30 NATURAL HISTOEY BULLETIN 



*Otidea onotica ochracea (Fries) Sacc, Syll. Fung. 8: 95. 

 1889. 



Plate 18, f. I. 



Peziza onotica ochracea Fries, Syst. Myc, 2 : 48. 1822. 



The plants examined occur in dense clusters and the cups are 

 split entirely to the base. The paraphyses are nearly straight, 

 not hooked as in the preceding. 



FAMILY 6. ASCOBOLACE^. 



Eeceptacle generally sessile on the substratum, at first closed, 

 later more or less expanded, nearly always found on dung ; peri- 

 dium thin or wanting; hypothecium for the most part well de- 

 veloped, consisting of roundish cells ; asci at maturity protruding 

 beyond the surface of the hymenium, generally operculate ; spores 

 hyaline or purple, globose to elliptical, smooth or marked with 

 wart-like projections or reticulations. 



This is one of the most interesting families of all the dis- 

 comycetes. The plants are usually very small in size but occur- 

 ring, as they do, on the dung of various animals may be de- 

 tected by the guidance of the substrata on which they occur. 

 The plants of the family seem to have the ability to endure 

 long periods of extreme dryness and to spring into life again 

 with the return of moisture. The group is of unusual interest 

 on account of the ease with which the plants may be cultivated 

 in the laboratory. 



About twenty species of the family have been studied in Iowa 

 most of which were first studied from material cultivated in 

 artificial cultures. Later many of the same species were collected 

 in the field. 



In addition to the forms described here one species has been 

 observed and studied by the writer in New York which is of 

 some interest. This species was Streptotheca houdieri Vaill. 

 which is the only representative of the genus, having been col- 

 lected on (rabbit?) dung. 



ASCOPHANUS Bond., Ann. Sci. Nat. V. 10 : 241. 1869. 

 Receptacle at first closed then expanded, fleshy or fleshy-gela- 



