IOWA DISCOMYCETES 101 



to clavate, 8-spored; spores ovoid, oblong or clavate, simple, hya- 

 line. 



Distinguished from Helotium by the more slender stem. Two 

 species described from Iowa but probably many more occur. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Plants occurring on acorns, hickory-nut busks, etc., 



stem often long P. fructigena. 



Plants on stems of Polygonum, stem usually short 



I mm P. scutula fucata. 



Phialea fructigena (Bull.) Gill., Discom. 99. 1879. 



Plate 23, f. i. 



Peziza fructigena Bull. Champ. France. 1: 236. 1809. 

 Helotium fructigenum Karst., Myc. Fenn. 1: 113. 1871. 

 Hymenoscypha fructigena Phill. Brit. Discom. 135. 1887. 

 Hymenoscypha virgultorum fructigenum Rehm, Rabenh. 

 Krypt. Fl. I 3 : 783. 1896. 



Plants small, usually 1 to 3 mm. in diameter, at first closed, 

 then opening disc becoming concave or nearly plane, rather pale 

 yellowish, smooth; asci clavate, 8-spored; spores clavate, nearly 

 pointed at the smaller end, guttulate, 11 to 18 by 1 to 5/x ; para- 

 physes filiform, enlarged upwards. 



On decaying acorns and husks from hickory-nuts, Iowa City. 



Plants found to be abundant at times. The stems of the plants 

 of this species are quite variable in length sometimes being nearly 

 1 cm. while at other times the cups are almost sessile, the length 

 of the stem depending on the conditions as in other stipitate 

 forms. 



Phialea scutula fucata (Phill.) Sacc, Syll. Fung. 8: 266. 

 1889. 



Hymenoscypha scutula fucata Phill., Brit. Discom. 137. 1887. 



Plants similar in general appearance to the preceding but 



■smaller scarcely exceeding 1 mm. in diameter with the stem of 



about the same length; asci clavate, 8-spored; spores clavate, 



nearly pointed at the narrow end, 18 to 22 by 3 to 1/x; 2- to 3- 



guttulate, often appearing to be 1-septate. 



On dead stems of Polygonum, Mt. Pleasant. 



