It seems to me some hair-splitting was done when “ Calostoma 
microsporum, Atkinson, new species,” was recently launched. The 
spores of all the elliptically spored species of Mitremyces vary in size 
even in the same specimen (see micro-photographs, plates 8 and 9). 
In figure 6, plate 9, are shown three spores side by side, one 15 mic. 
long, another 10, one 4j^ mic. thick, another 7. To base a new species 
on slight spore variation in a genus where no two spores in the same 
specimen are the same size, seems to me useless. 
t 
303—MITREMYCES LUTESCENS ” IN THE 
MUSEUMS OF EUROPE. 
Although there are abundant specimens labeled “ Mitremyces 
lutescens” in the museums at Upsala, Paris, Kew and the British Museum, 
in the entire lot I have found but a single specimen correctly labeled. 
Most of them came from Ravenel and Curtis who always labeled cinna- 
barinus and sometimes Ravenelii as lutescens. Berkeley in his early 
days had a correct idea of the characters of lutescens, as is evident in 
his remarks when he described Mitremyces fuscus, (Ann. Nat. Hist. 
1839), but in the course of years the distinction passed from his mind 
and he placed in his herbarium during later years, unchallenged, the 
many misnamed specimens received from Curtis and Ravenel. 
Finally, the matter became so confused in Europe that one 
author makes the statement “The remarkable diversity of appearance 
presented during different periods of development has been the cause 
of several mistakes; even Schweinitz did not know the plant in the 
young condition.” 
In the above quotation as well as in the foot note Myc. Notes, 
page 125, an injustice has been done to Schweinitz. In his writings 
as I have previously stated, Schweinitz is certainly clear as to the dis¬ 
tinction between Mitremyces lutescens and Mitremyces cinnabarinus. 
It is the later writers who are confused. In Schweinitz’ herbarium 
to-day Mitremyces cinnabarinus is labeled Mitremyces lutescens (cfr. 
foot note p. 125) but his collection was rearranged and mounted, some 
years ago, and it is probable I think that the labels were changed then. 
Schweinitz certainly knew the difference. 
I found many specimens in the Museums of Europe labeled 
“Mitremyces lutescens’’ but only one is attributed to Schweinitz. This 
one is in Hooker’s herbarium at Kew, and it is the only one of all the 
many specimens that I found in Europe that is correctly labeled. I feel 
an apology is due to Mister Schweinitz. 
304—AN “ALBINO” GEASTER. 
Among a number of species sent me by James Fletcher, Ottawa, 
Canada, was a fine lot of Geaster triplex. It is a species very common 
in the northern portion of the United States and Canada (cfr. p. 104) 
and when we received the specimens we noticed nothing peculiar about 
them. Mr. Fletcher calls to our attention that the spores of some are 
almost white. We find that to be the case, not only the spores but the 
202 
