SPECIMENS IN OUR COLLECTION. 

 Massachusetts. Falmouth, Simon Davis ; Bedford, Chas. W. Jenks. 



BOVISTELLA TRACHYSPORA (Plate 89). Peridium dark, 

 reddish brown, globose, small, l / 2 -i cm., thin. Cortex minute, tufted 

 spines scattered in nodules over the surface and mostly falling away, 

 leaving the peridium smooth. Sterile base none. Gleba dark brown. 

 Capillitium of long, branched, intertwined threads, much curled and 

 matted. Spores globose, 5 mic., tuberculatc, with slender pedicels, 

 10-12 mic. 



This unique little species reaches me from British India. It evi- 

 dently grew in the moss. It has the general appearance of Bovistella 

 echinella from which it differs (as indeed from all other known Bovis- 

 tellas) in having markedly rough spores. 



SPECIMENS IN OUR COLLECTION. 

 British India, "Rcspana Valley, Mussooree, N. W. Himalaya," Wm. Collars. 



TWO RARE PLANTS FROM AUSTRALIA. 



Mr. Walter Gill is the Conservator of Forests of Australia, His 

 official duties call him to travel considerably and he has the very com- 

 mendable habit of picking up and sending to me such "puff balls" as 

 he notes in his travels. He has found several interesting things, but 

 none of so much interest to me as his last package, for it includes two 

 very rare species, Battarrea phalloides and Geaster Smithii. 



GEASTER SMITHII (Fig. 128). This species was discovered 

 in Florida, and as we have never seen other than the original collection 



we were beginning to doubt 

 the species. As a general rule 

 we are somewhat suspicious 

 of species based on a single 

 collection. Mr. Gill's plants 

 have the same peculiar char- 

 acters on which the species 

 was based and tend to confirm 

 the validity of the species. 

 Geaster Smithii (Geastrae, p. 

 21 ) is an intermediate plant 

 F '9- 129. between Geaster Archeri and 



Geaster pectinatus. It is related to the former in its subsessile endo- 

 peridium and to the latter in color (black) and sulcate mouth. It dif- 

 'fers from both in the nature of the mouth, which instead of being 

 beaked and protruding is flattened and seated on a depressed area. 

 jThe discovery of this plant in Australia, heretofore only known from 

 a single station in Florida, has brought us more satisfaction than if 

 Mr. Gill had sent us a dozen "new species." 1 



3 When Geasler Smithii was named, it was under the impression that it was the same 

 :plant as had been illustrated from England under the name Geaster striatus. We feel quite 

 certain now that this is an error, as no such plant grows in England, but the name will have 

 to stand as published. 



287 



