White, V.S. 1901. The Tylostomaceae of North America. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 28: 421-444.

Tylostoma obesum C. & E. Grevillea 6: 82. pl. 100. f. 24. 1878

Peridium globose pyriform, 2.2 cm. high, 2 cm. in diameter, smooth, leathery, whitish, with a kid-like finish: outer peridium scaly, retreating, leaving a narrow ring around the lower part of the peridium: collar entire, descending about the stem: mouth raised, lacerate, rather large: stem 4 cm. long, hard, leathery, somewhat sulcate. slightly tapering at the base, 8 mm. in diameter at the top, 5 mm. in diameter at the base: capillitium dark ferruginous, slender, free ends rounded, branched, septa none or very scarce, 3-6 µ wide: spores globose, smooth, short pediceled, 3-6 µ in diameter. (Pl. 3:, f. 4-6.).

COLORADO.

This description and the figure are based on the specimen of this species which Mr. Ellis retained when he sent other specimens to M.C. Cooke for a description. It will be seen that the dimensions and shape here given differ considerably from the one figured in Grevillea. The type is at Kew (2715 Cke.), and through the kindness of Mr. E.S. Salmon, it was possible to compare some of the spores and capillitium which agree in all respects with the original here, but the Kew specimens are apparently not so mature.

Wright J.E. 1987. Bibliotheca Mycologia 113: 212.

Tulostoma volvulatum Borschov var. obesum (Cooke & Ellis) J.E.Wright comb.nov (Fig. 149-150; Pl. XLV:4)

Basionym: T. obesum Cooke & Ellis, Grevillea 6: 82, pl. 100, fig. 24. 1878.

= T. kansense Peck apud White, Bull. Torrey bot. Cl. 28: 430, tab. 32, fig. 9. 1901.

Etym.: The varietal epithet refers to the obese nature of the plant.

It differs from the type variety by its globose-mammose spore-sac, and its aborted mammose mouth. The main differences with the typical variety are well illustrated by White in describing T. kansense Peck. At first I thought these features might be only developmental characteristics of T. volvulatum, but later I found several collections, particularly at LE, including specimens in different stages of development, which convinced me that the varietal name was warranted.

Habitat: similar to that of T. volvulatum var. volvulatum.

Holotype: United States, Colorado, leg. J. B. Ellis 2715 (K!; isotype NY!).

Illustration: White (op. cit.); Cooke & Ellis (op. cit.); Long (1946, fig. 3).