[Ill.u.s.tration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._

Figure 485.--Geaster asper. Natural size.]

Exoperidium revolute, cut to about the middle in eight to ten segments.

Both mycelial and fleshy layers are more closely adherent than in most species. Pedicel _short_ and _thick_. Inner peridium subglobose, _verrucose_. Mouth conical, beaked, strongly sulcate, seated on a depressed zone. Columella prominent, persistent. Capillitium threads simple, long tapering. Spores globose, rough.

The characteristic of this plant is the verrucose inner peridium. Under a gla.s.s of low power it appears as though the peridium were densely covered with grains of sharp sand. This plant alone has this characteristic, to our knowledge; and although it is indicated in the figures of G. cornatus of both Schaeffer and Schmidel, we think that there it is only an exaggeration of the very _minute_ granular appearance cornatus has. The word "asper" is the first descriptive adjective applied by Michelius. Fries included it in his complex striatus. _Lloyd._

I have found the plant frequently about Chillicothe. The plants represented were photographed by Mr. Lloyd.

_Geaster triplex. Jung._

[Ill.u.s.tration: Plate LXVI. Figure 486.--Geaster triplex.]

The unexpanded plant acute. Exoperidium recurved (or, when not fully expanded, somewhat saccate at base), cut to the middle (or usually two-thirds) in five to eight segments. Mycelial layer adnate. Fleshy layer generally peeling off from the segments of the fibrillose layer but usually remaining partially free, as a cup at base of inner peridium. Inner peridium subglobose, closely sessile. Mouth definite, fibrillose, broadly conical. Columella prominent, elongated. Threads thicker than spores. Spores globose, roughened, 3-6 mc. _Lloyd_, in Mycological Notes.

The color of Geaster triplex is reddish-brown. Notice the remains of a fleshy layer forming a cup at base of inner peridium, a point which distinguishes this species and which gives name to the species--triplex, three folds or apparently three layers. The photograph was made by Dr.

Kellerman.

_Geaster saccatus. Fr._

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._

Figure 487.--Geaster saccatus. Natural size.]

The unexpanded plant is globose. Mycelium is universal. Exoperidium cut in six to ten segments about half way, the limb deeply saccate. Mycelial layer adnate to fibrillose. Fleshy layer, when dry, thin, adnate. Inner peridium sessile, globose, with a determinate fibrillose mouth.

The spores are globose, almost smooth. _Lloyd._

Mr. Lloyd thinks this plant is practically the same as the G. fimbriatus of Europe, differing from it in being more deeply saccate and having a determinate mouth. This plant is very common on all the wooded hillsides about Chillicothe. I have seen the ground on the top of Mt. Logan almost completely covered with them. They are identified by Mr. Lloyd, Prof.

Atkinson, and Dr. Peck. The plants in Figure 487 were photographed by Mr. Lloyd from typical specimens.

_Geaster mammosus. Chev._

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._

Figure 488.--Geaster mammosus.]

Exporidium thin, rigid, hygroscopic, smooth, divided almost to the base into about ten linear segments, often umbilicate at the base; inner peridium globose, smooth, sessile, furnished with a conical, even, protruding mouth, seated on a definite area.

Columella short, globose, evident (though distinct in mature plants).

Capillitium simple, tapering, hyaline, often flattened, slightly thinner than the spores. Spores globose, roughened, 3-7 mc. _Lloyd._

This plant is found in the woods from July till late in the fall. It differs from G. hygrometricus by its even, conical mouth. I found specimens several times in Haynes's Hollow.

_Geaster velutinus. Morg._

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._

Figure 489.--Geaster velutinus.]

Unexpanded plants globose, sometimes slightly pointed at apex. Mycelium basal. Outer layer rigid, membranaceous, firm, light colored in the American plant. The surface is covered with short, dense, appressed velumen, so that to the eye the surface appears simply dull and rough, but its true nature is readily seen under a gla.s.s of low power.

The outer surface separates from the inner as the plant expands, and in mature specimens is usually partly free. The thickness and texture of the two layers are about the same. The fleshy layer is dark reddish-brown when dry, a thin adnate layer. Inner peridium sessile, dark colored, globose, with a broad base and pointed mouth. Mouth even, marked with a definite circular light-colored basal zone. Columella elongated, clavate. Spores globose, almost smooth, small, 2-3 mc.

_Lloyd._

_Myriostoma coliformis. d.i.c.k._

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 490.--Myriostoma coliformis. Natural size.]

Exporidium usually recurved, cut to about the middle into six to ten lobes; if collected and dried when first open, rather firm and rigid; when exposed to weather becoming like parchment paper by the peeling off of the inner and outer layers. Inner peridium, subglobose, supported on several more or less confluent pedicels. Surface minutely roughened; mouths several, appressed fibrillose, round, plain or slightly elevated; columellae several, filiform, probably the same in number as the pedicels; spores globose, roughened, 3-6 mc.; capillitium simple, unbranched, long, tapering, about half diameter of spores.

The inner peridium with its several mouths can be, not inaptly, compared to a "pepper-box." The specific name is derived from the Latin _colum_, a strainer, and the old English name we find in Berkeley "Cullender puffball" refers to a cullender (or colander more modern form) now almost obsolete in English, but meaning a kind of strainer. _Lloyd._

Found in sandy soil. It is quite rare. Both the generic and specific names refer to its many mouths. The specimens in Figure 490 were found on Green Island, Lake Erie, one of the points where this rare species is found. It is found at Cedar Point, Ohio, also. The plant was photographed by Prof. Schaffner of the Ohio State University.

CHAPTER XVI.

FAMILY--SPHAERIACEAE.

Perithecia carbonaceous or membranaceous, sometimes confluent with the stroma, pierced at the apex, and mostly papillate; hymenium diffluent.--_Berkeley Outlines._

There are four tribes in this family, viz:

Nectriaei.

Xylariaei.

Valsei.

Sphaeriei.

Under Nectriaei we have the following genera:

Stipitate-- Clavate or capitate Cordyceps.

Head globose, base sclerotioid Claviceps.

Parasitic on gra.s.s-- Stroma myceloid Epichloe.

Variable-- Sporidia double, finally separating Hypocrea.

Sporidia double, ejected in tendrils, parasitic on fungi Hypomyces.

Stroma definite, perithecia free, cl.u.s.tered or scattered Nectria.

Perithecia erect, in a polished and colored sac Oomyces.