312 MINNESOTA BOTANICAL STUDIES. 



* Cook, Aug., 1902, Fink; Cook, Aug., 1903, Freeman and 

 Ballard 5. 



This is Gyromitra infula (Schaff.) Buel. Schroter in Die 

 Naturlichen Pflanzenfamilien, has defined Gyromitra as pos- 

 sessing an inflated cap. In the above species no true inflation 

 of the cap is found, i. e., the cavity of the stipe is not prolonged 

 into a cavity in the cap as in the morels. Hence the condition 

 here is similar to that of Helvella. It approaches the true 

 Gyromitras however in the tendency of the cap to become 

 irregularly convoluted and especially in the fusion of the cap 

 with the stipe. Helvella infula Schaff. therefore stands be- 

 tween the Gyromitras with truly inflated cap and the typical 

 Helvellas without fusion of cap and stipe. There is moreover 

 often a very marked saddle form to specimens of this species. 

 Schroter's conception of the genus Gyromitra accords with 

 Fries' original description " discus bullato-inflatus, costis ela- 

 vatis gyrosus." (Summa Veg. Scand. 346. 1849.) 



Our specimens agree with Krombholz Schwamme III., pi. 

 19, figs. 11-13 {H' rhodopoda which is clearly a true Helvella 

 and is included by Rehm as a synonym under H infula. 

 They also agree with Roumeguere Fungi Gall. Exsicc. 1208, 

 in which the spores measure 18-22 mic. x 9-12 mic. ; Kromb- 

 holz Schwamme III., pi. 21 , figs. 12-itf. Helvella infula also 

 agrees as far as exterior views are concerned but the sectional 

 views do not clearly show the relation of stipe and cap cavities 

 as seen in the Minnesota specimens. 



Certain specimens of these Helvellas contained an abundance 

 of Sphaironamaimclla helvellce. Karst. It differs from Karsten's 

 descriptions (Hedw. 23; 18. 1884) in its possession of ultimately 

 uniseptate spores. These are at first continuous and later uni- 

 septate. In all other points the agreement is complete. 

 5. Verpa conica (Mill.) Swartz. Vet. Ak. Handl. 136. 



1 8 1 5 . ( Plate II. , figs . 4 , 3 , 6 ; Plate I V. , figs . 3 0-33 . ) 



Stipe cylindrical, tapering at the apex, hollow, white, even 

 or slightly wrinkled, floccose, up to 2.5 in. high and 1.5 in. 

 wide; pileus conical, even or slightly wrinkled, brownish 

 above, white beneath, up to .5 in. deep by 1 in. across at the 

 base; spores elliptical, obtuse, smooth, containing one large 

 central oil drop, 20-22 mic. long by 10-14 mic. wide; para- 

 physes filiform, septate, branched, 6 mic. wide. 



On moist ground. 



