4 
Journal of Mycology 
[Vol. 11 
an earlier stage it is very distinct. All gradations may be found 
between the smooth and echinulate spores, so that they are at first 
smooth, then verrucose and at last echinulate. The description 
and drawing of the verrucose markings on the surface of the 
spores of Sphcerosoma fuscescens Klotzsch might be explained 
by the fact that they were studied while immature, but this is not 
likely to be the case for both mature and immature forms are 
present in older specimens in the same plant. Microscopic exam¬ 
ination shows on the surface in addition to the spines markings 
which resemble reticulations, but these are short and not con¬ 
tinuous and are not seen at the periphery so that they are prob¬ 
ably only spines bent so as to give this appearance. 
The relative position of the hymenium is shown in cross-sec¬ 
tion and also the relation of the asci and paraphyses and the 
structure of the sterile part of the receptacle. The paraphyses 
are seen to be relatively large and to extend some distance beyond 
the asci. Beneath the hymenium the interwoven hyphas give 
rise to a sort of pseudo-parenchyma which is more definite near 
the base where the cells are smaller. 
Each of the other species described is reported as occurring 
in woods under leaves and thus showing a tendency to become 
subterranean species. Sphcerosoma fragile is described by 
Hesse as “ein unterirdisch-wachsender Discomycet.” The plants 
described here vary in this respect, being found on the margin of 
a swampy place on the surface of rather hard, damp soil, in the 
shade of scattered tufts of grass, in a small ravine in the woods. 
They are attached to the soil by hyphse which are so delicate that 
it is difficult to collect the plants without having them broken 
from the substratum. 
These plants were collected in large numbers over a limited 
area and are generally more or less scattered but often several 
are crowded together. They were first found in this locality 
during the latter part of June but probably appeared much earlier 
than this. Frequent collections and studies were made in the 
field from this time until the first of October. The place was 
next visited in the latter part of September but at this time none 
of the plants could be found as the ground was covered with other 
forms of vegetation. Since these plants occur in such large num¬ 
bers over this limited area it is likely that they will appear in the 
same locality during the next season, as such has often been 
found to be the case with other forms of Discomycetes. During 
the last three seasons, Sphcerospora confusa, another Discomycete 
has been collected in abundance on a sandy bank, over an area 
limited to a few rods in diameter from spring until autumn, but 
has never been collected in any other locality near Iowa City so 
far as is known. The same has been found to be true of other 
species where the habitat is constant. For these reasons these 
plants will be expected to appear in this locality again. 
