Mas see. — A Monograph of the Geoglosseae. 289 
A very variable species, both in form and colour, depending upon 
the amount of moisture and shade to which it is exposed during 
development. In some cases a dingy ochraceous yellow, with only 
a tinge of green, is the predominating colour, in other examples the 
lurid green colour predominates throughout. The commonest 
European form has the ascigerous portion dingy olive-green, and the 
stem yellow, with minute, innate squamules or granules. The slimy 
cap is sometimes almost even, at others much waved, especially at the 
margin, imperfectly hollow, and either inflated or finally collapsed, 
sometimes brownish-red. Stem sometimes short and narrowed 
towards the base, at others elongated and tapering upwards. 
It must be clearly understood that the following ‘ forms/ although 
apparently distinct when met with illustrating the extreme departure 
from the typical state, are in reality nothing more than phases of 
development of the present species in passing from north to south. 
The small, clustered form — Stevensoni, Berk. — is the most northern 
condition, of which there are specimens in the Kew Herbarium from 
Sweden {Fries), Finland {Karsten), Scotland {Stevenson), and New 
Hampshire, U.S. Then follows the typical form ; further south we 
get chlorocephala , Sz., and finally passing into the warm subtropical 
region, we have stipiiata (Bose), ( = viscosa, Fries), the largest and 
darkest coloured condition of the species. In Europe what I have 
considered the typical form is most abundant, the ‘ forms ' being rarer, 
although all are present; whereas in the United States the opposite 
conditions hold good, so far as is at present known, the three dark- 
green forms being not uncommon, whereas there are but few records 
of the typical form. 
Form Stevensoni. 
Usually densely tufted, small, entire fungus 2-3 cm. high ; ascigerous 
portion dingy, dark green ; stem paler. Asci, spores, and paraphyses 
as in typical form. 
Syn. — Leotia Stevensoni , Berk, and Broome, Ann. Nat. Hist., 1879, 
p. 212. 
Leotia chlorocephala , forma Stevensoni , Phil., Brit. Disc. 24, 1887 ; 
Sacc., Syll. viii, n. 2511, 1889; Massee, Brit. Fung.-Fl. iv, 472, 
1895. 
Hob. — On the ground in woods and shady places, mostly in 
northern countries. 
