GEASTER VEEUTINUS.—This species best known from the 
United States is epigeous and has a globose young form. We are not 
sure, but think Geaster dubius (Eiun. Jour. 1(5-40) only known from 
a single collection of unexpanded plants made at Pennant Hill Pawa- 
mettaon the voyage of the Challenger, is a young plant of this species. 
These specimens are smaller and not so velutinate as the American plant. 
It is to Berkeley’s credit that he knew them to be unopened Geasters 
and did not refer them to the “genus Cycloderma.” 
Plants Not Epigeous. 
Exoperidium Fornicate. 
In many species of Geaster occasionally the inner layer of the 
exoperidium splits away and arches up over the outer layer producing 
the form of plant known as “fornicate.” Only two species are known 
however, in which this character is habitual.* Of these two species, I 
have seen, from Australia, a single specimen of Geaster fornicatus at 
Kew (labeled G. limbatus). The other fornicate species, G. coronatus, 
very common in the pine woods of Europe, is unknown from Australia 
GEASTER FORNICATUS.—Outer peridium strongly forni¬ 
cate, the mycelial layer forming a cup 
at base of plant. Fibrillose layer 
arched above the cup to which it is at¬ 
tached by the tips of the segments. Inner 
peridium urn shape, tapering below into 
a short thick peduncle. Mouth indefi¬ 
nite. 
A single specimen of this plant is 
at Kew collected at Brisbane. The dis¬ 
tribution of the species in the world is 
most peculiar. It is frequent in England, 
Hungary and Russia but absent from 
the remainder of Europe. It is known 
from but two localities in the United 
States, Texas and Catalina Island. I 
have seen specimens also from Mauritius, 
Cape Good Hope, Algeria and Hawaii. 
It seems to occur only in widely sepa¬ 
rated localities and to be absent from the 
greater portion of the earth’s surface. 
Exoperidium Saccate or Re volute. 
Endoperidium Staeked. 
GEASTER MINIMUS.—Exoperidium revolute, cut to about 
the middle. Endoperidium with a short but distinct pedicel. Mouth 
definite. 
* Geaster velutinus takes the fornicate form frequently in warm countries but does not in 
more temperate regions. 
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