Tremellacese 



I. MESENTERIFOR'MES. Gelatinous, inclining to cartilaginous. 



Tremelia. T. fimbria'ta Pers. fimbria, fringe. Olivaceous inclining to black, 

 cespitose, clusters 2-3 in. high and even broader, erect, corrugated; 

 lobes flaccid, incised at the margin, undulately fringed. 



When soaked with water it has a dark tawny tinge. Stevenson. 



Spores subpyriform. 



On roots, dead branches, stumps, rails, etc. 



From July to December, 1898, tufts five inches in diameter grew 

 from an oak stump close by the writer's cottage at Mt. Gretna, Pa. 

 These tufts dried, and revived after rain into a gelatinous condition. 

 They were nibbled at raw, and several were cooked. Tufts were found 

 elsewhere in the same woods and eaten by others. They were unani- 

 mously approved. The species dries hard, like thin glue, but is darker. 

 A dried piece swells in the mouth, grows tough, and has but little taste. 

 Flavor develops in cooking. 



T. lutes'cens Pers. Ititcus, yellow. Yellowish, cespitose, small, 

 cluster % i in. broad, very soft, circling in wavy, undulating folds; 

 lobes entire, naked. 



Inclining to be fluid. Whitish when young. Stevenson. 

 Spores subglobose, 12-16/1 diameter Massee. 



North Carolina, common. Curtis. 

 On decaying branches, stumps, etc. 

 July to February. 



It dries and revives, or swells with 

 moisture, very soft and tremulous. 

 Edible. Leuba. 



II. CEREBRINjE. Firm then pulpy , etc. 



T. mesenter'ica Retz. Gr. the 

 mesentary. Gelatinous but firm, 

 bright orange-yellow, variously con- 

 torted; lobes short, smooth, pruinose 

 with the white spores at maturity. 

 Spores broadly elliptical, 6-9/u. diameter ; 

 conidia 1-1.5/11 diameter. 



On dead branches. Very variable in 



530 



(Plate CXLIV.) 



TREMELLA MESENTERICA. 

 Natural size. 



