TWO INTERESTING PHALLOIDS FROM AFRICA. 



Two phalloids of the greatest interest to me have been received 

 from Edouard Luja, of Congo Beige. 



Clathrus Fischeri, a specimen which, though dried, is quite 

 characteristic. Although this plant seems to be frequent and wide- 

 spread in Africa, it is scantily known in our 

 literature. It corresponds to Clathrus ci- 

 barius of New Zealand, having the same 

 tubular structure (viz., the genus Ileodic- 

 tyon), the same general shape and size, but 

 the meshes are smaller. I question if a 

 photograph of the fresh plant would show- 

 much difference from the photograph we 

 have printed (Phalloid Synopsis, page 61) 

 of Clathrus cibarius. The African plant is 

 yellow and the New Zealand plant is white. 

 Clathrus Fischeri was named from a very 

 imperfect specimen in the museum at Paris, 

 from which I could only obtain such a 

 scanty idea that I did not consider it in my 

 Pi, 5 U Phalloid Synopsis. It was mentioned inci- 



ciathrus camerunensis. dentally on page 62 as an African form (?) 



of Clathrus cibarius. Then I received alco- 

 holic specimens and color notes from Charles A. O'Connor (cfr. 

 Letter 27), which placed the species on a firm basis, and now Mr. 

 Luja sends nice specimens with color notes ("jaune-orange") that 

 further confirm it. I am glad that Clathrus Fischeri turns out to be 

 a good species. 



Clathrus Camerunensis. Mr. Luja sends a specimen of this 

 plant in formalin, from which we have been enabled to make a photo- 

 graph (fig. 514), the first photograph that has been printed of this 

 species. But Mr. Luja's specimen raises the question if it is not the 

 same species as Clathrus pusillus of Australia. Heretofore we have 

 supposed the difference to be a color distinction, but Mr. Luja's 

 specimen still retains its color, and it is red, not olive. I wish we had 

 a better knowledge of the Australian plant. 



BOOKS FOR SALE. 



u T ^ OSe desirin g to purchase books on -American Mycology should communicate 

 fK u Carrie Hef bst, Trexlertown, Pa., who has for sale the library of her 

 lather, the late Dr. Herbst. This collection embraces some works that are very hard 

 obtain, such as Peck's early Reports, Stevenson's British Fungi, etc. 



POLYPORUS MYLITTAE, 



v An art' 016 published by Alfred J. Ewart in the Proceedings of the Royal Society 



K ": t0na> ' ex P lains tne mystery of why the sclerotium of this fungus is so 



abundant in Australia and so rarely develops' fruiting bodies. In order to produce 



the fruiting body, the sclerotium must be exposed to light as well as heat and 



moisture. Mr. Ewart developed in four days, by exposure to light, the Polyporus 



mcation five inches in diameter, on sclerotium that had remained buried for 



more than two years in the earth. I wish some one would try this method on our 



American tuckahoe, and see what the result would be. 



518 



