250 
Mas see. — The Structure and 
Ascophore irregularly globose, usually deeply umbilicate at the base, wall thin, 
blackish-brown, smooth, flesh dark coloured, about 0*5 cm. diam., mycelium scanty, 
greenish. Spores globose, minutely granulated, at first almost colourless, becoming 
blackish-brown and almost opaque, 15--20 \i diam., showing a tinge of purple in the 
mass, held together by very slender hyaline capillitium threads. 
Hab. Under oaks. 
Distr. Britain ; Italy. 
This is our rarest species, having been only once found by Broome, near 
Chudleigh, Devon. The spores are described by Vittadini as white at first, becoming 
tinged yellow. This, however, only applies to the immature stage, as a specimen 
sent by Vittadini to Berkeley, and now in the Kew herbarium, has the spores almost 
black as described above; the same is the case with Broome’s British specimens. 
Hence the specific name is not quite applicable, but must stand. The smell is weak, 
suggesting that of Tuber brumale , Vitt., and is very fugacious. 
[Elaphomyces citrinus, Vitt., Mon. Tub., p. 65, tab. 4, fig. 16 (1831); Sacc., 
Syll., viii, p. 865 (1889). 
Ascophore irregularly globose, blackish-brown or brownish-olive, smooth, rather 
soft, covered with a copious weft of persistent lemon-coloured mycellium, flesh thick, 
soft, greyish-white with a tinge of green, then brownish-purple becoming whitish when 
dry, 0-5-1 -5 cm. diam. Spores globose, very minutely granulated, smoky green, 
becoming darker and almost opaque when mature, 8-10 ^ diam. 
Hab. Under oaks. 
Distr. Britain ? ; Italy. 
This species has been recorded as occurring in England, but I have not been 
able to corroborate its occurrence, and have seen no British specimens. There is 
a specimen from Vittadini in the Kew herbarium.] 
TUBEREAE. 
Tuberei, Fries, Summa Veg. Scand., p. 437 (1849). 
Ascophore fleshy, becoming hard. Gleba furnished with veins, solid cavernose 
or lacunose, rarely without veins but always lacunose. Spores not forming a powdery 
mass at maturity. Subterranean or rarely more or less exposed. 
Key to the Genera. 
A. Gleba without veins, but having one or more cavities, 
t Asci cylindrical. 
Spores warted, subglobose. 
Genea. 
ft Asci broadly oblong or subglobose. 
Spores elongated, smooth. 
Balsamia. 
Spores globose, reticulated. 
Hydnobolites. 
Spores globose, warted. 
Hydnotrya. 
