IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 
103 
SIMBLUM SPHAEROCEPHALUM IN IOWA. 
BY HENRY S. CONARD. 
In October, 1911, a student at Grinnell College, Miss Winnie Gilbert, brought 
in a specimen of the pink stink-horn, Simblum sphaeroceplialum Schlecht. It 
was found on the north bank of a deep railroad cut, a mile west of town. 
Further search in this place resulted in the collection of several mature speci- 
mens and a number of “eggs.” They grew about half way up the slope, facing 
south, on Marshall silt loam that had slid down the bank, and about at the 
level of the boundary between the loess and the glacial drift. Perhaps there 
are special moisture conditions at this level, though other vegetation does not 
suggest this. With them were Poa pratensis as dominant plant, as well as 
Acer negundo seedlings, Physalis species. Aster species, etc. Two or three 
weeks later my colleague. Prof. H. W. Norris, found specimens on a hillside 
above Skunk River, three miles southwest of Turner station. 
Through the kindness of Professor Macbride of Iowa State University, I learn 
that this fungus was reported some years ago by Professor Bessey, but is 
quite rare in the state. 
Our material is too old to admit of cytological study. On account of the 
excessive minuteness of spores and basidia, this would be very difficult. The 
spores are narrowly ellipsoid, and measure 0.003 mm. x 0.0015 mm. 
Simblum may be described as a small Clathrus, on the stalk of a Phallus. 
Our specimens range from 6.5 to 10 cm. tall, with stalks and heads 1 to 2 cm. 
in diameter. The volva is white, stalk pale pink or flesh color, the receptacle 
pink and spore mass dull brown. The odor was disagreeable, unlike anything 
else, but not very strong. The eggs are from 2 to 3 cm. tall and 1 to 2 cm. 
in diameter, spherical above, tapering below, and terminating in one to three 
rhizomorphs 2 mm. in diameter and 2 to 3 cm. long. The gelatinous layer is 
traversed by denser trabeculae. The plant is clearly a member of the Clath- 
raceae. 
