Notes and Brief Articles 



225 



Queer Fungous Growths 



The peculiar growth figured herewith was sent to me last 

 November by Dr. J. J. Taubenhaus, of the Texas Agricultural 

 Experiment Station, who obtained it from Mr. J. S. Watson, of 

 Stephenville, Texas. Mr. Watson says that this growth, known 

 locally as ''oil bloom" or ''gas stool," appears in the spring- 

 time year after year on a small area of land where gas has been 

 found. " It is in no way connected with any kind of timber," 

 writes Mr. Watson, " as it grows out in the open on a farm 

 which has been in cultivation for quite a number of years ; and is 

 on high, dry, sandy land ; and it grows above the surface and is 

 not plowed up ; and there is no weed growth of any kind that 

 grows with it. Some of the stools are very much larger than the 



Fig. I. A specimen of " oil bloom from Texas, one-half natural size. 



ones I sent, and when they are forming they look very much the 

 color of Baumont crude oil." 



Peculiar sterile forms like these should be studied where they 

 occur by a competent mycologist, but a brief discription can do 



