ARCYRIA 267 



membranous, largely persistent below, where it gives rise to the deep, 

 goblet-shaped calyculus; stipe strand-like, weak, sometimes wanting, 

 concolorous with the peridium; hypothallus prominent or venulose; 

 capillitium only slowly expanded, bright golden yellow or orange, 

 changing to greenish, the threads rather broad, 4-6 /j, in diameter, 

 regular, even, elegantly branching, delicately spiny-reticulate, the 

 net arising from the center of the stalk and hence loosely attached to 

 the bottom of the vasiform calyculus; spore-mass yellow, spores by 

 transmitted light pale or nearly colorless, smooth, 9-10 jx. 



This beautiful species is easily known by its comparatively large 

 size, peculiar, obovate shape, its brilliant color, and unusually per- 

 sistent membranous calyculus. In dry woods and at lower altitudes 

 the sporangia are apt to be small and deep yellow. At higher altitudes 

 they tend to be larger and more varicolored, tinted with red, yellow, 

 olive and green, not brilliant, but soft and rich. 



While the name vitellina has priority of position, both Massee and 

 Lister, in uniting the two species, preferred the second name, and it 

 may be regarded as established. 



A mountain species: South Dakota, Colorado, Washington, Cali- 

 fornia; also the mountains of central and southeastern Europe. 



6. Arcyria incarnata Pers. 



Obs. Myc. 1 : 58. 1796. 

 PL XVIII, Figs. 461, 462, 463. 



1791. Stemonitis incarnata Pers., in Gmel., Syst. Nat. 2 : 1467. 



1803. Trichia flexuosa Schum., Enum. PI. Saell. 2 : 209. 



1803. Arcyria lilacina Schum., Enum. PL Saell. 2 : 212. 



1876. Arcyria adnata (Batsch) Rost., Mon. App. 36. 1876. 



1877. Arcyria cinnamomea HazsL, (Esterr. Bot. Zeitschr. 27 :84. 



1884. Arcyria irregularis Racib., Rozpr. Nat. Przyr. Ak. Krak. 12 : 83. 



Sporangia closely crowded, cylindric, 1-1.5 mm. high, rosy or flesh 

 colored, stipitate or almost sessile; stipe generally short, sometimes 

 barely a conical point beneath the calyculus; hypothallus none; 

 peridium wholly evanescent, except the shallow, saucer-like, inwardly 

 roughened calyculus; capillitium loose, broad, pale reddish, attached 

 to the cup at the center only, by strands which enter the hollow stem, 

 the threads adorned with transverse plates, cogs and ridges, arranged 

 in an open spiral; spore-mass rosy; spores by transmitted light color- 

 less, nearly smooth, 7-8 jx. 



This common species is well marked by its color, by its short stipe 

 and by the delicate attachment of the capillitium to the calyculus. 

 This is so frail that the slightest breath often suffices to effect a separa- 



