Rare Fungi Found at St. Andrew's, N.B. 337 



or two inches high. Its caps are curved and twisted or 

 so irregularly-shaped that two plants are not often 

 found quite alike. As it differs from the European spe- 

 cies in being so irregular, Prof. Peck has added var ir- 

 regularis to its name. Its flavour is said to be very deli- 

 cate and fine, and it is sometimes eaten raw as a salad. 

 Closely related is Spathidaria velutipes, Cooke and Far- 

 low, of the same golden colour. It is shaped like an 

 apothecary's spatula, hence its generic name. It is dis- 

 tinguished by the broad, flattened ascophore running 

 down opposite sides of the stem. Hypomyces laciifluo- 

 rum — Schweinitz. Parasitic on large forms of fleshy 

 fungi, frequently some species of Lactarius. The host 

 plant is often so transformed as not to be recognizable. 

 The gills entirely obliterated so that the hymenium of 

 the Agaric presents an even orange coloured surface, on 

 which the sub-globose perithecia are thickly bedded. I 

 do not know that this fungus is rare, but it is puzzling 

 to the finder, who sees it for the first time. Moderately 

 large specimens are frequently found at St. Andrews. 

 But one favorable season many years ago, an extraor- 

 dinary group of them was seen, the specimens so large 

 that they looked like quarters and halves of big pump- 

 kins scattered over the ground. 



The family Clavariaceas I have left to the last, al- 

 though it belongs between Thelephoraeese and Tremella- 

 cege. Its most conspicuous genus Clavaria is represented 

 by eight beautiful species. One the Clavaria purpurea 

 Persoon in the discovery of which we take greatest satis- 

 faction and pride. It is always a pleasure to me to 

 think of the finding of this rare and beautiful Clavaria 

 as associated with one, who has been a member and 

 friend of this Natural History Society for many years, 

 Mrs. Girdwood, whose love and enthusiasm for Botany 

 and whose great knowledge of it in all its branches is 

 an inspiration to all who have the privilege of accom- 

 panying her in rambles through the woods. As we were 

 walking together on the island in August, 1908, we came 



