194 



Mycologia 



to subglobose, 10-13x8-10^, usually 4-spored ; sterigmata short, 3-4 fi 

 long ; spores subglobose, dark purplish-umber, alveolate-reticulate, 1 1-25 

 fx (average 14,",). Odor pleasant farinaceous when young but becoming 

 strongly alkaline when deliquescing. Taste farinaceous when young. 



In clay soil under lawn sod. October to November and sometimes 

 in spring. 



S. hypogaeum is like S. cepa in that the peridium is glabrous but is 

 entirely different from other species in the alveolate-reticulate character 

 of the spores and its entirely hypogaeous habit. The spores are larger 

 than reported^ for most species of Scleroderma. They average about 14 ft 

 but in extreme cases they have been found to measure 30 fi when fresh. 

 The measurements reported above are based on the dry specimens. The 

 photograph (Fig.. 3) presented herewith illustrates the hypogaeous habit 

 of the fungus. It very rarely comes even with the surface of the soil. 



Very early stages of this species have been killed and embedded for a 

 histological study of the development of the sporophores. Specimens ex- 

 amined, Oregon: Corvallis. 5". M. Zeller 1567, 1725, type (in Zeller Herb, 

 and O. A. C. Herb. 3391) ; Philomath. 5. M. Zeller 2139 (in Zeller 

 Herb.). 



Fig. 3. Scleroderma hypogaeum, showing the hypogaeous habit of the 

 plant. Nat. size. 



182. Scleroderma aurantiacum Bull. 



In path in open field, Corvallis. November. Rare. No. 221 1. Marked 

 by the brassy-yellow peridium which is reticulate-rimose producing a 

 more or less warty surface. 



183. Poly sac cum turgidum Fries. 



In cultivated garden, Corvallis. September. Rare. No. 2050. Col- 

 lected by Dr. Helen M. Gilkey, who says there have been as many as 

 sixty fruiting bodies of this fungus in their garden during one autumn 

 (Fig. 4). 



The description of P. turgidum is the nearest to that of this collection 

 that we could find available. The description of the Corvallis collection 

 is given below for reference : 



