1921] The Thelephoraceae of North Carolina 189 



5. Thelephora terrestris Ehrh. 



T. laciniata Pers. 



Plate 26 



Caps scattered to densely imbricated, in part incrusting, more 

 or less fused, bracketed and broadly attached by the side, projecting 

 about 1-2 cm., upper surface deep brown, fibrous-squamulose and 

 ridged all over, not zonate; hymenium brown, paler on margin, un- 

 even; margin thin, fimbriate. Flesh thin, very soft, phable and 

 spongy-fibrous, color of surface, absorbing water immediately. 



Spores not to be obtained from our plants when found. Burt 

 gives them as pale fuscous, irregular, angular, sometimes slightly 

 tuberculate, 6-9 X 6^. 



Recognized by the squamulose cap, dark color, very soft and 

 spongy, bibulous flesh and shelving growth on coniferous substrata, 

 upon which it climbs from the ground. According to Burt the spe- 

 cies also grows in sandy fields. For further interesting observations 

 by Burt see Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard. 1: 219. 1914. 



3840. Running up the base of a cedar from the ground, south of athletic field. 

 December 7, 1919. Photo. 

 Asheville. Beardslee. 

 Salem. Schweinitz. 

 Common on earth and trunks. Curtis. 



6. Thelephora intybacea (Pers.) Fr. 



Plate 35 



Plant 5.5 cm. high, 4.5 cm. broad, compound from a solid amor- 

 phous base, the flabelliform, petaloid or infundibuliform blades aris- 

 ing on more or less distinct stalks and gradually expanding upwards; 

 margins thin, expanded, more or less lobed and cut, but not fimbri- 

 ated; dorsal (interior) surface inherently fibrous and ridged but not 

 squamulose, dark brown, about Prout's brown to bister of Ridgway; 

 when dry the margins black; hymenial (outer) surface a lighter gray- 

 brown (buffy-drab) , the younger parts paler. Texture when dry 

 rigid and hard above, very firmly spongy below; when wet pliable 

 and elastic and quite bibulous; odor none when dry, but when wet it 

 has a strong rank smell, something like freshly cut black oak. When 

 wet the hymenium is much darker and approaches the dorsal surface 

 in color. 



