 x 15-17/a (see Saccardo). This looks like a confusion 

 of species. The illustration in Flora Danica showing habit (PL 1851, 

 as Thelephora viscosa) is very much like our plant. Tremella Candida 

 var. effusa Alb. and Schw. can hardly be this, as it is said to be i/^ 

 inch thick. If it were not for its growth on wood this could hardly 

 be distinguished from Sehacitia caesia Tul. as illustrated by 

 Patouillard (Tab. Analyt. No. 681). That is said to grow on the 

 ground. The habit sketches are almost exactly like our plant and the 

 subspherical spores (8 x 10-12^) sprout to a single spore of similar 

 shape. Exidia alhida, as illustrated in Massee's British Fungi and 

 Lichens, PI. 30, fig. 1, is an exact representation of our plant, even 

 the pinkish tint being shown, but all the published spore measure- 

 ments of that species agree in giving them an elongated, sausage-shape 

 (see also notes under 7'. fuciformis). 



Exidia guttata Bref. is also very similar in form and color, but 

 is a true Exidia with the curved spores 4 x 10/i,. TroneUa globulus 

 Bref. is small, bi-ownish and pulvinate, but could not be this as the 

 spores are 15-18/li in diameter. The hymeiiinm is brownish, the inner 

 part colorless (?) ("Weiss") (Bref. I.e. p. 126). 



^^H77. On fallen l)i:iii(ii of Cnriiimis in AilK.ri'tiini, Deooniber 12, 1019. Photo. 



Type 

 4(»2n. On twijrs of privet on tlu- Imsji in Pri'sidiMit 's yard, .January 'J4, 1920. 



Tyjiical Exidia ulaiulitJana was almndant on the same twijj; and crowdod 



tho Tromolla in pla<'o.s. 



