456 FUNGUS-FLORA. 



characteristic of the Pezizae. On the other hand, the transi- 

 tion from one family to the other is bridged by intermediate 

 forms, included in the genus Helvetia in the present work ; 

 for examjjle, Helvetia bulbosa and Helvetia corium have the 

 receptacle more or less incurved when young, but on the 

 other hand these species possess more morphological points 

 in common with the typical species of Helvetia than with 

 any members of the Pezizae. Another marked peculiarity 

 is the gradual departure of the ascophore from the pezizoid 

 or cup-shaped type. In Helvetia there is the closest agree- 

 ment with the cup-shaped form, although in some species we 

 find the under surface of the pileus more or less adnate to 

 the sides of the stem, and the pileus is always more or less 

 drooping, thus fully exposing the hymenium. In Verpa the 

 pileus is drooping and thimble-shaped, but free from the 

 sides of the stem ; whereas in Mitrophora the pileus is also 

 drooping, but has its upper half adnate to the stem. In this 

 genus we have the development of a new idea, the hymenium 

 being covered with stout, raised, anastomosing ribs, by this 

 arrangement the ascigerous area of the disc is much increased; 

 this idea is continued in Morchella and Gyromitra. In the 

 two last-named genera the pileus is large, hollow, and 

 entirely adnate to the stem. Spathularia is a transition 

 genus; S. clavata (= S. ftavida) may be compared with 

 Gyromitra or Morchella, differing in the large, hollow head 

 being nearly smooth and very much compressed and flattened ; 

 other species differ but little from Mitrula, where the pileus 

 is entirely adnate to ihe stem, and ovate or clavate. Finally 

 we pass on to Geoglossum, where the slender stem is termi- 

 nated upwards by the clavate head, differing only in being 

 fertile. The last-named genus is the only one in the family 

 having coloured spores. 



ANALYSIS OF THE GENERA. 



A. Spores hyaline. 



* Margin only, or whole of pileus free from sides of stem. 



Helvella. Pileus drooping, irregularly waved and 

 lobed. 



