EEPORr OF THE STATE BOTANIST 309 



Clavaria botrytes Pers. 

 Red-th'fed Clavaria. 



Plate 39. Fig8. 6 to 7. 



Stem short, thick, fleshy, whitish, much branched ; branches 

 often somewhat rugose- wrinkled, repeatedly branched, the lips 

 red ; spores oblong-elliptical, .0005 to .0006 in. long. 



The Eed-tipped clavaria differs but little from the preceding 

 species in size and structure, but is easily distinguished by the 

 red tips of the branches. The color elsewhere may be whitish 

 or yellow or pinkish. When old the tips sometimes fade, and 

 then it is less easy to separate this species from the Pale-yellow 

 clavaria. The branches are sometimes longitudinally wrinkled. 

 It grows in thin woods and open places, and may be found in wet 

 weather in July, August and September. Nearly all mycologists 

 agree in classing this among the edible species. They ascribe to it 

 delicious qualities and an agreeable flavor. Unfortunately, 'it is 

 not very common in our State. 



Clavaria cristata Pers. 

 Crested Clavaria. 



Plate 39. Figs. 8 to 12. 1 



Stem rather slender, even, tenacious, stuffed, branclied ; 

 branches dilated above, acutely incised or crested, the tips gener- 

 ally becoming brown with age ; spores globose or broadly ellip- 

 tical, white, .00025 to .0003 in. long. 



The Crested clavaria is smaller than either of the two species 

 already described, but it is much more abundant. It is notnfton 

 more than two or two and a half inches high, but it often grows 

 in tufts as broad as they are high. It varies in color, but is com- 

 monly white or whitish. Sometimes it has a dingy look as if it 

 had been smoked. Again it is faintly tinged with dull i>ink or 

 creamy-yellow. It is easily recognized by the peculiar tips of tlie 

 branches. These are rather slender and acute or pointed, and 

 sometimes so numerous as to give a crested appearance to the 

 apically-flattened branch they terminate. When old they usu- 

 ally turn brown" or blackish-brown at the tij^s. I'nusual forms 

 of the plant occur in which these acute terininat branchh't.s are 

 wanting;. The branches then end abruptlv in a bhint point. 

 Perhaps these forms are referable to C. cora//<>i</<\^, l>ut iliat is 

 described as having the tips of the branches acute. 



