THE SAPROPHYTIC FUNGI OF EASTERN IOWA. £- 



without a definite pileus: the gleba adnate directly to the 

 summit of the receptacle. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF MUTINUS. 



A. Stipe thickest below. i. M. bovinus. 



B. Stipe thickest above. 



a. Sporiferous apex acute, inodorous. . . . 2. M. canintjs- 



b. Sporiferous apes blunt, odorous. .... 3. M. brevis. 



i. Mutinus bovinus Morgan. 



Volva oblong-ovoid, pinkish: segments two or three: stipe 

 cvlindric tapering to the apex, white or pinkish below, bright 

 red above: apex conic-acuminate, perforate: spores 4 or 5x2 u - 



This remarkable species occurs, rarely indeed, but constantlv 

 in all the eastern part of the State. It has been collected 

 manv times but only a single specimen at a time in May or 

 June. It rises as a bright red sharp-pointed pillar out of the 

 grass in pastures or woods and soon to the distance of several 

 rods proclaims its emergence. The apex is covered bv the 

 jellv-like spore-mass which does not seem to flow down read- 

 ilv and rather dries up and turns brown or black if not re- 

 moved bv insects. About six inches in height. Figured by 

 the author of the species. Cm. Soc. Nat. Hist, 'jour/ial. Janu- 

 ary. 1SS9. 



2. Mutinus caninus [Huds. \ F 



Volva ovoid, opening irregularly, segments two or three: 

 receptacle long, slender, tapering downward, white or pink, 

 the apex a little darker, acute, at first imperforate, later perfor- 

 ate or imperforate: spores 4X5 u. 



Very rare. One specimen from Johnson county so far is 

 the extent of our collecting. Much smaller and more slender 

 than the preceding and almost entirelv without odor. Fig. 

 173. Grczillca. Vol. 17. 



3. Mutinus brevis B. & C. 



Volva as in the preceding: receptacle dull red. tapering 

 downwards, small, about four lines thick and two or three 



