SYNONYMS. 
This plant has been fortunate in having only one name, Cauloglossum 
transversarium, applied to it in most books, and it is well established. It was first 
called Lvcoperdon transversarium (by Bose, 1811). Recently a “ juggledname, 
Rhapalogaster transversarium, has been proposed for it. (*) 
Specimens in our Collection. 
Florida, an alcoholic specimen kindly sent us by Prof. Thaxter. 
North Carolina , a dried specimen from the Ellis collection kindly given us 
by Prof. Britton. 
We hope our Southern friends will watch out for this plant, and supply us 
more abundantly. 
242—SEOOTIUM. 
This genus, the name of which means a cell, has always been 
of interest, as it has always been known as a step towards the agarics, 
and the only frequent plant we have with this character. Secotium 
acuminatum is the most frequent species both in this country and 
Europe. The genus can be divided into smooth aud rough spored 
species. We have in our collection only one belonging to each section 
that we will describe, (f) 
243—SEOOTIUM ACUMINATUM. 
(Plate 13.) 
So extremely variable is this plant as to shape and markings, 
that it is hard to describe it, and we believe a reference to our plate 
(No. 13), will give a better idea of it than we can put into words. (J) 
One might well say that several species are depicted there, but it is 
not practicable to separate them, as widely diverging plants (Plate 
13, figs. 6 and 7) grow side by side, and are evidently the same 
species. The stalk is usually short, but distinct, and is prolonged to 
the apex of the peridium forming an axis for the gleba. 
The peridium is light colored, of a soft texture, not brittle; it 
tardily dehisces by breaking away at the base, as shown in figs. 1 and 
10. The surface is smooth, or spotted with scales, as shown in our 
figures. The shape -is usually acute-ovate, sometimes obtuse, globose 
or depressed globose. I think it is never truly acuminate, and the 
name, strictly speaking is a misnomer. 
The gleba is composed of semi-persistent, elongated, irregular 
cells plainly seen under a glass of low power, or even to the eye (see 
fig. 9). Capillitium none. Spores, globose or ovate globose, smooth , 
often apiculate, 5-6 mic. 
(*) The author labors at great length for an excuse to change the name, and devotes more 
than half of his article to the subject. His conclusions appear to us in brief to be that as this is 
the only plant that can bear the name of Cauloglossum, all other plants so called belonging to 
other genera, therefore this cannot bear it and must have a new name to which the author can 
add his own He does not use the name himself, however, simply proposes it for others use who 
may be willing to employ an unfamiliar name (if they will add this author’s name to the "new 
combination'’). For himself he prefers to use the old, familiar name, and the title of his paper 
is " On Cauloglossum transversarium Fries (Bose).’’ 
(t) We have from W. H. Fong, Jr., another smooth spored species from Texas that is a 
novelty as to this country. As Mr Fong is working on a paper on the subject, we do not wish to 
anticipate him, and will pass further consideration of the plant for the present. 
U ) "I have collected in Hungary more than a thousand specimens of this fungus, aud they 
were of such a varietv of color and form that it would certainly be possible to manufacture 
several dozen species therefrom.” ' Hollos. 
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