CLASSIFICATION 463 



SCLERODERMACE^ 



Peridium thick, formed of one layer, narrowed below into a short, 

 stout, stem-like rooting base, liberating the spores by splitting 

 into irregular teeth at the apex, or by the upper portion of the 

 peridium becoming disintegrated. 



Differs from the subterranean Hymenogastraceae in the well- 

 defined, stem-like base of the peridium, and in being developed 

 above ground. 



Key to the Genera 



Peridium subglobose, sessile or subsessile ; gleba powdery at 

 maturity, blackish. Scleroderma. 



Peridium subglobose, narrowed downwards ; gleba containing 

 numerous hard peridiola, olive-brown at maturity. Polysaccum. 



NOTES ON THE GENERA 



Scleroderma 

 Peridial wall thick, consisting of a single layer, indehiscent, or in 

 bursting at the apex into irregular teeth. Gleba at first white, 

 compact, gradually becoming darker in colour as the spores ripen, 

 until finally it is black with a tinge of purple, and traversed by very 

 fine white lines, much broken up. The fungi are subglobose, sessile 

 or nearly so, usually more or less depressed, dingy ochre, and more 

 or less scaly or warted. Very common on the ground in woods and 

 under trees. Smell sour when cut. Not edible. 



Polysaccum 



Distinguished from Scleroderma by the presence of a fairly long 

 stalk, which supports the more or less globose peridium. The gleba 

 is filledwithsmallglobosebodiesorperidiola,whichcontain the spores. 



One of the rarest of our indigenous fungi, which has not been 

 collected by anyone during recent years. 



Scleroderma 



Peridium firm, warty or scaly, indehiscent or splitting into ir- 

 regular teeth at the apex ; spore-mass blackish or tinged purple. 



S. vulgare (PI. XXXV, fig. 6). — Peridium subsessile, subglobose 

 or globoso-depressed, sometimes ovate, plicate towards the base, 

 whitish or pale brown, sometimes with a tinge of 3-ellow, roughly 

 scaly or warted, 1-3 in. across ; spore-mass blackish with a purple 

 tinge. 



Wall of peridium thick, flesh white, often becoming pinkish 

 when cut. Smell sour. 



Under trees. Often in clusters. 



5. verrucosum. — Peridium subglobose, 1-3 in. across, covered with 

 minute warts, ochraceous or dingy brown, wall thin, narrowed 

 below into a stem |-i in. long ; spore-mass umber. 



