1900] Andrews, — Notes on a species of Cyathus IOI 
NIDULARIA STERCOREA Schw. — “ Peridia are obconical and somewhat 
scattered. Exterior of peridium strigose-hirsute, becoming canescent, 
finally bare and brown; margin fimbriate. Inner surface of peridium 
glabrous, not plicate-striate, reddish-chestnut, somewhat shining, be- 
coming blackish toward the bottom.  Sporangiola dark, smooth, some- 
what large. Peridium one half the size of that of Midularia striata 
with which it is allied." 
I examined a section of the sporangiolum of Cyathus stercoreus 
made by Dr. Burt from the original collection in Herb. Schweinitz. 
The spores were the same shape but smaller than those of C. Lesu- 
curii, measuring 15.8 x 18.7 mw (Fig. 2). This is perhaps the 
same as the minor form of C. Zesueurit. 
I have studied specimens from several collections, referred to Cya- 
thus vernicosus (Bull.) De Cand. ‘The peridium of the C. vernicosus 
is more expanded at the top, and the outer surface is not covered with 
coarse fibres (Fig. 8). The spores are very much smaller than in 
Cyathus Lesueurii, obtuse at one end and pointed at the other 
(Fig. 4). In the specimen from Hungary the spores are 11 x 7 p. 
In a specimen from Ravenel’s F. Am. Exs. No. 473 and in one from 
Canada, the spores had the same shape and measurement. 
A single collection of C. vernicosus has been made in Middebury, 
Vt. The specimens were growing abundantly and vigorously in a green- 
house, on soil taken from the garden. ‘The spores were the right shape 
and had very nearly the same measurement as those from Hungary. 
The wall of the sporangiolum of C. vernicosus and of C. Lesueurii 
(Fig. 3) measure about the same in thickness, but the wall of C 
stercoreus (Fig. 6) is much thicker. 
In conclusion Cyathus Lesueurtt (Fig. 5) may be readily distin- 
guished from Cyathus vernicosus (Fig. 8) by the difference in shape 
of the peridia ; by the coarse fibers which are present on the peridium 
of C. Lesueurii, and chiefly by the difference in shape and size of the 
spores. Both C. Lesueurii Tul and C. vernicosus (Bull) De Cand. 
can be distinguished from Cyathus striatus (Huds.) Hoffm., also found 
in this country, by the absence of the striated peridium. 
MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE, MIDDLEBURY, VT. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATE 17. — Fig. 1, spores of Cyathus Lesueurii, x 600; 
Fig. 2, spores of Cyathus stercoreus, x 600; Fig. 3, wall of sporangiolum of C. Zes- 
neurii,x 100; Fig. 4, spores of Cyathus vernicosus, x 600; Fig. 5, peridium of C. 
Lesueurii, x 4; Fig. 6, wall of sporangiolum of C. stercoreus, x 100; Fig. 7, semi- 
peridium of C. Lesucurzi,x 4; Fig. 8, peridium of C. vernicosus, x 3.7. 
