The genus Catinella 
Exuias J. DuraND 
The genus Catinella was established by Boudier* for a single 
species, of rather indefinite relationship, which has commonly 
been identified as Peziza olivacea Batsch. While Batsch’s plant 
is indeterminable when tested according to present day standards 
of specific limitations, the fungus which has gone by that name is 
- well known, being clearly described by Massee,} and nicely figured 
by Boudier.{ The synonymy listed below emphasizes not only 
the truth of Boudier’s statement that the species has been in- 
cluded sometimes in one genus, sometimes in another, but that 
it has been referred by various writers to several different families 
as well. The inoperculate asci and intense reaction to caustic 
potash remove it from the Pezizaceae, where the bright color and 
fleshy consistency of the fresh young plants at first seem to place 
it, and to which it has been referred by Saccardo, Rehm and others. 
The somewhat gelatinous nature of the excipulum has. suggested 
the Bulgariaceae to Fries, Karsten and others, but that character 
is certainly not conspicuous enough to associate the plant with 
Bulgaria inquinans or Sarcosoma rufum. Moreover, a truly 
gelatinous tissue does not become friable on drying. The present 
writer is inclined to the opinion of Berkeley, Phillips, Massee and 
Boudier that its affinities are more properly with the Patellari- 
aceae, such, for example, as Karschia. The genus may be charac- 
terized as follows: 
A genus of the Patellariaceae. Ascomata fleshy and somewhat 
gelatinous when fresh, becoming friable when dry, sessile, attached 
to the substratum by radiating, dark fibers; excipulum entirely 
parenchymatous, becoming deep violet with KOH; asci opening 
by a pore, not blue with iodine; spores eight, continuous, pale 
brown; asci and paraphyses agglutinated at the tips to form an epi- 
thecium. 
* Hist. Class. Disc. Eur. 150. 1907. 
+ Brit. Fungus-Fl. 4:94. 1895. 
} Icon. Myc. 3. pl. 452. 
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