1921] The Thelephoraceae of North Carolina 187 



and channelled branches with white or whitish, finely tomentose, 

 sterile tips; hymenium deep brown when fresh and moist, about 

 warm sepia of Ridgway, in drying becoming lighter, between fawn 

 and wood-brown of Ridgway. Stem rough, irregular, usually more 

 or less flattened, surface felt-like. Texture tough, pliable; tasteless 

 and odorless. 



Spores (of No. 2590) deep smoky sepia, a large mucro, irregu- 

 larly set with blunt spines, 5.5-7.4 x 7.4-9. 3[jl. 



The tomentose tips, densely spinulose spores and particularly 

 the lack of odor separate this from T. palmata. Dr. Burt has seen 

 our plants and refers them as above. The stem is said to be villose, 

 but this is not the case in our plants and ours are at times much 

 larger than the maximum dimensions given by Burt. 



2590. On earth, upland rocky woods (mixed oak and pine), Battle's Park, July 5, 

 1917. Photo. 



2641. Low, damp woods by Meeting of the Waters branch, July 11, 1917. 



2695. Low, damp woods by Creek at Upper Laurel Hill, July 17, 1917. 



3468. In rich humus near base of oak near Meeting of the Waters, August 16, 

 1919. Photo. Deep brown with tint of purple; tips Hghter. On dry- 

 ing colors become lighter. Spores deep smoky brown, irregularly warted 

 or with blunt spines, 4.5-7 X 6. 5-8. 5m. 



4610. Damp, sandy soil below Meeting of Waters, July 31, 1920. Plants 2-3 cm. 

 high. 

 North Carolina. Schweinitz. 



3. Thelephora vialis Schw. 

 T. tephroleuca B. & C. 



Plate 26 



Plant about 3-5 cm. high, and about 3-6 cm. broad, expanding 

 and branching upward from a contracted base. The branchlets are 

 broad and flat and fuse at any point, usually so consolidated as to 

 form one complicated mass with the upper surface deeply lobed and 

 nodulated. Flesh firm, coriaceous, very hard on drying and then 

 giving off a distinct, rather sharp, aromatic odor that is hardly dis- 

 agreeable. Hymenium inferior, rugose or smoothish, pale yellowish 

 when young, becoming brown. 



Spores said by Burt to be olive buff under the microscope, bluntly 

 angular, 4.5-5 X 4.5-7tJL. 



Burt notices a "disagreeable" odor in drying; others do not men- 

 tion an odor. We have found the plant to be rare here. When 



