1920] The Lower Basidiomycetes of North Carolina 153 



TREMELLODENDRON 



A remarkable genns, prowing on the ground in woods and re- 

 sembling stipitate species of Thelephora in habit, form and texture, 

 but with the basidia divided into four parts by longitudinal septa, as 

 in the Tremellaceae, and having the spores smooth, white and elon- 

 gated. The genus was established by Atkinson (Journal Mycology 

 8:106. 1902), and the species have been treated by Burt (Ann. Mo. 

 Bot. Gard. l-.TM. 1915). 



Key to the Species 



Plant whitish, much branched, tlie stems or branches 

 (<v hotli fusing where coming together. 



Stout and often large and heavy T. candidum (1) 



Delicate, the branches slender and numerous T. merismatoides (2) 



Plant whitish, slender, little branched, the stems single 



and not fused with others T. Cladonia (3) 



Plant simjile, orange colored T. aurantium (4) 



1. Tremellodendron candidum (Schw.) Atk. 



Plates 44 and 59 



Plant upright, centrally stalked, densely branched, the clumps 

 reaching a diameter of 8 cul and a height of 6 cm., but usually much 

 smaller. The base is a fused mass which soon branches into more or 

 less distinct, but often confluent upright stalks which subdivide into 

 more or less flat and often laterally fused branches, these terminate in 

 fibrous or decidedly fimbriated, bluntish tips, which are nearly or 

 quite white, the remainder of tiie plant being a creamy or sordid white. 

 The texture is very tougli, almost woody below and is not at all brittle. 



Basidia four-celled l)y longitudinal septa; spores (of No. 1385) 

 white, elliptic, with mucro, smootii, with large or small oil drops, very 

 oily as seen hy the many oil drops in the water, 4.8-6.6 x 8.5-13/x. 



A very abundant plant in woods and lawns and very variable in 

 size and stoutness. 



liiirl recognizes T. pdllidtnii as the larger, mor(> solid forms 1 here 

 include under T. candidton. I cainiot see good gronnds for recognizing 

 more than two species here. We have many intermediate forms and 

 sizes. I am also not sui-e that 7'. nicriswatoidcs is different, but am 

 including it as a eonveiiieiit name for the most delicate. Pternla-like 

 form. 



