142 



BASIDIOMYCE TES 



balls in which the cellular cavities bearing the spores are persist- 

 ent and remain as sporangioles within the peridium. The species 

 are inconspicuous but rather common. Cyathus vernicosus, with 

 ash-colored trumpet-shaped peridia is found in cultivated ground, 

 each peridium containing a few flattened sporangioles within ; C. 

 striatus, with brownish peridia, is more commonly found on dried 

 dung. Crucibiilum vulgare, with yellowish bowls, is found attached 

 to twigs or bits of wood or even to decaying bits of matting in rub- 

 bish piles ; this bears a more striking resemblance to a bird's 

 nest after its membranous operculum separates from the mouth of 

 the peridium and exposes its egg-like sporangioles. Sphaerobohis 

 has a single spherical sporangiole which is forcibly discharged, 

 probably by the accumulation of the gases of decomposition under- 

 neath its viscous sphere. The genera may be distinguished as 

 follows: 



1. Peridium double, stellately laciniate, the inner containing a single vis- 



cous sporangiole forcibly discharged at maturity. SPHAEROBOLUS. 

 Peridium single. 2. 







2. Peridium containing a single sporangiole, setulose at base* THELEBOLUS 

 Several sporangioles in each peridium. 3. 



3. Peridium furnished with a deciduous operculum. 4. 

 Peridium opening by a lacerate mouth. NiDULARiA. 



4. Peridium tubular- trumpet-shaped of three adnate layers ; spores mixed 



with filaments. ' CYATHUS. 



Peridium bowl-shaped of one cottony layer ; no filaments among the 



spores. CRUCIBULUM. 



The species are not numerous and those described from this 

 country have never been comparatively studied ; some of the 

 species early described by Schweinitz have never been identified. 



LITERATURE. 



Saccardo. Sylloge Fungorum, 7: 28-47; 9: 265, 266; n : 

 156, 157. 



Tulasne. Recherches sur 1' organization et le mode de fructifi- 

 cation des champignons de la tribu des Nidulariees, suivies d'un 

 essai monographique. Ann. Sci. Nat. III. i : 41-107. PI. 3-8. 

 1844. 



