185 
The present genus occupies an intermediate position between Sclero¬ 
derma and Geaster , agreeing with the former in the structure of the 
gleba, which is broken up into numerous small, irregular cavities by 
the tramal walls, which become disorganized at maturity, and in the 
absence of a columella and capillitium, but is generically distinct in hav¬ 
ing a peridium composed of two separate layers, in which it agrees with 
Geaster , but is again quite distinct from the last-named genus in the 
total absence of a capillitium, a character which also distinguishes it 
from Diplocystis, Diploderma , and Cycloderma , if indeed the last-named 
genus is founded on anything more than immature species of Geaster 
collected before the splitting of the outer peridium. 
2. Stella Americana, Mass. (n. s.). (Fig. 2.) Globoso-depressed, 
outer layer of peridium thick, smooth , ochraceous-broivn , splitting from 
the apex in a stellate manner into 4-6 acute subequal segments; inner 
layer smooth, thin, pale brown , becoming disorganized above when ma¬ 
ture; mass of spores, umber ; walls of trama whitish, disappearing; 
spores globose, minutely warted , 6-7 u in diameter. On the ground, 
Lower Carolina. (Type in Herb. Berk., Kew, along with Scleroderma 
geaster ); from 1-1 inches in diameter, growing singly or sometimes two 
together. 
3. Trichosporium Curtisii, Mass. (Fig. 3.) Broadly effused, com¬ 
pact, blackish-purple , sometimes with a tinge of brown; hvphse pale, 
septate, branched, combined into vein-like anastomosing strands; goni- 
dia very profuse, purple-brown in the mass , smooth , broadly elliptical , 
rather variable in size, averaging 5 by 3.5-4 p. 
Reticularia affinis , B. & 0., Linn. Soc. Journ., Yol. X, p. 347; Sacc. 
Sy 11., Yol. VII, Part I, Xo. 1426. 
Reticularia atro-rufa , B. & C., Linn. Soc. Journ., Yol. X, p.347; Sacc. 
Syll. Xo. 1428. 
Reticularia venulosa , B. & C., Linn. Soc. Journ.. Yol. X, p. 347; Sacc. 
Syll. Xo. 1433 (called by mistake Reticularia venosa.). 
On bark, wood, moss, etc. Lower Carolina, Cuba, Ceylon. (All 
types in Herb. Berk., Kew.) Superficially resembling a Reticularia , 
but there is no cortex, the surface being perfectly naked. Forming 
compact cakes, 3-4 inches across and half an inch thick, consisting of a 
dense mass of hyphse spreading centrifugally in the form of irregularly 
anastomosing vein-like strands, produced by the agglutination of 
hyplise, brought about by the partial disorganization of their walls. 
Hyphse septate, with numerous clamp connections, sometimes minutely 
scabrid with particles of lime; conidia acrogenous, produced in great 
profusion, becoming agglutinated into a compact cake along with the 
hyplial portion of the mass. 
4. Trichosporium phyrrhosporium, (Berk..) Mass. (Fig 4.) Ef¬ 
fused, pulvinate, compact, deep reddish brown , kyplme 2-2.5 p thick, 
pale yellow, septate; conidia very profuse, produced on the tips of 
short lateral branches, globose , bright broivn , smooth , wall very thick, 
6-7 p in diameter. 
