148 THE GENUS ASCOBOLUS. 
on the exerement of various animals, a few only are found on plants, 
and two on old rags or leather. 
External features have been taken advantage of to arrange the mem- 
bers of the genus in the following synopsis, in preference to a sole re- 
gard to the microscopical structure or disposition of the fruit. How- 
ever important such features may be in the determination of species, 
they could scarcely have been made satisfactorily available in the sub- 
division of the genus. The occurrence of sixteen sporidia in each ascus 
in Ascobolus sexdecimsporus, and of thirty-two in 4. Pelletieri, is not 
without importance. The expulsion of the spores in 4, Kerverni in 
a mass enclosed in a special inner membrane does not appear to be 
confined to that species, but will probably be found to be very general 
throughout the genus. 
n rendering this synopsis as complete as it is, I am indebted to 
the courteous assistance of Messrs. Currey and Broome, for details and 
drawings of the fructification of several species.. 
ASCOBOLUS, Pers. 
Receptacle orbicular, marginate. Disk patellæform. Asci exploded 
(Berk, Outl. p. 374). 
I. EcurNaTA.—Ezfernally spiny, hairy or papillose. 
1. A. porphyrosporus, Fr. 
2. A. pulcherrimus, Crouan. 
3. A. papillatus, Wally. 
JI. FunFUROSA.— Ezlernally furfuraceous or mealy. 
* Stipitate. 
4. A. lignatilis, 4. and S. 
** Sessile. 
5. A. furfuraceus, Pers. 
6. A. viridis, Curr. 
*** Immersed. 
7. A. immersus, Pers. 
8. A. sphæricus, Preuss. 
III. LvircATA.— Erternally smooth, with or without a ciliated 
margin. 
'* Substipitate. 
9. A. denudatus, Fr. 
