L. chloroceph´ala Schw.—chloros, green; kephalos, a head. Cespitose, stipitate. Pileus 4–6 lines across, depresso-globose, somewhat translucent, more or less wavy, margin incurved, dark verdigris-green to blackish-green. Stem 1–1½ in. long, almost equal, green but often paler than the pileus, pulverulent, often twisted; asci cylindric-clavate, apex rather narrowed, 8-spored. Spores smooth, hyaline, narrowly elliptical, ends acute, often slightly curved, usually 2–3-guttulate, 17–20×5µ, irregularly 2-seriate; paraphyses slender, hyaline.
On the ground.
Distinguished from L. lubrica by the green stem. Massee.
North Carolina, Curtis; West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. Cespitose. In mixed woods, moist ground. July until long after frosts. McIlvaine.
A small clustered plant having a green gelatinous appearance. Quarts of it can frequently be gathered after rains. Both it and L. lubrica have less flavor than the larger Helvellaceæ, but they make a palatable dish.
Leotia lubrica.
Natural size.
L. lu´brica, Pers.—slippery. Gregarious or in small clusters, stipitate, somewhat gelatinous. Pileus irregularly hemispherical, inflated, wavy, margin very obtuse, yellowish olive-green, 6–8 lines across. Stem 1.5–2 in. high, nearly equal or more or less inflated at the base, pulpy within then hollow, externally yellowish and covered with minute white granules; asci cylindrical, apex slightly narrowed, 8-spored. Spores obliquely 1-seriate, hyaline, continuous, smooth, often guttulate, narrowly elliptical, straight or very slightly curved, 22–25×5–6µ; paraphyses slender, cylindrical, hyaline.
On the ground in woods. Massee.