Seaver: Observations on Sphaerosoma 
105 
spore markings in some of these species, and they may even be 
interpreted differently by different observers. It is possible, how- 
ever, as suggested by Professor Setchell that Cor da 5 had the 
wrong plant. 
Whatever view we accept with reference to Corda’s illustration 
and the accompanying description, the fact remains that Klotzsch’s 
plant examined by the writer shows the spores to be reticulate, 
and I am therefore compelled to agree with Roupert 6 as to the 
character of the spores in Sphaerosoma fuscescens Klotzsch. 
Professor Setchell’s plant would then according to this view be a 
true Sphaerosoma and rather closely related to the type species. 
The suggestion that the Maine plant might be a Boudiera and 
possibly B. areolata Cooke & Phill . 7 together with the fact that 
this eastern plant was found to have spores almost identical with 
my own Sphaerosoma echinulatum from Iowa, has prompted a 
more thorough investigation of the character of the European 
Boudiera areolata. Fortunately, I have been able to examine a 
specimen of this species collected in North Wales and which is 
apparently a part of the type. To my surprise I find that the 
mature spores of this species are strongly echinulate and so far 
as I am able to judge identical with Thaxter’s plant and my own, 
although it is possible that the areolae are a little less distinct in 
the Iowa plant than in the other two. In the original description 
of Sphaerosoma echinulatum the following note was appended 
referring to the spores: “Microscopic examination shows on the 
surface in addition to the spines markings which resemble reticu- 
lations, but these are short and not continuous and are not seen 
at the periphery of the spore, so that they are probably only spines 
bent so as to give this appearance.” From this it will be seen that 
the semi-reticulate character of the spores was noted in the Iowa 
plants, although possibly misinterpreted. The spores of the three 
plants examined might be described at maturity as echino-reticu- 
late with a strong emphasis on the “ echini.” The spores in both 
the Iowa and the European plant, however, show a variety of 
changes in the course of their development. The very young spore 
is smooth later becoming slightly roughened, the roughenings in 
5 Corda, leones Fung. 6: 52. pi. 11, f. 100. 1854. 
6 Bull. Acad. Sci. Cracovie 1909 : 76-95. 1909. 
7 Grevillea 6: 76. 1877. 
