68 
Mycologia 
probability the cystidia also, the measurements of which are given 
in the Sylloge as 6-7 X 50-55 
All the members of the group agree in their fruiting bodies and 
in general appearance and color. They differ in various combi- 
nations of the characters, solid or hollow stem, even or striate 
pileus, and dry or viscid surface. Volvaria Loweiana is a case 
where parasitism has resulted in robust and luxuriant growth. 
Volvaria Loweiana was collected by Prof. John Dearness at 
London, Ontario, Canada, in October, 1896, and distributed in 
North Amer. Fungi, No. 3509. In my specimen, the spores of 
the parasite are 4-5 X 6-8/4. No part of the host is present, but 
it is said to grow parasitic on Clitocybe. Prof. Dearness informs 
me that the host is Clitocybe nebularis and that the spores of the 
host measure about 2.75 X 5 /^- He never found it on any other 
species. Lloyd’s note in Volvae that Volvaria Loweiana was 
found on Clitocybe monodelpha is an error. 
The host plant, Clitocybe nebularis, is very widely reported 
from both Europe and America, but the limits of its group are 
not well understood. Peck confines the species to plants with 
small spores, 2-3 X 4~5 and reports it as rare in New York 
State, having been found in only two or three localities. He 
illustrated it in Ann. Rep. N. Y. State Mus. 48 : pi. 23, f. 8-1^. 
Murrill in Mycologia, Sept. 1915, p. 268, says the spores of the 
European plant are 5-7 X 8-10 /<, and that Peck’s illustrations are 
not suggestive of the European form. 
There were two forms of the host of Volvaria Loweiana, both 
growing in the small area where the parasite was found. One is 
shown in pi. lyS, f.'A, B. The pileus was convex, whitish or with 
a slight tint of yellow, covered with a slight pruinosity, and often 
disfigured by dirt and humus. The lamellae were decurrent, 
adnate or even sinuate when young, becoming long-decurrent 
when mature. The stem was short, much thickened and often 
curved at the base. The spores were small, 3-4 X 5-6/4. The 
plants agree with the figures of Gillet and Britzelmayr except that 
the stems are shorter. Britzelmayr gives the spore measurements 
as 4 X 6-8 /4. The second form is shown in pi. 177, f. D. It had 
a more equal stem gradually tapering upward, and the pileus was 
dark-smoky-gray. The spores were slightly smaller than in the 
