14 



Mycologia 



priniis micaceus. The pileus is well developed, but the stipe 

 app ears to be undeveloped. Then, too, one sees the pseudo- 

 lamellae and hardly knows what to expect until it is cut open. 



Quite strangely, in reporting these specimens, I used almost the 

 same words in describing them as did Dr. Setchell, who described 

 and named this and another species as having been found at 

 Berkeley in 1907; the one I found being somewhat common, the 

 latter rare. 



These two are species of the widely distributed, but uncommon 

 genus, Secotium, about which there seems to be very little known. 

 The species found as noted above is described by Dr. Setchell as 

 S. tenuipes, and anyone having seen his paper cannot mistake this 

 very remarkable fungus. 



The other species named by him is even more remarkable, in 

 its imitation of a young, red-capped species of Russiila, and be- 

 cause of this resemblance it is known as Elasmomyces russuloides. 

 It had up to this time proved to be quite rare, and was reported 

 only from Berkeley, California. 



During an extended trip to the coast, but only about twenty 

 miles from the above location, late in May of 191 7", I came upon 

 a single specimen under a thin covering of laurel leaves. Seen 

 from above, one would invariably take it for a Russida unless 

 the description was known, and then only the conspicuous pseudo- 

 lamellae would reveal its true character. It is a small plant, from 

 two to five centimeters across the pileus, but very attractive. 



When I resumed my explorations this spring in the original 

 locality, I persistently encountered this last species, it proving to 

 be quite abundant ; so for a time I passed these forms by until 

 some were needed for exhibition at the Wild Flower Fete. I had 

 noticed an occasional form where the hymenium was entirely 

 closed, but still a very definite stipe was present, and the color 

 was almost pure white with no touch of the red. It now seems 

 that I probably have a new form of Elasmomyces, as Dr. Setchell 

 has announced very distinct characters for this new form, but 

 more material should be at hand. However, this plant is neither 

 of the two Secotiaceae previously described by him. Casual ob- 

 servation will often leave many fine specimens untouched because 



