iv] PEZIZALES 125 



Some of the Celidiaceae occur on wood or bark, but the majority are 

 parasitic on the thalli or apothecia of lichens, their hyphae ramify among 

 the living tissues oi the host, and they were at first believed to be themselves 

 lichen species. They are, however, without a thallus, and so without an 

 algal constituent, and the host plant is clearly distinguished by its own 

 fructification developed in the absence of the parasite. The fruits of Celidium 

 variant, for example, form black points on the apothecia, or rarely on the 

 thallus of the lichen Lecanora glaucoma. In this family the peridium is 

 absent or but little developed. 



The I'atellariaceae are for the most part saprophytic, but include also 

 a number of lichen parasites. These are erumpent, but the saprophytic 

 forms are superficial, and are thus differentiated from the Cenangiaceae. 

 They are distinguished from the Celidiaceae by the well-marked peridium 

 of small, dark-coloured cells. The fruits are closed at first and either become 

 flattened out as they develop, or open by a narrow or a star-shaped slit. 



In the Cenangiaceae the ascocarps are erumpent, sometimes developed 

 on a stroma. They are dark-coloured, with a tough or somewhat gelatinous 

 sheath, and, when mature, are cup or pitcher shaped; pyenidia or spermo- 

 gonia are present in some genera. 



Bulgaria polymorplia, one of the best known species, occurs on dead 

 trunks of trees, particularly beech. The cup is 1 to 4 cm. across, and is 

 externally umber brown. The hymenium is black and shining and level or 

 almost level with the top of the cup. The ascocarps burst through the bark 

 as small, rust}' brown, scurfy knobs, which gradually expand at the apex. 

 The substance is soft and tough, resembling india-rubber in consistency and 

 appearance. The species is readily distinguished by its four, slightly curved, 

 brown ascospores. It is stated to be a dangerous enemy of the oak, but 

 details of its parasitism are not known. 



The genus Coryne is placed by many systematists in the neighbour- 

 hood of Bulgaria. C. sarcoides is a common species on rotten trunks and 

 stumps. The apothecia are crowded and dull red or purple in colour. 

 Amongst them, or often occurring alone, are the conidial fructifications, 

 rather paler in colour. Minute conidia are abstricted from the ends of the 

 fertile hyphae. The ascospores are septate. 



Cyttariaceae 



The very curious family Cyttariaceae contains only one genus, Cyttaria. 

 Six species are known, occurring in New Zealand, Tasmania, and South 

 America ; all are parasitic upon species of Nothojagus. 



( . Darwinii occurs very commonly in Tierra del Fuego, where it was 

 collected by Darwin in 1.S33. 



