IOWA DISCOMYCETES 57 



small aperture at the top and gradually expanding; peridium 

 and h}"pothecium composed of loose roundish cells; asci not pro- 

 truding at maturity, often operculate (opening by a lid-like 

 structure 1 ; spores hyaline. 



SPH-.EROSPORA Sacc. Miehelia. 1 : 594. 1879. 



Eeeeptacle sessile, at first hemispherical, then expanding, ex- 

 ternally clother with simple, sharp-pointed, septate hairs; asci 

 cylindrical, 8-spored ; spores globose with one large oil-drop ; 

 smooth or beset with spines, arranged in one row in the ascus; 

 paraphyses thickened above and filled with colored granules. 



In external appearance the plants of this genus resemble those 

 of the genus Lachnea but diflier in the globose spores. Two forms 

 have been collected by the writer which seem distinct. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES 



Plants small, mostly 2 to 5 mm. on burnt places. . . S. confusa. 

 Plants large 5 to 10 mm. in diameter, on damp soil 



among moss S. scutelloides. 



SPH.EROSPORA {Sarcoscyplm) scutelloides Ellis, Bull. Torrey 

 CI. 9:18. 1882. 



Plate 8, f. I. 



Cups gregarious or scattered, hemispherical, then depressed, 

 5 to 10 mm. in diameter, dark reddish-brown, clothed externally 

 with numerous, short, septate, brown hairs, which are often en- 

 larged near the base; asci cylindrical, 8-spored, 14 by 150 to 

 160/a; spores globose, 1-guttulate, 13 to Io^l in diameter; para- 

 physes filiform, enlarged at their apices. 



On damp soil in woods among moss, Iowa City. 



The plants described here were at first referred to Sphaero- 

 spora confusa (Cooke) Sacc. but seem to differ from that species 

 in the size of the plants and also in the habitat with perhaps 

 some difference in spore sizes. The plants described here are of 

 about the size and general appearance of Lachnea scutellata ex- 

 cept that the color is darker more brown than red. These plants 

 were found by the writer in the same place each year while re- 

 maining at Iowa City. 



Also specimens of the same form were collected during the 



VOL. TI — 1. 5 



