15. Diderma radiatum (Linn.) Morg.

[Plate XVIII.], Fig. 8

Sporangia scattered, depressed-globose, sometimes also flattened below, stipitate, smooth or slightly corrugate, ashen or brownish, about 1 mm. in diameter, the peridium dehiscing irregularly or somewhat radiately from above downwards, the segments reflexed, the inner layer not distinguishable, or inseparable; stipe short, stout, brownish, sometimes almost lacking; hypothallus not conspicuous, but sometimes sufficient to connect the bases of adjacent stipes; columella large, hemispherical or globose, pallid or yellowish; capillitium abundant, of slender generally simple, colored threads, paler at the furcate tips; spores dark violaceous, minutely roughened, 8–11 µ.

Rare on rotten logs in the forests; September. Easily recognized by the short-stiped, ashen sporangia which before dehiscence indicate by delicate tracings the lines which subsequent cleavage is to follow. In texture the peridium resembles that of D. floriforme.

Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa, Virginia, Colorado, Washington, Oregon; Europe generally.

The Linnæan description on which to base the specific name D. radiatum is wholly inadequate. It appears also by the testimony of Linné fils, that L. radiatum Linné is a lichen! and the name is so applied by Persoon. But in the Linnæan herbarium preserved at London, teste Lister, the original type of Lycoperdon radiatum L. may yet be seen! to the confusion of fils, Persoon, and other followers of Schrader all, and our stellar species becomes radiate now, let us hope for long!

16. Diderma trevelyani (Grev.) Fr.

Sporangia scattered, globose or nearly so, smooth or verruculose, reddish-brown or rufescent, sessile or short-stipitate, the outer peridium firm, splitting more or less regularly into unequal, revolute, petal-like lobes which are white within, the inner not distinguishable as such; stipe, when present, equal, furrowed, concolorous; columella small or none; capillitium abundant, the threads rather rigid, purple or purplish brown, branching and anastomosing, more or less beaded; spores dark, violaceous brown, spinulose, 10–13 µ.