54 



ASCOMYCETES 



The American genera and species of the order have never been 

 systematically studied. 



LITERATURE. 

 Saccardo. Sylloge Fungorum, 8: 705-811; 10: 48-67; 11: 



431-435- 



Lindau. Die naturlichen Pflanzenfamilien, i^: 243-265. 



Rehm. Rabenhorst's Kryptogamen Flora Deutschland u. s. 



w. i3: 59-212. 



Order 13. PEZIZALES. 



The Pezizales or cup fungi form a very extensive group of 

 mostly saprophytic plants. They are typically disc-shaped or 

 cup-shaped and when young are closed or nearly so, opening as 

 they mature. They vary in size from minute species scarcely visi- 

 ble to the naked eye to large fleshy forms three or four inches in 

 diameter. A few species possess a stalk of considerable length 

 but the greater number are either sessile or short-stalked. (/Y. 

 4. f. g, 14.) Most grow either on the ground or on various de- 

 caying vegetable substances. A few forms are parasitic on living 

 plants. 



In substance the ascocarp may be fleshy, waxy, leathery, horny 

 or in a few cases gelatinous. The paraphyses may be either free 

 or united into a sort of covering to the ascoma known as the epi- 

 thecium. The cup or disc-shaped ascoma is often separable into 

 two layers, one known as the hypothecium which contains the 

 stratum of asci, and the other the peridium which forms the outer 

 portion. In many cases these two layers are not clearly distin- 

 guishable. In a number of instances the spores are ejected from 

 the asci with an explosive force and in an entire family the asci 

 themselves are projected from their bed often with an audible ex- 

 plosion. 



Of the ten families of Pezizales, nine ^ are represented in North 

 America. They may be distinguished by the following synoptic 

 table ; 



* The Cyttariaceae of the southern hemisphere are curious compound 

 ascomata arranged in a globular stroma. The fungus grows attached to 

 bushes. 



