A NOTABLE SPECIES OF GYMNOSPO- 

 RANGIUM FROM COLORADO 



Frank D. Kern 



While collecting fungi in the vicinity of Trinidad, Colorado, 

 on May 20, 1908, the writer came upon a moderate sized tree of 

 Sabina monosperma, affected with what appeared to be some 

 small species of Gymno sporangium. The sori were just break- 

 ing forth between the scale-like leaves (Fig. 1, a) in a very in- 

 conspicuous manner much after the style of G. inconspicuum, 

 a species recently described by the writer and previously col- 

 lected only in the vicinity of Glenwood Springs on Sabina 

 utahensis. So striking, in fact, was the resemblance to G. incon- 

 spicuum in general appearance and habit, that there was at 

 first examination not the slightest suspicion that it wonld turn 

 out to be another thing. Thinking that the range of a hitherto 

 little known species would be considerably extended, and another 

 host added, it was with especial delight that a collection was made. 

 It was evident that germination had not yet taken place and a 

 small quantity of material was immediately sent in to the labora- 

 tory by mail, to be kept fresh by putting the branches in water, 

 with the hope that some cultures might be made.* 



After returning to the laboratory several days later, a micro- 

 scopical examination was made and it was then learned that the 

 supposition entertained in the field was incorrect, and that a new 

 and distinctive species had been discovered. 



The spores of the Trinidad specimen are thick-walled, con- 

 siderably constricted at the septum, rounded both above and 

 below, and have a pedicel of uniform, relatively small diameter, 

 while those of G. inconspicuum are thin-walled, not at all or 

 only slightly constricted, narrowed above, and have a carotiform 

 pedicel of considerable thickness just below the spore. 



* It may be recorded here that this was subsequently sown upon Crataegus 

 and Amelanchier without infection. Although the material seemed to be in 

 good condition, no germination of the spores was observed either in drop 

 cultures or in the sori that were employed for the attempted cultures. 



208 



