DopGE : METHODS OF CULTURE OF ASCOBOLACEAE 171 
germinated, it will be seen that the artificial application of heat 
in certain cases is an effective substitute for whatever stimulus 
acts under natural conditions to induce germination. 
We may now turn to the results obtained by the study of the 
development of the apothecia in certain of the species named above. 
ASCOBOLUS CARBONARIUS Karsten, Fungi Fenniae exs. 463. 1866. 
In 1866 Karsten issued as no. 463 of the Fungi Fenniae this 
species of Ascobolus, accompanied by a description which stated 
that the ascocarp was sessile, greenish, later brownish, and fur- 
furaceous on the exterior. The spores were described as oblong- 
ellipsoid and purplish black. A formal description was published 
later (1870). This gave the spore measurements and added that 
they were reticulately sculptured and violaceous-fuscous in color. 
The habitat given for the species was on earth among pieces of 
charcoal. The identity of the species under this name seems to 
have been entirely lost sight of until the appearance of Seaver's 
paper on the Iowa Discomycetes (1910). Seaver concludes from a 
study of no. 463 Fungi Fenniae that the species commonly known 
as A, atrofuscus Phil. & Plow. is the same species. It has long 
been known that A. carbonicola Boud. (1877) and A. viridis 
Boud. (1869) are synonyms of A. atrofuscus. Durand (1902) 
has discussed the synonymy of A. atrofuscus and includes Phae- 
opeziza Nuttallii E. & E., N. A. F. no. 2908, among the synonyms. 
After having examined F. F. exs. no. 463, Phil. Elv. Brit. no. 47, 
E. & E., N. A. F. no. 2908, Fungi Galliae exs. no. 3935, and com- 
Pared the spore markings and measurements with Boudier’s 
figures and descriptions of A. viridis Boud. (1869, pl. 5. f. 10), 
I am convinced that our common species growing on burned 
Places js identical with Karsten’s A. carbonarius. Boudier has 
called our attention to a very characteristic abnormality which 
°ccurs in the formation of the outer layer of the spore wall. Such 
Spores as he has figured (loc. cit., pl. 5, iv, fig. 10) can be found in 
all the exsiccati specimens referred to above, and in any collection 
brought in from this vicinity. Fic. 11 was drawn from a spore 
taken from Fungi Galliae no. 3935 (A. atrofuscus). 
One reason for the confusion as to the species is found in 
Karsten’s description of the spore markings. The surface is 
