White: The Nidulariaceae of North America 271 



The followincr is extracted and translated from Tulasne's more 

 extended description of this species : The inner white evanescent 

 pelHcle is a remnant of the mucilaginous matter which fills the cup 

 in its early stages. The sporangioles are accumulated in large 

 numbers in a space apparently too small to contain them. They 

 are covered with a thick fibrous coat which can be peeled off, and 

 when deprived of this the sporangiole is black and of a horny con- 

 sistency. It is composed of two parts, a thick and much inter- 

 woven darker outer part, and an inner hyaline portion com- 

 posed of irregularly shaped filaments taking the place of basidia 

 and forming a hymenium of which the surface is nearly uniform. 

 The rest of the inner substance is composed of the spores 

 without any filaments, which fact distinguishes these sporangioles 

 from some of those belonging to species of Cyathia. The funic- 

 ulus of Cnicibulum is much more simple than that of Cyathia 

 hirsuta, being composed of a little bunch of elastic filaments 

 gathered closely together in a very thin, transparent outer cover- 

 ing, which is hardly noticeable, and of an equal filet, about 2-3 

 mm. long, which expands itself at the base into the inner wall of 



the peridium. 



III. Nidula gen. nov. 



Peridium composed of a single homogeneous, but layered mem- 

 brane which is at first continuous over the mouth much as in 

 Crucilnihivi ; sporangioles very numerous, at first immersed in a 

 glutinous substance, very closely packed, entirely filling the central 

 cavity and in no way attached to the peridium wall ; no filaments 

 intermixed with the spores. 



Peridium shaggy-tomentose; sporangioles light-colored, 2 ram. wide. 



1. N. Candida. 



Peridium minutely tomentose ; sporangioles dark-colored, barely I mm. wide. 



2. iV'. microcarfa. 



I . Nidula Candida (Peck) 



Nididaria Candida Peck, Reg. Rep. 45: 24. 1891. 



Peridia 6-15 mm. high, 6-15 mm. wide at the top, 5-10 mm. 

 at the base, cylindrically cup-shaped, somewhat truncate at the 

 base ; outer surface white, becoming dingy with age, thick, felt- 

 like, shaggy-tomentose ; inner surface smooth, at first snowy white, 

 becoming brownish with age, somewhat shiny ; mouth entire, firm, 

 somewhat spreading but not recurved; sporangioles 1.5-2 mm. in 

 diameter, light grayish fawn-colored, very thin, flattened, both sur- 



