e 
HARPER: TWO REMARKABLE DISCOMYCETES 81 
illustration of Peziza semitosta in Cooke’s Mycographia, f. rog 
(1879). The palisade layer lining the cavities in the body of the 
fungus is most highly developed in species of Hypogaei, but in 
them it is connected with the hymenium. Bucholtz derives the 
Helvellaceae from Lachnea through the Hypogaei. 
The cancellated stem is combined in Underwoodia with a club- 
shaped ascoma, not cup-shaped or saddle-shaped as in the Acetabula 
and Helvella groups. Such club-shaped ascomata are found in the 
groups of the Geoglossum series. In size, however, in substance, 
in the spores, and probably in the opening of the asci Underwoodia 
is widely removed from any of the groups in that series. The 
hymenium is also more sulcate than in species of Geoglossum and 
resembles in this respect the hymenium of Verpa. Compare 
Boudier’s illustrations on pi. 219 and 220. We may also compare 
the ascoma of Gyromitra gigas referred to above. Gyromitra 
gigas, as illustrated by Boudier in pl. 221, is nearer in general shape 
and appearance to Underwoodia than any other discomycete with 
which I am familiar. 
The spores of Underwoodia have a tuberculate wall and in this 
respect are more highly developed than is usual among the Hel- 
vellaceae, the other species of which have smooth, hyaline spores. 
The question whether Underwoodia is a gymnocarp or an 
angiocarp cannot be settled without the young stages. In the 
ascoma of the species of Helvella the young hymenium is over- 
grown by surrounding tissue as in very many cup fungi and the 
same is true of the elements of the compound hymenium of Mor- 
chella. The hymenium of Underwoodia does not appear to have 
been so overgrown at any time, but whether it was covered at any 
stage with a weft of fibers, as is the case with many of the Geo- 
glossaceae is not known. Nor is it known whether the hymenium 
originated on or below the surface of the primitive ascocarp. 
Questions as to the protection of the young hymenium in the dis- 
comycetes are not yet settled. 
The high development of the different characters in Under- 
woodia gives it a most important position. It is one of the largest 
and certainly the most highly developed of all the discomycetes. 
