106 NATURAL HISTOKY BULLETIN 



In the study of the preceding species no trace could be made 

 out of the septa of the spores notwithstanding the fact that this 

 is one of the characteristics of this genus. But in the last named 

 species the septa could be quite easily seen although they are 

 very narrow and delicate and for this reason may be overlooked. 

 The septa are more or less irregular not always extending 

 straight across the spore. 



FAMILY 8. MOLLISIACE^. 



Plants either superficial or erumpent-superficial, mostly ses- 

 sile on the substratum ; substance fleshy, soft, composed of round- 

 ish dark cells; cups at first closed gradually spreading; asci 8- 

 spored, opening with a pore ; spores hyaline, 1- to many-septate. 



MOLLISIA (Fries) Karsten, Myc. Fenn. 1 : 187. 1871. 

 Mollisia Fries (as subgenus) Syst. Myc. 2 : 137. 1822. 



Plants small, sessile, at first globose, becoming expanded; 

 apothecium soft, waxy; asci cylindrical, 8-spored; spores ellip- 

 tical to fusiform, simple, straight or curved. 



The genus is distinguished by the small size of the plants and 

 the soft consistency of the apothecium as well as by the micro- 

 scopic characters of its component cells. Four species collected 

 but others probably occur. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Plants parasitic on leaves and stems of Potentilla. . . M. dehnii. 

 Plants saprophytic on wood and stems of herbaceous 

 plants. 

 Plants occurring on dead wood, cinereous. . . . M. cinerea. 

 Plants occurring on herbaceous stems. 



On stems of Polygonum M. polygoni. 



On dead stems of Ambrosia etc M. atrata. 



*Mollisia dehnii (Rabenh.) Karst., Myc. Fenn. 1: 206. 1871. 



Plate 35, f. i. 



Peziza dehnii Rabenh.. Bot. Zeit. 1 : 11-12. 1843. 



This is a common species and known by its parasitic habits. 

 The species appears to have a wide distribution, specimens hav- 



