1922] Fruiting Stage of Tuckahoe, Pachyma Cocos 135 



Sporophoris resupinatis, albidis deinde pallide ferrugineis, mem- 

 branaceis — crustaceis; tubulis 2-3 mm. long, cartilaginis, siccatis 

 chartaceis; ore crassi, irregular! vel labyrinthif ormi ; margine non 

 sterili ; cystidiis nullis ; basidiis clavatis, 20-25 x 6-8/a ; sporis hyalinis 

 inaequilateralibiis, oblongis, levibiis, 7-8 x 3.5-4ju.. 



Hab. ad sclerotia in vivis radicibus Pini. Sclerotium magnum, 

 oblongo-subrotundum, arrhizum; cortex crassus, fibroso-squamosus, 

 durus, colore radicum Pinorum; intus cellis radieorum Pini atque 

 materia carnoso-suberosa repletum, odore f ungoso-farinacea. In terra 

 praesertim in pinetis sabulosis. 



Specimens have been deposited in the herbarium at the University 

 of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N. C, at the Lloyd Library, Cin- 

 cinnati, Ohio, and at the Missouri Botanical Gardens, St. Louis, Mo. 



Special thanks are due to Dr. W, C. Coker, for his courtesy and 

 help in connection with the preparation of this report and to Mr. 

 C. G. Lloyd for his opinion as to the identity of the fungus. 



Summary 



This study of the southern tuckahoe, Pachyma Cocos, includes an 

 account of its history, structure and origin together with the develop- 

 ment and morphology of its fruiting stage. 



The name tuckahoe is of Indian origin and was applied by them 

 to all edible roots and tubers. It has come to be used by botanists, 

 however, to include only certain subterranean fungous growths or 

 sclerotia. 



The tuckahoe has been known to botanists for about 175 years 

 but its fruiting stage has not hitherto been described. Pine root 

 tissues are always included within this tuckahoe and it is apparently 

 parasitic upon the roots of pine. 



Several conditions which include (1) fresh sclerotia, (2) their 

 saturation with water and (3) exposure in light govern the pro- 

 duction of sporophores. Mature sporophores of the Poria type have 

 been secured on the surface of six tuckahoes. A period of about a 

 week's duration is necessary for their complete development. The 



Lycopcrdon soUdvm. Clavton. Flora Vireinica, p. 176. 1762. 

 L. sclerotium Nuttal. Systematic and PhysioloKical Botany, p. 200. 1820. 

 L. cervinum Walter. Flora Caroliniana, p. 262. 1788. 

 Tuckhaus ruposvs Rafinesque. Med. Flora of N. America 2: 255. 1830. 

 In such oi these as we have seen, the description is too imperfect to refer with any 

 certainty to our plant. 



