ASCOBOLUS 



81 



by the protruding asci; asci clavate or subpyriform, 8-spored; 

 spores perfectly globose, minutely sculptured, hyaline. 



Type species, Lasioholus brachyascus March. 



One unnamed species of this genus has been reported for 

 North America by Dr. B. O. Dodge. This genus contains but 

 three species and in the absence of suitable material it is im- 

 possible to determine the identity of the American species. All 

 of the species are coprophilous. 



9. ASCOBOLUS Pers.; J. F. Gmel. Syst. Nat. 1461. 1791. 



Apothecia sessile or substipitate, superficial or partially 

 immersed in the substratum, externally smooth or pilose; hy- 

 menium concave, plane or convex; substance soft, fleshy or waxy, 

 usually greenish; asci cylindric to clavate or subovoid, 4-8- 

 spored; spores becoming blue or purple, fading to brown or 

 blackish, ellipsoid to subglobose, smooth or becoming sculptured; 

 spore-sculpturing very variable, consisting of warts, ridges or 

 crevices; paraphyses slender and usually adhering together. 



Type species, Peziza stercoraria Bull. 



Plants growing on the dung of animals. 



Apothecia medium or small, not exceeding 5 mm. in 

 diameter. 

 Apothecia medium large, reaching 5 mm. in 



diameter. 

 Apothecia not exceeding 1-2 mm. in diameter. 

 Spores very large, 20-35 X 50-70 ix. 

 Spores medium large, 25-40 n long. 



Spores densely marked with ridges or 



crevices. 

 Spores very minutely roughened. 



Spores becoming delicately reticulated. 

 Spores not reticulated. 



Spores 15-17 X 30-40 m- 

 Spores 13-15 X 24-28 n. 

 Spores small, 7-8 X 12-14 m- 

 Apothecia greenish. 

 Apothecia white. 

 Apothecia large, 5 mm. to 2.7 cm. in diameter. 

 Plants growing on soil. 



Restricted to burnt places. 

 On damp soil, not on burnt places. 

 Apothecia brownish-black. 

 Spores ellipsoid. 

 Spores subglobose. 

 Apothecia white. 



1. A. stercorarius. 



2. A. immersiis. 



3. A. glaber. 



4. A. Winteri. 



5. A. americanus. 



6. A. Leveillei. 



7. A. viridulus. 



8. A. candidus. 



9. A. magnificus. 



10. A. carhonarius. 



11. A. geophilus. 



12. A. subglobosus. 



13. A. albinus. 



