306 : BOTANICAL GAZETTE [OCTOBER 
“The plant was first found (a single specimen) by Mr. C. A. Shore, 
on the trunk of a cedar tree ( Juniperus virginiana), growing with moss. 
Since that time I have found it repeatedly (as has also Mr. Shore) 
sometimes in large numbers (a score or more), and always on the 
trunks of trees growing with moss. It often occurs in association with 
Lycoperdon leprosum as the same situation is affected by both. The 
Geaster never grows in close clusters, but the individuals are scattered 
here and there at varying distances. It seems to grow indifferently on 
almost any tree where moisture conditions are favorable. I have found 
it on Ulmus, Hicoria and Juniperus. The mycelium penetrates the 
old bark and extends itself abundantly between the planes of cleavage.” 
The species may be described as follows: 
Geaster leptospermus Atkinson & Coker, n. sp. Plants occurring 
singly or gregarious, oval to globose. Peridium 3-4.5 in diameter, 
outer layer closely attached to the moss and bark of the tree by numer- 
ous mycelial threads. Outer peridium splitting radially into 3—4 rays, its 
inner and outer layer then separated by a plane of cleavage, the inner 
layer being everted, leaving the outer layer in the form of a thin mem- 
branous cup with a stellate margin, points of the inner layer remain- 
ing attached to the points of the rays of the outer layer, its inner 
face minutely granular, white or with a flesh colored tinge. Inner perid- 
ium sessile or only very slightly pedicellate, 2.5-3.5m in diameter, 
globose and borne aloft by the eversion of the inner layer of the outer 
peridium, as in other fornicate species of the genus; mouth well 
defined, not sulcate nor striate, but marked by distinctly radiate silky 
threads, opening at maturity by a minute perforation ; surface whitish 
or pale lead color, the area about the mouth white. Capillitium abun- 
dant, whitish or pale yellowish-brown, extending from the inner surface 
of the inner peridium towards the center; threads straight or very 
flexuous and irregular, simple or sometimes branched, 2—6 w in diame- 
ter. Spores very minute, 1.5-2.5m in diameter, white or pale yel- 
lowish-brown, smooth, that is, not tuberculate nor echinulate, but often 
irregular and sometimes rather strongly angled, 3-4 angles in side view. 
On moss covered dead bark of living trees ( Juniperus virginiana 
Hicoria, Ulmus, etc.), woods, Chapel Hill, N. C.— Grorcr F. ATKIN- 
SON, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. 
TILLETIA IN THE CAPSULE OF BRYOPHYTES. 
Ir has been known for several years that the capsules of certain 
mosses and liverworts are sometimes attacked by fungous parasites that 
