Mycological System

13
GEASTER

The exterior cortex of the stellate peridium in this species remains pressed to the ground, and thus this exterior peridium becomes as if doubled, with both layers dehiscing, the interior of which is incised into 4–5, rarely more, subequal laciniae lobes/strips; soon it becomes revolute curled backward and arched, affixed to the exterior only at the tips, and finally separating, becoming entirely free. In this state, without the exterior tunic, it usually occurs in herbaria, similar to the following, but soon distinct due to the glabrous smooth/hairless and decorticated exterior surface. The interior peridium, supported and elevated by the exterior peridium and the stalk, is globose-acuminate pointed or even attenuated at the base, varying in magnitude and stature; the mouth is always prominent, conical-cylindrical, ciliated, less sulcate grooved than in those that follow.

"The color of the fresh plant is white, dry it turns brownish" (Woodward); it usually occurs to me with a brown peridium and pale rays. Spores brown, not pedicelled. On the ground above pine needles, etc., in autumn. (v.s. examined the dried specimen)

Obs. One should not trust the number of laciniae of the exterior peridium too much; the quaternary number is indeed normal in this, but a greater number also occurs in some, with which G. pectinatum (P.) agrees sufficiently, which, contrary to the accurate Schmidel, I have not dared to distinguish from this. See whether the celebrated Persoon determined his species primarily according to Schmidel's icons—compare, for example, G. multifidum (Disp. meth.)—or whether he observed too superficially; it was very difficult for me to reconcile these with my own. I almost doubt, although all the synonyms of this place are here, that I should refer G. quadrifidum (P.) here; it rather seems to be a species of the following section, for many vary with an exterior peridium that is sometimes quadrifid. To these we refer G. quadrifidum (Rec. nonnull.) from personal inspection. Indeed, G. hygrometricus exists as a quadrifid form.

3. G. striatus, exterior peridium simple, multifid, and flattened, interior subpedicelled, with a prominent conical sulcate-striate mouth.

Geaster asper, small, with a crowned umbilicus, provided with a very short stalk. Mich. gen. tab. 100, f. 3 (good). Repeated in Gled. meth. tab. 6, f. upper left. Lycop. coronatum. Scop. Carw. 2, p. 491 (excluding synonyms of others). L. pedicellatum. Batsch, El. p. 151; Willd. Ber. p. 413 (it is present in his herbarium!). L. stellatum beta. Woodw. l.c., p. 58, 39 (Bryant, f. 19). Geastr. coronatum beta. Pers. syn. p. 132. G. pectinatum. Of the same? By the opinion of many, G. striatum. Decand. Fr. 2, p. 267.

Exterior peridium flattened or finally subreflexed, coriaceous-membranaceous leathery-thin, connate joined together with the cortex,