CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE CRYPTOGAMIC LABO- 
RATORY OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY. XXXVIII. 
NOTES ON THE GENUS CALOSTOMA. 
CHARLES EDWARD BURNAP. 
(WITH PLATE XIX) 
THE genus Calostoma comprises a small group of gastromy- 
cetous fungi of peculiar habit which, though widely distributed 
geographically, are by no means well known as regards their 
developmental history. Even the commonest species, which is 
also the best known member of the group, and is met with not 
rarely in the whole eastern section of the United States, has 
never been obtained in a condition to show clearly the earlier 
phenomena connected with its spore formation. The lack of any 
definite information on this point has rendered the immediate 
affinities of the genus a matter of some uncertainty, and the 
present paper is offered as a slight contribution on the subject, 
based upon the examinition of material in unusually good con- 
dition collected by Dr. Thaxter in the vicinity of New Haven, 
Conn. The fact that this fungus passes its early stages just 
below the surface of the ground and is usually protruded only 
after the elements of the gleba, or spore bearing portion, have 
disappeared by absorption, renders it very difficult to procure in 
a young condition. The present material was obtained just as 
the plant was beginning to appear at the surface in a spot which 
had been marked during the previous season with this end in 
view. In addition to this young material just mentioned I have — 
had access to specimens in Dr. Thaxter’s herbarium, and the 
collections in the laboratory and herbarium of the Cryptogamic 
Department of Harvard Uabesiye including. the collection of - 2 
Dr. Curtis- 
Although one of the A American species of Kalostons. was” 
d-scribed as — as +1691, the first extended account of the 
ie a 
