THE DISCOMYCETES OF EASTERN IOWA. 259 



Genus I— S PH^ROSPORA Saccardo. 



Receptacle sessile, at first hemispherical, then expanded, 

 externally clothed with simple, sharp pointed, septate hairs. 

 Asci 8-spored; spores spherical with one large guttula, smooth 

 or beset with spines, arranged in one row in the ascus. Para- 

 physes thickened above and filled with colored granules. 



One species common in woods near Iowa City. In external 

 appearance the plants resemble those of the genus Lachnea 

 from which they are distinguished by their spherical spores. 



Sphaerospora confusa {Cooke) Sacc t 

 Plate V, fig. i. 



1880 Sphaerospora confusa Saccardo, Sylloge Fung., VIII, p. 470. 

 1897 SpJiacrospora confusa Engler-Prantl, Pflan Famil., I, i, p. 170. 

 1000 Sphaerospora confusa Durand, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club, 27, p. 470. 



Cups gregarious or scattered, hemispherical, then depressed, 

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

 ally with numerous, short, septate brown hairs, which are 

 often enlarged near the base; asci cylindrical, 14 by 150 to 

 160 microns; sporidia spherical, i-guttulate, 13 to 15 microns 

 in diameter; paraphysis filiform, enlarged at their apices. 



Habitat — On soil in woods; Iowa City. 



These plants are common on shady banks in the woods, all 

 summer, on naked soil or among moss. The plants are dull 

 brown and very hairy on the outside. They are easily dis- 

 tinguished from the different species of Lachnea which they 

 resemble in external appearance, by their spherical spores. 



Genus II— L A C H N E A Fries. 



Receptacle sessile or stipitate, externally more or less haired, 

 at first hemispherical, then expanded. When mature more or 

 less cup-shaped or expanded. Asci 8-spored; sporidia elliptical, 

 rarely fusiform, hyaline, smooth or rough, with one or two 

 guttula;, or eguttulate. On wood, soil, or other decaying 

 organic materials. Receptacle fleshy, varying in color. 



