SCLERODERMA AURANTIACUM (Plate31, fig. 6 & 7).— 
Peridium thick, rough with large scales, yellowish, opening by an 
irregular mouth. 
This is the most common form in Europe and America. We 
have also a fine typical collection from India. In the United States it 
generally occurs associated with chestnut trees. We have no record 
of having seen the typical form from Australia, but do not doubt that 
it occurs there. Having no photograph of an Australian specimen we 
present illustration from America. 
SCLERODERMA VERRUCOSUM (Plate 31, fig. 8 & 9).— 
Peridium thin, yellowish, densely marked with small scales. 
The character of this species is the thin peridium. It is a mis¬ 
named plant, for it is not near as -‘warty” as the preceding species. 
The typical form occurs in Europe and usually has a strong rooting 
base In the United States the typical form is very local* but we have 
very common and widely distributed a little thin form which is a good 
‘‘geographical species” and which we shall call Scleroderma tenerum. 
The plant varies to such an extent, it is difficult to draw the line. The 
following specimen from New Zealand is not typical. Our figure is the 
European plant. 
Specimen in our Collection. 
Wellington , New Zealand , Miss Jessie Dunn. 
THE GENUS GEASTER. 
Peridia double Exoperidium splitting into segments and revo¬ 
lute awav from the endoperidium. Mouth single. Capillitium mostly 
simple. Spores globose, mostly warty or minutely warty. 
The genus Geaster is a large genus found in all countries. It 
is popularly known under the name “earth stars.” A pamphlet “The 
Geastrae” in which the species of Europe and America (22 in number) 
are fully considered and illustrated was issued by the writer in 1902.f 
In this pamphlet the genus was divided into the following sections : 
Section 1.—Rigidae, 
Exoperidium strongly hygroscopic rigidly incurved when dry. 
Section 2.—Non-Rigidae, 
Exoperidium not strongly hygroscopic. 
Sub section 1.—Mouths sulcate. 
Sub section 2.—Mouths even. 
* Confined to a few stations on the Atlantic Coast, 
f It will be sent on application to Uloyd Ubrary, Cincinnati, Ohio. 
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