Fig. 740 



Strobilomyces pallid : 



STROBILOMYCES PALLIDUS, FROM F. A. WOLF, 

 ALABAMA. (Fig. 740.) We have received from our Southern 

 States what appears to us to be the above 

 species, heretofore only known from Australia, 

 and an addition to our scanty Strobilomyces 

 native flora. The common Strobilomyces stro- 

 bilaceus of the northern States has dark, ful- 

 iginous scales, and we were impressed at once 

 with the pale scales of these specimens. On 

 examination, we find it has entirely different 

 spores, viz.: oblong, 7x20 mic., colored, 

 smooth, with fine striations, and on compari- 

 son seems to me to be same as the Australian 

 species, excepting a more slender stem. Berke- 

 ley based the genus Strobilomyces on the 

 globose spores (cfr. Note 82, Letter 45), hence 

 this plant does not belong to the genus, and 

 our friend McGinty proposes for it the name 

 Strobilofungus pallidus (Cooke) McGinty. 

 However, as by use the name Strobilomyces has acquired a different 

 meaning from the original definition (cfr. note cited), we believe it 

 would be better to allow it to stand. 



There are several species of Strobilomyces in Australia, but 

 Strobilomyces strobilaceus (and a doubtful species S. floccopus) are 

 the only species heretofore attributed to United States or Europe. 



ARACHNION SCLERODERMA, FROM MISS A. V. 

 DUTHIE, SOUTH AFRICA. Peridium globose, 1-1 ^ cm. in diam- 

 eter, with a strong, rooting base. Sterile base, none. Peridium thin, 

 with large, irregular warts on the order of the warts of Scleroderma 

 ^^^. aurantiacum. Gleba greenish olive. Peridioles irreg- 



Jfet ular, both in size and shape, from globose to nar- 

 Ut rowly elongated, or obtusely triangular, 60-300 mic. in 

 diameter. Spores globose, or slightly oval, smooth, 

 mostly pedicellate, with slender pedicels 16-20 mic. long. 

 I have worked with puff balls now for about fifteen 

 years, and of the many hundred specimens received, I 

 never have gotten another that is as distinctly novel as this plant. 

 The genus Arachnion heretofore, like the genus Battarrea, and the 

 genus Polysaccum, has consisted of practically one polymorphic 

 species, Arachnion album, plants varying slightly in minor details, 

 but really the same thing. A full account of this species was given 

 in Mycological Notes, page 252. Arachnion Scleroderma is nearly 

 the same as to microscopic characters, but so different in its grosser 

 characters, that I thought at first it was a Scleroderma. 



SEBACINA DENDROIDEA. We reproduce (fig. 742) a pho- 

 tograph of this curious plant made by Burtt Leeper, Salem, Ohio. 

 It is a rather rare plant in the United States, and is always found 

 growing on thehymenial face of Fomes applanatusor the allied species, 



538 



