Cordyceps agariciformia

Cordyceps agariciformia (Bolt.) Seaver
Sphaeria agariciformia Bolt. Hist. Fung. 130. 1789.
Clavaria capitaia Holmsk. Topsv. 38. 1790.
Cordyceps capitata'Uvo^^'R'a.ri^. 3: 34-7. 1833.
Torrubia capitaia Tul. Fung. Carp. 3 : 22. 1865.
Cordyceps canadensis Ellis & BJv. Bull. Torrey Club 25 : 501. 1898.
Cordyceps nigriceps Peck, Bull. Torrey Club 27 : 21. 1900.
Stromata occurring singly or in clusters of several each, 3-8 cm. high, consisting of a sterile stem and an ovoid or capitate, fertile head ; stem uniform in thickness or a little thicker below, fibrous, yellowish, becoming nearly black (in dried specimens), smooth; head ovoid or agariciform, about 1 cm. in diameter, reddish-brown, becoming nearly black, roughened by the slightly protruding necks of the perithecia; perithecia immersed, but prominent ; asci very long, cylindric, about 15 i thick ; spores filiform, nearly as long as the ascus, finally breaking into segments, subhyaline, fusoid or oblongellipsoid, with the ends rounded, 20-40X4-5 ^.
Parasitic on Scleroderma {?) and Elaphomyces.
Type locality : England.
Distribution : Maine to Ontario and Florida.