known only from the old collection of Spruce, all specimens of which have pleuropodial stems. 

 Both of Rev. Torrend's collections have mesopodial stems and thinner context. Hence 

 it is not sure that they are the same species, but considering that they came from same 

 region and have same stems, and same pores, and same context I believe this is where it 

 should be referred. I find spores globose, hyaline, smooth, 8 mic. in one of Rev. Torrend's 

 specimens (smaller 4-5 mic. in the other). 1 have hunted often for spores but never found 

 them in the Spruce collection. I classed Polysticus gracilis (with doubt) in section 

 Amaurodermus, but if these specimens are correct that classification was a mistake. 



NOTE 246. Laschia, papulata, from Rev. C. Torrend, Madagascar. Laschia is a 

 tropical polyporoid genus with gelatinous tissue. They are mostly small and we get very 

 few collections for the usual collector does not see these things. Ninety different species 

 have been named biit I doubt if there are more than a dozen or twenty good ones. Of 

 24 collections that reached Hennings, he discovered 21 to be "new species." 



Laschia papulata came to Montagne originally from Chili and I think it was the 

 first foreign true Laschia to be named (the original Laschia delicata not being a Laschia 

 in the present sense). Montagne published it as Favolus pusillus (afterwards corrected 

 it) and both Montagne and Berkeley at first mistook Laschia of the present day to be 

 Favolus of Fries and named their first species in accordance. The microscopic characters 

 are no* iccordod for the early species named, and the material preserved in the museums 

 is so scanty one does not wish to cut it. Hence I am most glad to get Laschias in order 

 to study them in section. 



Laschia papulata is a small species, varying from 2-6 mm. Stipe lateral, slender. 

 Color white, drying pale flesh. Surface pustulate with the translucent pores. Surface 

 cells large, not muricate, deep colored. Hymenium cells (cystidia?) obovate, deep colored, 

 r x 30. Basidia club shaped, forming a palisade layer. Spores hyaline, smooth, sub- 

 globoso, 8 x 10 mic. with granular contents. 



The following plants according to my photographs and notes of the types, agrea in 

 the main macroscopic features with Laschia papulata. Whether they differ or not in 

 microscopic characters I cannot say. 



Laschia brasiliensis, Brazil, described as pellucid yellow, spores not given. Seems 

 same as papulata to me. 



Laschia Selloana, Brazil, surely same as above. 



Laschia Volkersii, Africa, described as citrine, spores "luteolus" elliptical, 6-7 x 10-11. 



Laschia tonkinensis, China, white, spores subglobose, 8-10 x 10-12. 



All the above are probably the same species. Rev. Torrend's specimen from Africa is 

 no doubt Laschia Volkersii but probably also, Laschia papulata. No dependence whatever 

 can be placed on Henning's microscopic records, and as to "new species" everything was 

 "new" that reached him. 



Fig. 707. Calvatia versipora. Photograph from Prof. J. Umemura. 



NOTE 247. Calvatia versipora, (Fig. 707). Globose, two to three inches in diameter 

 growing caespitose on a dead tree. Peridium white, smooth, or faintly pubescent, breaking 

 irregularly in dehiscence. Sterile base none. Gleba pale isabelhne color, triable, Pjdery, 

 with no indication to the eye of capillitium. Spores varying much in shape and j size, 

 _i,.i U..4.; i ::< * B * 10 mio in Hiamptpr. smooth, with granular contents, 



irc-rn an v^aivatias. oumtr ui me OH"*<= , . -XL *u 



end, but I am not sure of it, and if it is true we cannot explain it by the 

 basidial origin of all "puff ball" spores. There is something mysterious about it. 



7 



