THE HESPERIAN.
5
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fibrillose stratum beneath binding it to the soil; when this is
cleared away it leaves a smooth, whitish outer surface. In
most of the dried specimens the inner pcridium is distinctly
pedicellate. The peculiar feature of this species, however,
is the minute, scaly or granulosc warts which invest the sur
face of the inner pcridium; there is no other species with a sim
ilar surface, unless it be the G. granulosus, Fuckel, which is
described as "covered with a white granulosc powder."
Moreover, it has a filamentous peristome, and belongs among
the Fimbriati, while our species belongs to the Striati of
Dr. DcToni's arrangement." Am. Naturalist, Nov. 1SS7.
This species is very common. They are usually found in
grass or weeds, growing together or isolated. The first speci
mens were collected in the fall ol 1885, on the corner of G
and Eleventh streets. They have since been found in num
erous places in the city and surrounding country, in woods, on
prairies, on banks of creeks, and on the almost barren ground
of the Salt basin. The rcficxing of the outer pcridium forces
'them out of the soil; and on a summer day after a rain storm,
even a casual observer cannot fail to notice them as they
project from threc-lourths to sometimes more than an inch
above the surface, upheld by the points of the star (the
reflexed pcridium). When fresh they arc indeed pretty little
things to the unscientific as well as the scientific observer.
"Geasler delieatus,
Morg. (Figure 2.) Out
er pcridium thin, multi
fid; the segments (six to
ten) unequal, revolute,
whitish below, alutace
ous within, inner pc
ridium depressed glo
bose, sessile, pubcru
lent, pallid, the mouth
lacerate Spores glo
bose, veiTuculose, fus
cous, .005 .006 mm. in
diameter.
Inner pcridium to
Yt inch in diameter the
expanded segments an
inch or more. The seg- Fig. 2.
.ments when fresh or wet are rcvoltitc.and become inflexcd when
dry, after the manner of G. hygrometricus; they are nearly
papyraceous, the inner fleshy stratum being remarkably thin;
the color outside is whitish or glaucous, and the external
surface is very smooth. There is no determinate circular
areola to the inner pcridium and the mouth is stcllately lace
rate or sometimes a mere slit or puncture. The nearest rel
ative would appear to be G. bovista, Klotsch, from which it
differs in several particulars; it belongs to the same section,
the Exareolati of Dr. DeToni's monograph." Am. Natur
alist, Nov. 1887.
This species, unlike the former, is very uncommon. It was
first found in the fall qf 1886, on a limited spot of clayey
jio, in the salty region west of the city on Middle Creek;
but was not brought to particular notice until last summer,
when it was again found in the city on K street. These are
the only two places where they are as yet known to occur.
,Thc first mentioned region from which the greater number
of specimens have been obtained is not over four feet square,
but has in the last summer furnished nearly fifty specimens.
It is otherwise entirely barren of vegetation, but within
twenty feet of it,. six related species (Geaster campestris,
Tulostoma mammosum, Simblum rubescetis, Lycoperdon
wrightii, Bovista plumbeu and Bovista campestris) and vari
ous weeds grow. The second region is a grassy spot, and,
like the former, limited in extent. Here they are found
growing mixed with G. campestris. As its name indicates,
this species is very delicate. On account of this and its
smaller size, it is not raised above the surface so much, and,
consequently, is not so conspicuous. Indeed they sometimes
mature below the surface, the outer peridural rupturing irreg
ularly, the reflexing power not being great enough to force
it out and raise it it a the surface. H. J. W.
STRA Y PICK-UPS.
F. C. Taylor is teaching at Franklin.
The college hat epidemic threatens us.
Theo Brcgman is a new student from Bcllvuc.
The Sophs say they have too much work to do.
Frozen cars promise to be all the go this winter.
How did Henry Wagner enjoy his trip to RcdCloud?
Ask Dave if he ever ran off with another fellow's girl.
Miss Tracy, a friend of Miss McBridc, enters school 1 this
term.
C. S. Lobingicrhas a swclledear asa result of the recent
cold snap.
Fletcher can makethc waiter use prettyhardlanguage oc
casionally. Tommy Hall is the possessor of a brand new fgold chain to
set off a fine gold timer.
J. N. Plumb, of Rulo, formerly astudent in York College,
has entered the University.
We never saw the students when they looked so well fed as
on the first day of this term.
"Bring me two cups of coffee. Take them back I don't
want them." Waiter: .
The State Horticultural Society met in the botanical lec
ture room last Wednesday evening.
Miss Drydcn went home on the B. & M. flyer last Satur
day. She will not be back this term.
Mr. Mcth, a first year student, frozchis fingers and face
Saturday morningwhilc driving a few blocks.
Misses Anna Harrison and Mattie Smith, formerly students
of York College, matriculated here at the beginning of this
term.
We are sorry to hear of the deathof Miss Gcorgie Talbot's
father. Miss Talbot will be back about the last of the
month.
Miss Jessie Wolfe has a positionMn the "Jpostofficc and will
not be" in school. She will hereafter preside over the ladies
window.
Don't say anything . to B b about the tsplcndid' time he
and his girl had at the evening meeting of the statc,Histori
cal association.
C. F. Sharmann has at last decided to .continue his work
here, and mayjiow'be found doubled up over V small
table in room 28.
More students registered on the first dayof this term than
on the first day of any previous winter term in the history
of the University.
Mr. E. J. Edmands, a Dartmouth '86 man, and for the
past two years an engineer on the U. P. and B. & M., dropped
into this office the other day.
The class of '88 planned for a sleigh-ride Saturday
night, the 14th but owing to the cold weather it was post
poned till last Thursday night.
The students have all enjoyed the holiday v vacation about
as well as any class of people could, and are nowtin their
places once more. The mill begins to grind.
The University Studio hasreceived a valuable addition to
its appertenances a new lay figure from Munich. Miss
Moo
abo
