able to confirm it. It is not a frequent species, but is a widely spread 

 one, and I have specimens from Europe, Australia, Africa and the 

 United States. It is therefore improbable that Kalchbrenner should 

 have been the first to receive it. I believe, in fact, that this is the 

 original of Geaster umbilicatus of Fries, for of all of the plants that 

 have been so referred this is the only one that I know certainly grows 

 in Sweden. At the same time the peridium can not be described as 

 "molli." Guessing on such subjects does no particular harm unless it 

 is put forth as a "rule" for the adoption of the name, according to 

 the ''laws of priority." 



EPIGEAN GEASTERS. 



The genus Geaster could be divided into two sections. First, 

 Epigean, those that develop on the top of the ground, logs, etc. ; 

 second, Hypogaeal, those that develop beneath the surface, coming to 

 the surface to expand. The nature of the species can be told from 

 an examination of the mature plant. Hypogaeal species are sur- 

 rounded when young by a mycelial layer, which usually persists more 

 or less on the mature plant, carrying along with it dirt, etc., and hav- 

 ing a ragged appearance. In some species, especially the section 

 Rigidae, the layer adheres closely to the ground, and is torn away 

 when the plant emerges from the soil, leaving the outer surface of the 

 exoperidium smooth. Plants of this nature can be readily distin- 

 guished, ho\vever, from Epigean species. Epigean geasters, on the 

 contrary, are developed on the surface of the ground or on logs, and 

 hence the mycelium is basal. The surface of the exoperidium is even, 

 smooth or more often velutinate, and can be easily known on examina- 

 tion. Like all other rules, this has its intermediate forms, and cer- 

 tain species like Geaster saccatus seem to connect the two sections. 

 Practically all the Geasters of Europe are hypogaeal, and I know of but 

 a single collection of an epigean species made in Europe, viz., Geaster 

 Welwitchii, by Welwitch in Spain. Most of our species in the United 

 States are likewise hypogaeal, but we have one epigean species fairly 

 common, viz., Geaster velutinus. Most epigean species grow in the 

 tropics. 



GEASTER MIRABILIS (Plate 100). Plants small, epigean, 

 growing cacspitosc on a dense mycelium, which spreads over logs, 

 sticks, etc. Young plant globose, about 4 mm. in diameter. Endo- 

 1 peridium sessile. Mouth definite, lighter color than the remainder of 

 'the endoperidium. This little species is unique in its nature, growing 

 ;always on a dense, mycelial subiculum which spreads over sticks and 

 'logs. It is a native of warm countries and wide in its distribution. 

 Originally described from French Guiana, I have it from Rev. J. Rick, 

 Brazil, and have collected it in Samoa. There are specimens in the 

 museums from Ceylon, Cuba, Paraguay, Australia, Bonin Island, 

 ifJhina and Africa. 



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