Spore-sac Fungi — Ascomycetes 



Stem — None. 



Habitat — The specimen pictured was found in December, among 

 tile violets in a cold frame in New Jersey. 



I Golden Peziza (Edible) 



Pe\i:{a auraniia 



Cup — Orange red witliin, golden or whitish outside, with a 



frosted appearance, Subsessile, irregular. 

 Habitat — In clusters on the ground, usually in the autumn. 



ORDER HELJ/ELLALES— EARTH-TONGUES 



The order Helvellales contains the fleshy spore-sac fungi 

 which have the spore-bearing body, the ascoma, open from the 

 earliest stage of its development. 



FAMILY GEOGLOSSACEy€ 



The fiimily GeoglossaceiT, which belongs to this order, con- 

 tains the earth-tongues, which are club-like forms, green or 

 black or yellow, and from one to three inches high, common on 

 the ground, growing in rich wood mould. In consistency they 

 are fleshy, gelatinous, or waxy, and their asci open by means 

 of a terminal pore. 



GENUS SPATHULARIA 



The genus Spathularia has the spore body flattened and 

 growing down both sides of the stem. 



Velvety Spathularia 



Spathularia velutipes (See Plate Facing Page 132) 



Spore Body — Flattened, tawny yellow, shaped like a spatula, with 

 the spore surface wavy and growing down two sides of the 

 stem. 



Stem — Hollow, minutely velvety, dark brown tinged with yellow. 



F/esh — Firm and tough, shrinking little in drying. 



Habitat — Mossy trunks in damp woods. 



Au-rin'-shT-a Ve-lu'-tT-pes 



138 



