40 GEASTER 



Geaster (Micheli) Fr. 

 (yfj, earth; da-rijp, star.) 



Peridium subglobose, rarely ovate acuminate; exoperidium con- 

 sisting of two layers, a fibrous, or mycelial layer, and a pseudo- 

 parenchymatous layer, thick, fleshy-coriaceous, at first closely in- 

 vesting the endoperidium but distinct splitting at maturity from the 

 apex downwards into several, star-like lobes, which often become re- 

 flexed; endoperidium membranaceous, then papyraceous, thin, 

 shortly stipitate, or sessile, dehiscing by a single aperture or mouth. 

 Capillitium threads simple, long, slender, tapering at each end, 

 attached to the peridium, or a central columella, the other end free. 

 Basidia bearing 4-8 spores. Spores coloured, minutely verrucose, 

 globose. Half buried at first, then superficial. 



I. Exoperidium not splitting up into two portions when expanded. 

 *Peristome sulcate. 

 f Endoperidium stipitate. 



55. G. Bryantii Berk. Trans. Brit. Myc. Soc. in, t. 18. 



Charles Bryant. 



Exoperidium 2-6 cm., snow white, then pale ochraceous, and brown- 

 ish, globose, coriaceous, splitting up into 8-10 unequal, acute lobes, 

 divided almost to the middle, expanded, then recurved, brownish 

 inside, fleshy, then cracked, the collenchyma layer finally disappear- 

 ing with the exception of a circular ring at the base of the stem; 

 endoperidium -5-2 cm., snow white, then ochraceous, becoming blackish 

 blue when weathered, mealy, then smooth, subglobose, or pear-shaped, 

 compressed above, pedicellate, with a distinct, permanent groove round 

 the apex of the stem. Peristome long, conical, deeply furrowed, stria te. 

 Stem 5-10 x 2 mm., whitish, or brownish, cylindrical, or compressed, 

 slightly enlarged at the apex. Spores fuscous, obtusely warted, 

 globose, 4-5/A. Columella globose, broad at the base. Capillitium 

 brownish, subfusiform, or subcylindrical, rarely slightly branched 

 towards the ends, 4-6 //, in diam. Amongst leaves in woods and hedge- 

 rows. Jan. Dec. Not uncommon, (v.v.) 



var. minor Berk. Minor, smaller. 



Differs from the type in its smaller size. 



56. G. pectinatus (Pers.) Lloyd. (= Geaster Schmideli Vitt.) Lloyd, 



The Geastrae, figs. 19-22. Pectinatus, with teeth like a comb. 



Exoperidium 3-6 cm., white, then ochraceous, globose, splitting up 



into 5-10, subequal, acute lobes, divided up to about the middle, 



revolute, whitish, or ochraceous inside, fleshy, the flesh cracking and 



