July 1905] The Host Plants of Panceolus Epimyces Peck. 169 
So called abortive forms very similar to these parasitized 
Coprini have been described for Clitopilus prunulus Scop, Cli- 
topilus abortivius B. & C. and Armillaria mellea Vahl, but the 
cause of these formations is still unexplained. Clitopilus pru¬ 
nulus 1 produces aborted forms singly or in tufts. They are 
very variable in shape and are white tinged with brown on rup¬ 
tured surfaces. 
Peck 2 in describing the aborted forms of Clitopilus abor- 
tivus B. & C. says they are irregular or sub-globose fleshy 
whitish masses occurring in company with normal forms and 
apparently under the same conditions of soil, moisture and tem¬ 
perature. These forms are common here and are found in vari¬ 
ous stages of development. Some show marked characteristics 
of the normal form of C. abortivus while others are hyper¬ 
trophied and contorted into masses resembling closely the forms 
described above for the Coprini. They are smaller, however, 
the largest not being over i-ij in. in diameter. The gills show 
plainly on sectioning. 
The abortive forms of Armillaria mellea Vahl are also 
common in this region and are very similar to those of the two 
Clitopili just mentioned. Peck 3 states in his description of this 
form that the masses are of cellular matter without any dis- 
tinction of stem, pileus or lamellae. “Without positive proof,” 
Mcllvaine 4 says, “no one would suspect either of these odd 
formations to be abortive of either Clitopilus abortivus or Ar¬ 
millaria mellea or any other fungus.” In view of their resem¬ 
blances to the parasitized Coprini described above, it is quite 
possible that these monstrosities are due also to the presence 
of some parasitic agaric which for some reason is unable to 
produce carpophores. 
Explanation of Plate 8o. — Panaeolus epimyces Peck. Fig., 
i shows a well developed plant attached to its host. A later 
stage of the same is shown in Fig. 3, while a very young carpo¬ 
phore is illustrated in Fig. 2. 
1 Mcllvane. One Thousand Am. Fungi, p. 256. 
2 Peck, C. IT. 42d Report of N. Y. State Museum of Nat. Hist, 
for 1888. Report of Botanist, p. 138; see also Mcllvane, One Thousand 
Am. Fungi, p. 257. 
3 Peck, C. H. 43d Report of N. Y. State Museum for 1880. Re¬ 
port of Bot., p. 89. 
4 Mcllvane. One Thousand Am. Fungi, p. 56. 
