242 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY. 



Bulbils, as a rule retain their vitality a long time so that they 

 germinate readily after a year or more. Their maximum longevity 

 has not been precisely determined, but in some instances, as in 

 Grandinia and Corticium, they have been germinated after three 

 years. This fact of the extensive longevity of bulbils is of immense 

 importance to the fungus, enabling it to withstand long periods of 

 unfavorable conditions, the perpetuation of the species being thus 

 comparatively well assured. 



In arranging the materials available for systematic consideration 

 it has been found most convenient to group the forms under four 

 main divisions, namely: those which are known or supposed to be 

 connected with perfect forms belonging to the Discomycetes; those 

 thought to be connected with Pyrenomycetes ; those which appear 

 to be imperfect conditions of Basidiomycetes, and lastly those the 

 actual relationships of which are still undetermined. It has seemed 

 best to consider the last group under a single form-genus, Papulo- 

 spora, this name having been the first which was applied to bodies 

 of this nature, and the variations in the morphology and development 

 in the different species being such that a separation into more than 

 one form-genus does not seem advisable. 



DISCOMYCETOUS FORMS. 



Previous investigations have brought to light but two bulbiferous 

 Discomycetes; an unnamed species of Peziza observed by Zukal 

 ('85, '86), and Lachnca iheleholoidcs (A. & S.) Sacc. reported by 

 Morini ('88). To these is added a species of Cubonia now reported 

 for the first time, specimens of which were sent for itlentification to 

 Professor Elias J. Durand of the Universitv of ^Missouri, to whom the 

 writer is indebted for the following diagnosis: 



Cubonia bulbifera n. sp. 



Plate 1, Figures 1-2S. 



" Plants single or gregarious, often crowded, sessile or narrowed to a 

 stem-like base, turbinate, 3-10 mm. in diameter. Disk cupulate or 

 saucer-shaped, the hymenium pale fawn-color, even when young, but 

 in old specimens wrinkled in a cerebriform manner, externally much 

 darker, becoming almost black with age, smooth or grumous; margin 

 irregularly lacerate-dentate. Consistency subgelatinous, excipulum 

 pseudoparenchymatous throughout, of nearly rounded cells, 20-25 n 



