578 



MUSHROOMS, EDIBLE AND OTHERWISE 



sistent, bursting irregularly at the apex ; externally minutely warty, nearly round, 

 blood-red or pinkish, then brownish ; mouth irregular ; spores becoming pale, or 

 violet. 



Rcticularia maxima. Fr. 



This is quite common on partially decayed logs. The peridium is very thin, 

 tuberculose, effused, delicate, olivaceous-brown ; spores olive, echinulate or spiny. 



Didymius xanthopus. Fr. 



These are very small yellow-stemmed plants, found on oak leaves in wet 

 weather. The sporangium has an inner membranaceous peridium ; the whole is 

 round, brown, whitish. The stem is elongated, even, yellow. The columella is 

 stipitate into the sporangia. 



Figure 495. Xylaria polymorpha. Natural size. 



