triscapa) that he figured (Fig. 134) from specimens from a little island, Tortuga 

 near San Domingo. Nees von Esenbeck transferred the 

 American plant to the genus Laternea. For a long time it 

 was supposed that the number of columns (three) was the 

 specific character of Turpin's species and three-columned 

 specimens of Laternea coluinnata have been so referred. It 

 is now known that the number of columns varies in Later- 

 nea columnata : usually four, they are sometimes three and 

 sometimes five. Turpin's figure is only about one third the 

 size of the American species, with very slender columns, 

 and if any specific difference exists it is in the general size 

 of the plants, not in the number of the columns. Turpin's 

 plant has never been refound unless Berkeley's little Later- 

 ^^^\ nea pusilla from Cuba is a small form of it, but Laternra 

 > x pusilla is as much relatively smaller than Laternea triscapa 



Fig 134 as t^ at ' s sma ll er than Laternea columnata. Laternea 



columnata collected in Brazil was at one time called by 

 Prof. Fischer Clathrus brasiliensis, and at another time Cla- 

 thrus cancellatus var. brasiliensis, and at one time he called the American plant 

 Clathrus cancellatus, var. columnatus. He has since receded from all these opin- 

 ions, and it is quite evident the species is no form of Clathrus cancellatus. It is 

 almost certain that Laternea columnata is what Rafinesque called the genus 

 Colonnaria (Cfr. Myc. Notes, p. 129) and although the name is much prior to 

 Laternea the name juggler has not yet appeared, who no doubt will present him- 

 self in good time and propose a "new combination." 



MUTINUS ELEGANS (Plate 93). The genus Mutinus has a 

 single stem or stalk (receptacle it is called) bearing the gleba directly 

 on the upper portion of the stem. It will be recognized at once from 

 our figure. Around Cincinnati it is perhaps the most common phalloid 

 we have. What its geographical distribution is I do not know, but it 

 occurs as far west as Missouri (Dr. Glatfelter) and as far east as 

 Pennsylvania (Dr. Herbst). I judge from Prof. Burt's writings that 

 in the extreme east it is mostly replaced by other species. The color of 

 Mutinus elegans is flesh color or deeper red. The form, thicker be- 

 low and tapering above, is characteristic of the plant as it grows at 

 Cincinnati, and to my mind is its specific character. Whether the 

 "club-shaped" plant which we now call Mutinus Ravenelii is only a 

 form of Mutinus elegans, or whether it is a distinct species we are un- 

 decided, but we feel quite sure Mutinus Ravenelii is not Mutinus can- 

 inus of Europe, as has been stated. 



HISTORY. Sullivan sent from Columbus, Ohio, a figure of this plant and 

 a specimen to Montagne, who labeled it in his herbarium "Caromyxa elegans." 

 but did not publish it until after Berkeley had published "Corynites Ravenelii," 

 ; when it was published (Sylloge 1856, p. 281) as Corynites elegans. The specimen 

 i is still in good condition in Montagne's herbarium. Berkeley published the plant 

 j in 1873 as Corynites Curtisii (changed by Fischer to Mutinus Curtisii) and the 

 ;type at Kew is characteristically this species. Morgan gave a good figure of it 

 ;.and published it in 1889 as Mutinus bovinus, and as he was the first to give a 

 i description and figure from which the plant could be recognized, we would ac- 

 ,-cept his name if it were as good as his figure. 



MUTINUS RAVENELII (Fig. 135). There occurs in the 

 ! United States a species very similar to the preceding but which is 

 Smaller and dub shaped, being broader above and tapering below. This 



299 



