This plant is so close to the preceding that I am convinced it 
might more properly be considered a variety of it. Its distinctive fea¬ 
ture the groove at base of peridium, is formed by the pedicel expanding 
to a disk shape top supporting the inner peridium, which being smaller 
where it is united forms a groove. It is the original of De Candolle’s 
Geaster striatus, particularly as regarding his citations, but he does 
not mention in his text its distinctive feature, the circular groove. 
Hence there is a doubt whether he had this plant or the preceding. 
Fries, as previously stated, confused this plant with three others under 
the name Geaster striatus. Berkeley (Eng. Flo. p. 301) apparently 
drawing his conclusions from Fries, applied the name G. striatus to 
the preceding plant and renamed this G. Bryantii, citing the same 
references for it that De Candolle had cited for striatus with the ad¬ 
dition of one citation, (Schmidel, t. 37, f. 11, 12). The last citation 
is an error, Berkeley having confused a ring shown on the pedicel of 
the cut, in reality a remnant of the fleshy layer, with the groove that 
this plant properly has. Berkeley’s idea of a distinctive groove, the 
essential feature, is the first clear conception of the plant and we adopt 
his name, there never having been any confusion about it. The name 
Geaster striatus which priorists will no doubt use, is subject to the 
objection in our mind of not having been clearly defined in the first 
place, and having been applied since to six different plants by six differ¬ 
ent authors. Our specimens show another difference between this 
plant and pectinatus. The peridium is lead color, due to a kind of 
pruinose covering which may be rubbed off, and usually is on the 
exposed parts, giving the peridium a variegated appearance as shown 
in our photographs. (*) 
Misconception as to the value of the fleshy layer is the source 
of at least two species based on this plant. Geaster orientalis (Grev. 
vol. (), pi. 98, f. 12) is the plant with fleshy layer still remaining and 
forming “a tube in the shape of a ring at the base of the interior per¬ 
idium.” Geaster Kunzei (Winter in Rabenhorst’s Flora) is the same 
plant, the fleshy layer having peeled off, hence “Stiel ohne basale 
Scheide.” I judge from literature that the species is more common than 
pectinatus, yet it has reached me more rarely and fewer specimens. 
Specimens in our Collection. 
Maine, H. C. Beardslee. Texas, W. H. Long, (specimen from C. L. Shear.) 
England , K. M. Holmes, Chas. Crossland. Sweden, L. Romell. 
Explanation of Figures. 
Specimens from: Fig. 28, H. C. Beardslee, (from Maine). Fig. 24, L. 
Romell, Sweden. Fig. 25, Chas. Crossland, England. Fig. 26, E. M. Holmes, 
England. 
(*) The student will note that this is exactly the reverse of statement made by Massee on 
same subject. 
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