. 
142 KUPFER : STUDIES ON URNULA AND GEOPYXIS 
we must adopt Schroter’s nomenclature, and consider both Urnula 
terrestris and Melachroia xanthomela under the name of Podopha- 
cidium xanthomelan, 
Since, then, the internal structure is very different from Urnula 
Craterium, and the splitting of the margin into lobes, which was 
Saccardo’s chief reason for regarding this species as an Urnuda, is 
an uncertain character, any relation between the two genera is 
seen to be absolutely unreal. To quote Dr. Rehm: “ Dann 
schwindet allerdings die Verwandschaft mit Urnu/a Fr. vollig, und 
ist den zusammengehorigen beiden Pilzen eine andere systema- 
tische Stellung zu geben.” 
It might be well at this point, before the consideration of the 
next species, to decide what systematic position is to be assigned 
to the two species Urnula Craterium and Podophacidium xantho- 
melan, From the character of its tissue, the latter seems to be- 
long in the Pezizaceae. Owing to the fact that the ascopore turns 
blue with iodine, and that the fungus is stalked, its affinities seem 
to be with Zarzetta and Plicaria in this family. 
As to Urnula Craterium, it is my belief that it is to be placed 
among Saccardo’s Dermateae or in the family Cenangiaceae fol- . 
lowing Lindau; the leathery texture of the apothecium, the 
prosenchymatous tissue and well developed hypothecium indicate 
this as its proper position. Whether or not a definite epithe- 
cium is present, as in most of the members of this family, could 
not be decided from sections of the dried specimens. The pat- 
aphyses do not seem to endure drying well, and were difficult to 
make out; so that these are represented (fig. 2) as somewhat re- 
constructed, and very probably do not quite accurately reproduce 
the condition in the fresh specimen. Even if an epithecium should 
prove absent, however, the Cenangiaceae appear to me to be the 
most satisfactory position, and, indeed, the only place for the fungus. 
4. Chorioactis Geaster. (Uruula Geaster Peck.)* Finally we 
come to the species which was called by Peck Urnula Geaster, and 
which, since it is not an Urnuula, 1 propose to call Chortoacts. 
This is a very large leathery fungus from 4-7 cm. in diameter, 
narrowed to a stem about 3 cm. long and I-1.5 cm. thick. The 
apothecium splits into 4—6 rays, giving the plant an appearance 
* Reg. Rep. 46: 39. 1893. 
