Conard: Structure of Simblum Sphaerocephalum 265 
Nebraska; Kansas; Washington, D. C. ; Talbot County, Md. ; 
and Texas (Lloyd, 1909, p. 67; Long, 1907). We follow Fischer 
(1890, p. 59) in reducing to synonymy the names S', riibescens, 
S. australe, S. Lorentsii, and S. pilidiatum. In view of the rarity 
of this plant in the United States, we offer the following detailed 
observations. 
The white volva, flesh-pink stalk and receptaculum, and umber- 
brown spore-mass make this fungus a curious and striking object 
(fig. 5). Its odor is somewhat nauseous, but not strong. The 
size of our plants is shown by the following tables of measure- 
ments : 
Measurement of Mature Plants, in cm. 
Total Height 
Length of Stalk 
Length of Head 
Diameter of 
Head 
Stalk 
Volva 
s' 
3 
I 
1-75 
1.2 
2.3 
7 
6.3 
0.7 
1.8 
1-3 
S-S 
0.7 
1-3 
I.O 
8.5 
6.S 
1.5 
2-5 
2.1 
3 
10 (?) 
8.0 
1-5 
2 (?) 
1.8 
3 
7 
S-8(?) 
I.O 
1-5 
1-3 
5-5 
4.3 (?) 
I (?) 
2 . 5 ' 
Measurements of “ Eggs,” in cm. 
Height. 
Diameter. 
Rhizomorph. 
2,2 
I-S 
2.6 
1-7 
1-9 
2.9 
2.3 
2.15 
3.0 
1.9 
1.6 
1-5 
When lifted carefully each plant was found to have a stout white 
rhizomorph running into the ground (figs. 1,5). These strands are 
smooth, solid, and gently tapering. The longest we have is 3 
cm. with a diameter of 2 mm. The egg-stage is obconical in 
shape (fig. i), white, rather firm to the touch, but not turgid. 
When cut in half lengthwise the “ egg ” shows first a tough, white 
peridium (fig. i), then a thick layer of firm, translucent, gela- 
tinous matter traversed by strands or trabeculae of denser white 
tissue. On comparing cross-sections (fig. 2) it is seen that these 
2 Including rhizomorph. 
3 Has also a rhizomorph 2 cm. long. 
