Jan. 1905] 
A New 'Species of Sphaerosoma 
5 
Sph^srospora fuscescens Klotzsch.—Dietrich; Flora Regni 
Borussici, Vol. VII, No 467 (1839). Receptaculo solido, sphser- 
ico, nudo, gibboso, interdum depresso, sessili; basi fibrilloso, 
primo extus interusque sordide-albido v. pallido-gilvo, dein fus- 
cente; ascis immersis, clavaeformibus, hyalinis; paraphysibus ver¬ 
rucosis, hyalinis. 
The present species is distinguished from Sphaerosoma 
ostiolatum Tulasne, and Sphaerosoma fragile Hesse, by its solid 
receptacle and is then more closely related to Sphaerosoma fus¬ 
cescens Klotzsch, the exact description of that species being given 
above for the purpose of comparison. The general description of 
the two species seems to be identical, except as to habitat and size 
of the plants. The characters which distinguish this species from 
the one described by Klotzsch are the size of the asci and spores 
and the markings on the surface of the spores. The measure¬ 
ments of the asci of Sphaerosoma fuscescens as given by Engler- 
Prantl in “Die Natiirlichen Pflanzen-Familien” are from 22 to 
26 mic. in diameter and the spores 17 to 20 mic. in diameter, 
while the asci of the plants described here are 40 to 50 mic. in 
diameter and the spores 30 to 35 mic. They are also distin¬ 
guished by the slender spines on the surface of the spores instead 
of the verrucose markings described by Klotzsch. These mark¬ 
ings are very distinct. 
In preparing this paper I am indebted to Dr. William Tre- 
lease, director of the Missouri Botanical Garden for the use of 
literature belonging to that institution; to Dr. Farlow of Har¬ 
vard, Prof. Underwood of Columbia, and to Mr. J. B. Ellis of 
Newfield, N. J., for suggestions in regard to the distribution of 
the genus, and to Profs. Macbride and Shimek for kindly aid in 
preparing the work. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATE. 
Fig. A, Several plants at different stages in their development, x 5. 
Fig. B, Portion of a section of one of the plants showing relation 
of hymenium, x 50. 
Fig. C, Asci and paraphyses, showing two different stages in the 
development of the spores, x 500. 
Fig. D, Mature ascus and spores with paraphysis, x 600. 
Fig. E, One spore removed showing the echinulate markings on 
its surface, x. 1200. 
Fig. F, A portion of the mycelium from the soil, x 1000. 
