NEW PUFF BALLS FROM SOUTH AMERICA. 



In a recent number of the "Arkiv for Botanik," Robert E. Fries 

 has given an interesting account of the Gastromycetes that he -col- 

 lected in Bolivia and Argentina, including three very distinct and 

 marked new species. 24 My readers may be surprised that I should be 

 interested in "new species" but I take the same interest in them that 

 I do in old ones, provided that they are new to others besides the 

 author. All of Mr. Fries' work, both as to new and old species, is 

 correctly done, 25 and it is a marked improvement over the careless 

 and inaccurate work that was current fifteen or twenty years ago. 

 Mr. Fries does not agree with me as to names in a number of 'in- 

 stances, but that is a matter to which I take no exceptions. As long as 

 he gets the facts correct, the names will take care "of themselves in 

 time. The following is a synopsis of the paper : 



Phalloids. Simblum sphaerccephalum, which, according to the illustration, 

 takes a rather depauperate form. 



Itajahya galericulata, with fine illustrations. Heretofore only known from 

 Brazil, unless the doubtful "Alboffiella argentina" proves to be the same, as 

 Fries suggests, and which is quite probable. 



Lycoperdaceae. The common puff balls of the world that Fries records 

 are Lycoperdon pusillum, Lycoperdon Wrightii, Calvatia lilacina, Catastoma 

 subterraneum, Lanopila bicolor, Mycenastrum Corium, Geaster striatulus, Geaster 

 asper, Geaster saccatus, Geaster velutinus, Tylostoma albicans, and Tylostoma 

 Berteroanum. Calvatia rubroflava, a rather rare species of the United States, 

 is also recorded. It has been found in Brazil and recently in Australia. 

 Geaster peruvianus is recorded, which was heretofore only known from the 

 type at Kew. 



Phellorina argentinensis is figured and seems from the figure to be dis- 

 tinct from the African species. It has a strongly developed outer veil or volva, 

 on which Spegazzini based the genus Cypellomyces. Mr. Fries concluded, 

 doubtless correctly, that it is only a stronger development of what is found 

 in the African species and is not of generic importance. 



Battarrea Gaudichaudii is also recorded. I am satisfied this species is the 

 same as Battarrea Steveniil of Russia and is, in fact, only a robust form of 

 Battarrea phalloides. 



Nidulariaceae. Mr. Fries records three of the common tropical forms, 

 Cyathus Montagnei, Cyathus stercoreus, and Cyathus Poeppigii. The latter he 

 shows, quite conclusively to my mind, to be the same as Cyathus plicatus, 

 a prior name. I have always had but little doubt on the subject, although I 

 have never examined the type of Cyathus plicatus, but even if true I think 



24 They are all new and good unless they have been named by Spegazzini. No one 

 knows anything about Spegazzini's work. Like all hit-and-miss new species exploiters, he un- 

 doubtedly gets from time to time more or less that are really good. I do not pretend to be 

 able to tell which they are, for I have no means to even guess intelligentjy. I should be glad 

 (as would others of whom I know in Europe) to conserve any of Spegazzini's names that have 

 any merit, if we had any way to do it. A few of Spegazzini's puff balls have strayed into 

 Europe in Balansa's exsiccata, most of them mis-named. If Spegazzini will send a set of his 

 "new species" to any museum in Europe, I should be glad to study them and adopt and pre- 

 serve any names that have any merit, and reject such as have none. It is possible, even prob- 

 able, that some of Mr. Fries's species have been "described" by Spegazzini, but no one has 

 any way of knowing. 



23 I note but one error, and that one was evidently taken from my publications, though 

 I have since corrected it. Geaster Berkeley: is not a synonym for Geaster asper. It is a quite 

 different plant. 



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