of the specimen that we photograph. Our enlargement (Fig. 928) 

 shows the white ring around the ostioles. 



SYNONYMS. This plant was distributed by Theissen as Xylaria Hypoxylon var. tropica, 

 but it does not seem to be published under this name. It is too obese for X. Hypoxylon, besides, I 

 think the white rings are characteristic of a species. Xylaria exalbata, Ceylon, Berkeley, is surely 

 the same plant, and is marked in same way as noted by Berkeley. Xylaria Neilgherries, a mss. name 

 at Kew, is also same species. 



RARE SPECIES OF FUNGI RECEIVED FROM 

 CORRESPONDENTS 



CALVATIA CRETACEA, FROM PROF. JOHN DEARNESS, 

 CANADA (Fig. 929). Plant globose, 2-3 inches in diameter. Some- 

 times with a short, rooting, sterile base. Cortex a thick, furfuraceous 

 coat, which breaks into pyramidal warts and finally largely disap- 

 pears. In some specimens the cortex is much less developed than 

 shown in our photograph. Peridium breaking irregularly in dehis- 

 cence. Gleba dark, purplish brown. Spores globose, 5-7 mic., apic- 

 ulate, distinctly rough, with small, echinulate points. Capillitium 

 rigid, interwoven, threads 5-12 mic. in diameter, mostly 8-10, usually 

 broken in short pieces, deep colored. 



Fig. 929. 



This is a peculiar arctic species, only known from extreme 

 northern regions. It first reached Berkeley, collected by Captain 

 Feilden, on Bellot Island, August 14, 1876. Bellot Island is up near 

 the North Pole somewhere. Berkeley named it Lycoperdon creta- 

 ceum, and published it in his usually imperfect way (1878) in his 

 account of the fungi of the Arctic expedition. It is the only collec- 

 tion at Kew, and as will be seen from our photograph (Fig. 929), is 

 in good condition. We fail to see any application of Berkeley's name 

 and are much tempted to use the later and better name. 



650 



