74 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN 



Cups scattered, medium large, supported by a short, thick, 

 deeply furrowed stem; asci long, cylindrical, 8-spored; spores 

 1-seriate, oblong or ovate, simple, hyaline; paraphyses clavate. 



Although this genus is commonly recognized among the dis- 

 comycetes it is doubtful if it can stand as a valid genus, the 

 name having been previously used as a generic name among the 

 alga?. However it is thought best to leave this matter to be de- 

 cided upon by those who shall monograph the North American 

 fleshy discomycetes. Two species collected in the state. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Veins extending up the sides of the cup nearly to its 



margin A. acetabulum. 



Veins not extending up the sides of the cup. . . A. sulcata. 



ACETABULA ACETABULUM (L.) COmb. nOV. 



Plate 19, f. in. 

 Peziza acetabulum Linn., Sp. PI. ed 2 : 1650. 1763. 

 Acetabula vulgaris Fuckel, Symb. Myc. 330. 1869. 

 Aleuria acetabulum Gill., Discom. 36. 1879. 

 Helvetia acetabulum Quel.. Enchir. Fung. 275. 1886. 



Cups medium large. 2 to 5 cm. in diameter, with prominent 

 branching veins which extend nearly to the margin of the out- 

 side of the cup, with a short, thick stem; stem 1 to 2 cm. long 

 and about 1 cm. thick, deeply furrowed; hymenium brown, ex- 

 ternally paler, yellowish; asci cylindrical, 8-spored; spores el- 

 liptical, with one large globose oil-drop 18 to 20 by 12/*; para- 

 physes clavate. 



In woods, various localities in eastern Iowa. 



The species is very distinct in the ribs which extend from the 

 grooved stem up the sides of the cup. The spores have each one 

 large oil-drop which is so conspicuous that it is at first mistaken 

 for the spore itself. This plant is commonly known under the 

 specific name given by Fuckel although Peziza acetabulum is 

 usually cited in the synonym of the species as it was in the 

 Fuckel's description. Since it becomes necessary to cite the 

 name given by Linnams as a synonym we use this in combination 

 with the genus under which the species is usually described. 



