In Ravenelii, Tylerii, orirubra and Junghuhni it breaks into areas 

 and dries more or less as scales on the endoperidium. 

 In fuscus it falls off as a cap. 



THE SPORES. The species can be divided into two series as to the 

 spores. 



Junghuhni, lutescens, orirubra and insignis have globose, rough 

 spores. Cinnabarinus, Ravenelii, fuscus and Tylerii have oblong, sculp- 

 tured spores. 



THE SPORE SAC. The spores are contained in a special membrane 

 lining the endoperidium. As the plant matures this spore-sac contracts 

 forcing the spores through slits of the rayed mouths. All known species 

 have this spore-sac though the genus Husseya was based on its sup- 

 posed absence. 



THE MOUTHS. Among the Gastromycetes, as far as known, the 

 mouths of Mitremyces are peculiar to this genus. They are raised 

 rayed teeth and open by longitudinal slits between the teeth. In ad- 

 dition, whatever may be the color of the peridium, the mouths of all 

 known species are red when fresh. 



Section i. The Oblong=Spored Species. 



MITREMYCES CIXXABARINUS (Plate 8). Rooting strands 

 long, compact, dark when dry. Exoperidium gelatinous, at first "buck- 

 ling" then breaking into pieces, which curl up and fall away. Endo- 

 peridium globose, smooth, bright red when fresh, the color fading in 

 old specimens. Spores oblong, punctate, sculptured, varying much in 

 size in specimens from different localities and even in the same speci- 

 mens. From 6-8 x 10-14 to 6-8 x 12-20 mic. 



This is our most common and widely distributed species. It occurs 

 as far east as Massachusetts, as far south as Florida and Texas, and we 

 have seen a specimen from Jalapa, Mexico. It does not extend west 

 into the Mississippi basin. 



SPECIMENS IN OUR COLLECTION. 



Massachusetts, Geo. E. Morris, T. L. Smith. Hollis Webster. Clara E. Cum- 

 tnings, Simon Davis, Mrs. E. B. Blackford; Pennsylvania, Chas. Mcllvaine : 

 West Virginia, H. C. Beardslee. C. G. Lloyd ; North 'Carolina, H. C. Beardslee, 

 Ed. R. Memminger, A. G. Wetherby; Alabama, A. S. Bertolet. 



MITREMYCES RAVENELII (Plate 9, and Plate 68). Root- 

 ing strand long and slender. Exoperidium breaking up into small 

 pieces, which dry up and remain attached, scale-like, to the inner 

 peridium. Endoperidium dark brown when dry, scaly with the remains 

 of the exoperidium. Raised, rayed mouth, bright red when fresh 

 contrasting with the somber color of the peridium. Spores elliptical, 

 oblong, slightly sculptured, varying much as to size 5-8x10-15 mic. 



This plant is widely distributed in the Appalachian regions, and 

 ?s the only species known to occur in Japan.f It has also been sent to 

 Paris from China. 



t Specimens that we have received from our American correspondents are larger plants 

 than the original type specimens that Kavenelii sent Berkeley. Those from Japan are almost 

 the same size. All agree in other respects. 



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