THE DISCOMYCETES OF EASTERN IOWA. 287 



let hymenium, it is made very attractive and easy to collect. 

 The plants always grow attached to sticks, which are generally 

 buried under leaves and soil. 



Sarcoscypha occidentaeis (Schzv) Cke. 

 Plate XIX, fig. n. 



1875 Peziza occidcntalis (Sarcoscypha) Berkeley, Grev. Ill, p. 153. 

 1880 Peziza occidcntalis Ellis and Everhart, N. A. Fung., No. 436. 

 1889 Sarcoscypha occidcntalis Saccardo, Sylloge Fung. , VIII, p. 154. 

 1897 Sarcoscypha occidentalis Engler-Prantl, Pflan. Famil., I, p. 194. 

 1900 Sarcoscypha occidcntalis Durand, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club, 27, p. 476. 



Stipitate, cupulate, subinfundibuliform, 1 to 2 cm. hyme- 

 nium dull scarlet, externally lighter, clothed with a few short, 

 flexuose, septate hairs; stem .2 to 1 inch in length; asci cylin- 

 drical; sporidia 8, elliptical 18 to 20 by 10 to 12 microns, 2-gut- 

 tulate; paraphyses filiform, slightly enlarged at their apices, 

 filled with orange granules. 



Habitat — On decaying sticks in woods, spring; Iowa City. 



This species is found under the same conditions, as S. 

 floccosa, from which it is distinguished by the more shallow 

 cups and the exterior which is almost smooth, the hairs being 

 small and inconspicuous. The length of the stem varies 

 greatly, sometimes being as much as 2 inches, at other times 

 the plants are almost sessile. The length of the stem depends 

 upon the depth at which the sticks are buried under leaves 

 and soil. 



Genus II— H ELOTIUM Fries. 



Plants generally gregarious, stipitate or sessile, externally 

 generally smooth, bright colored, waxy; hymenium concave, 

 plane or convex. Asci 8-spored; spores elliptical or fusiform, 

 blunt or sharp-pointed, at maturity 2 to 4-celled, guttulate. 

 Paraphyses slender. For the most part small plants growing 

 on wood and stems, 



One species is very common on decaying wood distinguished 

 by its bright yellow color. 



