North American Fungi. 19 



15. G. lageniformis, Vitt. Outer peridium multifid, the segments 

 6-9 ; inner peridium ovoid sessile, pallid or brownish ; the mouth 

 prominent, conic, ciliate fimbriate, seated in a definite circular area. 

 Columella slender, subclavate or nearly obsolete; threads of the capil- 

 litium thicker than the spores, pale brown ; spores globose, even or 

 very minutely warted, 2.5-3.5 mic. in diameter. 



Growing on the old leaves in woods. Ohio, Morgan. Probably 

 occurring elsewhere along with G. saccatus, of which it may be but a 

 small variety. Inner peridium usually less than ^ of an inch in diam. 

 eter, though larger specimens with the inner peridium ovoid some- 

 times occur. 



16. G. fibrillosus, Schw. " Outer peridium multipartite, inflexed, 

 externally fibrillose-scaly ; inner peridium sessile, even, dehiscent." 

 Schweinitz Syn. Car., No. 330. 



''Related to the preceding (viz., G. hygrometricus), but the segments 

 of the outer peridium more numerous, acuminate, with an expanse of 

 2 inches, externally not glabrate, within rufescent; inner peridium 

 not reticulate, subglobose ; sporidia bay. The single specimen is 

 imperfect, closely infolding its segments as in the preceding. Upon 

 the bare ground, Carolina." Friss, S. M., Vol. III., p. 20. 



" Also in Pennsylvania, usually upon old prostrate trunks, arising 

 out of the rotten bark. Sometimes elegantly areolate with fibrils." 

 Schweinitz N. A. Fungi, No. 2251. 



This species does not appear to have been recognized since by any 

 other person. What its relationship may be it is impossible to infer 

 from the description. 



Genus V. — Astr^eus, Morg. Nov. gen. 



Mycelium fibrous, proceeding from all parts of the surface. 

 Peridium subglobose, composed of two persistent coats ; outer perid- 

 ium thick, coriaceous-cartilaginous, at first concrete with the inner 

 peridium, then at maturity burst into segments and torn away ; inner 

 peridium thin, membranaceous, sessile, dehiscent at the apex by a 

 single mouth. Columella none; capillitium originating from the inner 

 surface of the peridium ; threads long, much branched and inter, 

 woven; spores large, globose, minutely warted, brown. 



A genus founded upon the well-known Geaster hygro metric us, Pers. 

 The internal structure in this species is essentially different from that 

 in all the Geasters of which we have any knowledge ; first, the 

 hymenial tissue fills or stuffs the cells of the gleba, as in Scleroderma : 



