THE SAPROPHYTIC FUNGI OF EASTERN IOWA. ^ 



furfuraceous coat, which becomes brownish in color, and 

 sometimes obscurely areolate: sterile base occupying nearly 

 one-half of the peridium; mass of spores and capillitium olivace- 

 ous, then purplish-brown; threads much branched, main stem 

 thicker than the spores, branches long and tapering; spores 

 globose, distinctly warted, 5-6 « in diameter. 



This species was described bv Mr. Morgan from a speci- 

 men collected in Muscatine County. Iowa, several years ago. 

 The locality which furnished the specimen is a peculiar one, 

 its entire flora in many respects unique. Probably a dozen 

 species of the higher plants here occur not seen elsewhere in 

 the State. 



The chief distinguishing characteristics are the smooth, 

 evanescent outer peridium. the curiously evenly plicate base, 

 and the largely developed, coarsely cellular sub-gleba. The 

 latter remains yellow or yellowish-gray in strong contrast with 

 the rich brown gleba above. Two other smaller specimens 

 since taken in the same locality seem to confirm the original 

 diagnosis. L nder the pine trees on the same hill-top which 

 furnishes these specimens L. craniiformis is year bv year 

 abundant. 



5. Lycoperdon molle Pers. 



Sporocarp an inch or two in diameter, turbinate, depressed 

 above, below abruptly contracted into a short, thick, stem-like 

 base, mycelium-attached: outer peridium a thin mealy-furfura- 

 ceous, sub-persistent coat, white or yellowish in color, at length 

 deciduous; inner peridium smooth, shining, olivaceous or 

 brown, thin and comparatively fragile; sub-gleba". about one- 

 third of the peridium: mass of spores and capillitium dull olive; 

 becoming brownish; threads, branching, equal to the spores, 

 very minutely roughened, with a small distinct pedicel, 

 about 4 ft. 



On the ground in open woodland. This species is distin- 

 guished bv the mealy character of its warts. It is the smooth- 

 est turbinate species we have. In wet weather the inner 

 peridium has a tendency to crack in areas. Fries referred 

 this species as a variety to L. gemmatum, var. fitrfuraccitm, 



