North American Fungi.* n 



Growing in sandy soil, California, Harkness. Volva 3 inches in 

 diameter, stipe 4-6 inches in height, inner peridium 4-5 inches in 

 breadth. The stipe is very thick and stout, sometimes as much as 

 2 x / 2 inches in diameter at the base within the volva, and 1 inch at the 

 apex. In many cases the outer peridium does not rupture at all, the 

 spores being set free from the destruction of the stipe by the larvse of 

 insects. 



2. P. Californicum, Hark. Outer peridium grayish, soon 

 rupturing and widely separated by the slender elongating stipe ; inner 

 peridium flat or depressed; spores dark, reddish-brown, nearly glo- 

 bose, 6-8 mic. in diameter. 



Growing on sand-hills west of San Francisco, Cal., Harkness. Stipe 

 4-8 inches in height, by *4 an inch in thickness, the pileate inner 

 peridium i~i}4 inches in breadth. It is very distinct from the pre- 

 ceding species, and more nearly resembles Montagnites Candollei, Fr. 



Genus II. Batarrea, Pers. 



Outer peridium volviform, ruptured irregularly, persistent; stipe 

 elongated, hollow, the surface lacerate into scales; inner peridium 

 hemispheric, plane or concave underneath, dehiscent by a circular 

 fissure beneath the margin, the upper part coming off like a lid. 

 Capillitium of simple or branched threads with spiral or annular 

 thickenings; spores globose, brownish. 



Plants growing in sandy soil. The peridium originates deep down 

 in the ground ; at a certain stage of its development, the outer coat is 

 burst and an axile portion of the basal cushion develops into an erect 

 elongated stipe which lifts the inner peridium above the surface of 

 the ground. 



1. B. phalloides, Dicks. Outer peridium fleshy, ovoid, whitish, 

 bursting irregularly at the apex; stipe long, cylindric, equal, fibrose- 

 lacerate; inner peridium hemispheric, concave and smooth under- 

 neath, the upper part coming off like a lid. Spores brown. 



Growing in the sand. San Francisco, Torrey; California and Ari- 

 zona, Harkness. Peridium sunk in the ground to the depth of 7 or 

 8 inches, stipe attaining an altitude of nearly 1 foot, with a thickness 

 of about y^ of an inch, inner peridium 2 inches in diameter. There 

 does not appear to be any later description of this plant than the one 

 quoted by Fries, S. M., Vol. III., page 7. 



Genus III. Myriostoma, Desv. 



Peridium subglobose, composed of two distinct persistent coats; 



