152 Journal of the Mitchell Society [June 



TREMELLODON 



Plants gelatinous, translucent, whitish to light or dark-brown, more 

 or less stalked, the top expanded and bent over, with short teeth on 

 the underside. Basidia longitudinalh" divided into four parts with 

 four sterigmata. Spores smooth, white, spherical. We have but one 

 species which when large would be taken at first sight for a Hydnum 

 except for the gelatinous texture. 



Tremellodon gelatinosum (Scop.) Pers. 



Plates 43 and 59 



Plants upright, petaloid and bent over at top to form a one-sided 

 cap under which the small spines hang down ; height from 2-7 cm., 

 breadth at top up to 7 cm., at base about 1.5-2.5 cm. ; color of cap sur- 

 face usually from light to dark brown, in drying becoming darker 

 and blackish in places; rarely the whole plant may be a pure soaked 

 white, in age the upper part becoming a light pinkish buff ; in darker 

 plants the brown may be slightly tinted with blue or violet; surface, 

 except spines, covered with minute papillae with some wrinkles on the 

 posterior side near the base. Flesh gelatinous, watery and translucent, 

 but firm and tough. 



Spines gelatinous, white, confined to the underside of the cap, up 

 to 2.5 mm. long, the spores being borne only on their proximal half or 

 two-thirds. No spores are borne except on the spines. 



Basidia short, pear-shaped, 10.3/x in diameter with four stout 

 sterigmata. Spores white, spherical, about 6.5/x in diameter. 



This is a remarkable and interesting plant, having the spines of 

 a Hydnum and the texture and basidia of a Tremella. It is found on 

 decaying pine and is rare. It is said by Mcllvaine to be edible and 

 delicious when slowly stewed. For illustrations in color, see Schaeffer, 

 PI. 144; Krombholz, PL 50, figs. 18-22; Richon & Roze, PI. 65, figs. 

 12-17; Gillet, PI. 661 (124). See note in Mycologia 12: 142. 1920. 



912. On a pine log, October 11, 1913. Photo and drawings. 

 2954. From inside decaying pine stump, woods south of athletic field, December 



1, 1917. Photo. 

 2956. From side decaying jjine stump, Strowd 's pasture by Bowlin 's Creek, 



December 3, 1917. 

 ■i03-i. On pine log on Strowd's hill, January 25, 1920. 

 4092. On pine log back of athletic field, February 8, 1920. 



