2 a8—DIPLOCYSTIS WRIGHTII. 
(Plate 15.) 
There are two genera of “puff-balls” (if they are not the 
same), that widely differ from all others in having the individuals 
grow densely on a common matrix. We were greatly pleased to 
receive from L. J. K. Brace, Bahamas, a fine specimen of one of these 
curious genera. Previously we had seen it, but only fragments. 
Diplocystis Wrightii was described by Berkeley from Cuban 
material in 1865. It is found in several of the West Indies. The 
individual plants are about cm. in diameter. They are densely 
.seated on a common matrix (*). The exoperidium of each specimen 
seems to be confluent with the matrix. The top breaks off in a cir- 
cumscissile manner, and falls away, leaving the base as a cup containing 
the little “puff-ball.” The endoperidium is rather firm, smooth, 
lighter color than exoperidium. It opens by small apertures at the 
top (f). Spore mass dark, fuliginous, with no sterile base. The 
capillitium is very interesting (J). It appears as shreds (of a mem¬ 
brane) of various diameters, from 3 to 30 mic., branched and inter¬ 
woven. The thin shreds are almost hyaline smooth, and not widely 
different from the hyaline capillitium of other gastromycetes. The 
thick shreds are light yellow colored, and under a high power marked 
with a dmse reticulation. Spores globose, 4-5 mic. smooth or min¬ 
utely punctate, many short-apieulate. 
Berkeley described the curious genus Broomeia from South 
Africa (§) in 1844. Twenty-five years later he described these plants 
from Cuba. Although the two genera are evidently close, (and I 
have seen it stated that they are the same), Berkeley does not indicate 
how they differ, and does not mention Broomeia in his account of 
Diplocystis. One would have trouble to conclude from the figures 
and description in Kngler and Prantl what the difference is. I judge 
* from Murray’s account of Broomeia (Jour. Lfinn. Soc.) that the dis¬ 
tinction is this. Broomeia has a common exoperidium covering all 
the puff-balls in each cluster. Diplocystis has an individual exope- 
ridium for each endoperidium. 
Fischer in Saccardo compiles Discisceda as a synonym for Diplo¬ 
cystis. Dr. Hollos has proven that Discisceda is the same as Catastoma. 
249—ARACHNION. 
The genus Arachnion can be briefly described as being puff¬ 
balls within puff-balls The entire interior of a ripe specimen is filled, 
not with dust, (spores and capillitium) as most puff-balls, but with a 
granular substance that feels “gritty” when rubbed between the 
fingers. These granules are peridioles; they are little sacks containing 
spores. They are small, but can be seen under a hand-glass, and even 
with the naked eye. They are the color, and appear as if the puff-ball 
was filled with ashes. The name Arachnion refers “ to a spider sac 
filled with eggs.” 
(*) The figure in Engler and Prantl shows them somewhat remote from each other. In all 
specimens we have seen they are almost contiguous. 
(t) It is not a definite, protruding mouth, as shown in figure in Engler & Prantl. 
(j) Berkeley simply states capillitium “lax.” 
(j>) It does not grow at Albany, Sew York , as erroneously stated in Saeeardo. 
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