32() MINNESOTA BOTANICAL STUDIES. 



examples were noted of basidia bearing either three or four 

 sterigmata. The basidia are barrel-shaped and considerably 

 larger in diameter than the hyphas from which they arise. The 

 sterigmata are borne at the summit in the usual manner for 

 hymenomycetes. The spores are oval in shape and about 

 1.6 x 2.5 fi in size. 



Physalacria injlata apparently enjoys a wide distribution but 

 seems never to occur in great abundance. It has been col- 

 lected in S. Car. (1), the White Mountains (8), New York (11), 

 and in Minnesota. As far as I know these are the only recorded 

 occurrences. 



Systematic Position. 



Physalac?'ia has been assigned to the Clavariaceae. Among 

 the genera of this family Baumanviclla (P. Hennings) seems to 

 be most nearly related, though this genus contains single-spored 

 basidia. Gloeocephala (Massee) differs considerably from Physa- 

 lacria, not only in one-spored basidia but also in the localiza- 

 tion of the hymenium on the lower surface of the more or less 

 flattened club and in the prominence of its cystidia-like hairs on 

 the upper surface. Pistillaria and Tyfhula, on the other hand, 

 approach in form and texture the true Clavaria types. In 

 certain aspects Physalacria also shows interesting resemblances 

 to the Trembling fungi, c. g\, to such forms as Ditio la amongst 

 the Dacromycetineae. In Physalacria a somewhat gelatinous 

 region is found below the subhymenium, though this gelatinous 

 region is not extensively developed. The forked basidium of 

 Ditiola removes it far from Physalacria, yet the partial gela- 

 tinization of the club of the latter is one of but a few such 

 instances among the Clavariacca. 



Other Species. 



Physalacria langloisii E. & E. (4) is a very small species 

 found in Alabama in 1888. It grows on rotten wood and is less 

 than 1 mm. in height, and is distinguished from P. injlata (S) 

 Peck, by the smaller size and urn-shaped cystidia. 



P. orinocencis Pat. (5) is also a small species about 3 to 4 

 mm. high. Found in northern South America. It grows in 

 clusters, has an inflated club which appears (from figures in 

 Nat. Pflanzenfamilian Fungi, 1 1 ** : 131. 1898) to be more 

 or less conical in form and its hymenium covers the whole 

 surface of the club. 



