Note on the Flora of Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. 



79 



NOTE ON THE FLORA OF MAMMOTH CAVE, 

 KENTUCKY. 



By R. Ellsworth Call, Ph. D. 



Very little is known of the plants which occur in this 

 underground world, the animals hitherto having been chiefly 

 gathered and studied. During frequent visits for study of 

 the cave and its fauna, opportunities were presented to me to 

 make some casual notes on its flora, and these are here given 

 in condensed form. 



The plants are, of course, all cryptogams, and mostly 

 microscopic. The molds and mildews are most commonly 

 observed growing on the rejectamenta of lunches taken into 

 the cave by visiting parties. Even with these forms, intro- 

 duced thus and forming no part of a true subterranean flora, 

 the list is a meager one. The list following contains all that 

 have been noticed thus far. 



Coprinus micaceous Bull. — Groups of this form have been taken 

 only in River Hall, near the Cascades, and at the boat landing. 



Pomes applanatus Pers. — In the Labyrinth. Attached to timbers 

 used in bridge construction, and probably introduced on them. 

 The forms, are, however, curiously modified, being cylindrical 

 in shape aud curiously contorted. 



Rhizomorpha molinaris. — Abundant on old timbers in Mammoth 

 Dome. This form is common on old timbers in mines; some 

 foreign representatives are phosphorescent. 



Microascus longirostis Zukal. — Washington Hall. 



Zasmidium cellare Fr. — Top of Corkscrew. On old barrel head. 

 Probably introduced with the barrel. 



Mucor mucedo Linnaeus. Abundant in the labyrinth and on the 

 bridge over the Bottomless Pit. Also observed at Mary's Vine- 

 yard and in River Hall. 



Gymnoascus setosus Eidam. — Washington Hall. 



Sporotrichum densum Link. — On dead bodies of crickets (Hadence- 



cus subterraneus). 

 Sporotrichum flavissimum Link. — Washington Hall. On old bones 



and refuse of lunches. 

 Laboulbenia subterranea. — Found as a parasite on the little beetle, 



Anophthalmus tellkampfii. 



fjouR. Cin. Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol. XIX, No. 2.) I Printed March 24, 1897. 



