66 ASCOMYCETES 



The remaining genera contain a number of species. Helvetia 

 is the largest genus, represented in this country by twelve species. 

 These are divided into three somewhat natural groups according 

 to the nature of the stipe, (i) Stipe thick, sulcate or furrowed. 

 (2) Stipe thick, smooth. (3) Stipe slender, smooth (/. <?., not 

 sulcate). The second contains only H. monachella, while the 

 remaining species are about equally divided between the remain- 

 ing sections. 



Morchella contains the morels of which we have several species 

 representing two distinct sections, (i) Those with the lower part 

 of the pileus free and surrounding the stems ( Mitrophord) ; and 

 (2) those with pileus continuous with the stem ( Eumorchella). 

 The former section includes the two closely allied species M. hy- 

 brida and M. rimosipes. The latter section contains a number of 

 species, some of which are apparently well marked and others ap- 

 pear to be growth modifications of the common M. esculenta which 

 we have selected for a frontispiece. The American species de- 

 serve careful study and comparison in the field. 



Gyromitra contains seven species some of which are the largest 

 members of the order and perhaps of the entire class Ascomycetes. 



G. esculenta is eaten with us, and in Germany it is canned un- 

 der the name " Morcheln "; G. brunnea is a much larger species 

 from Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. 



LITERATURE. 



. , 



Schroeter. Die naturlichen Pflanzenfamilien, ji : 162-172. 

 Rehm. Rabenhorst's Kryptogamen flora Deutschlands, u. s. 

 w. i3 : 1 134-1208. 



Saccardo. Sylloge Fungorum, 8: 7-53; 10 : 1-3; n : 391- 



393- 



Cooke. Mycographia, l-io, 87-104, 179-206, 215-220. PI. 



1-4, 41-46, 81-96, 101, 102. 1879. 



Massee. A Monograph of the Geoglosseae. Ann. Bot. n : 

 225-306. PI. 12, ij. 1897. 



Underwood. On the Distribution of the North American Hel- 

 vellales. Minn. Bot. Studies, i : 483-500. 1896. 



Burt. A list of the Vermont Helvelleae, with descriptive notes 

 Rhodora, i: 59-67, PL 4. 1899. 



