SYNONYMS. Poeppig distributed it from Cuba as Cyathus plicatulus, 

 which name was changed by Tulasne when he published it. Fries claims that 

 Cyathus plicatus, "published by him "priorly" is the same plant. 21 



SPECIMENS IN OUR COLLECTION. 



Mauritius, Chas. A. O'Connor. 



German East Africa, Dr. K. Braun. 



Australia, Brisbane, J. H. Simmonds. 



Samoa, C. G. Lloyd. 



Berlin Botanical Garden, Dr. Hennings (adventitious). 



CYATHUS LIMBATUS (Plate 105). Peridium 7-10 mm. high, 

 conic, bell-shaped, dark brown, strigose, hirsute, often becoming 

 smooth in old specimens. Striate within, but the external striae are 

 hidden by the hirsute covering when young. Old specimens where 

 this external hirsute layer has fallen away are strongly striate exter- 

 nally. Peridioles black, 1^/2-2 mm. in diameter, with a thick, outer 

 wall. Spores elliptical, 8-iox 16 mic. (in type). I refer here, how- 

 ever, specimens having spores 10-12 x 16-22. 



This seems to be a frequent species in the West Indies, growing 

 usually on the bare ground. Mr. W. Harris sends it to me in quan- 

 tity from Hope Gardens, Jamaica. It often develops a brown mycelium 

 at base, as many species do. 22 Old specimens lose the external, hirsute 

 covering, and become smooth and striate, hardly appearing like the 

 same plant. (Cfr., Plate 105, figs. 9 and 10.) Tulasne compares it to 

 Cyathus Poeppigii as to cups. The cups are not so strongly striate 

 as Poeppigii, and the striae are coarser. 



SPECIMENS IN OUR COLLECTION. 

 Jamaica, W. Harris (in quantity), Wm. Cradwick. 



NOTE. We have received from A. Thibou, Antigua, a related plant, 

 which we do not publish on account of the paucity of material (4 cups). It 

 is apparently distinct, however, in its narrow spores, 6 x 20 mic. We hope 

 for additional material. 



CYATHUS GAYANUS (Plate 105). Peridium about \y* cm. 

 high, 5-6 mm. broad, narrow, conic, dark brown, striate within and 

 faintly without, strigose, hirsute. Peridioles black, large, 3 mm., 

 with thick outer wall. Spores subglobose, large, varying from 20 to 

 32 mm. 23 . 



21 After Tulasne had published his magnificent monograph, showing how the species of Nidula- 

 iraceae can be distinguished. Fries came out with the claim that Cyathus Poeppigii was Nidularia 

 plicata. We do not know whether it is true or not, and to our mind it is immaterial. If it is true, 

 Tulasne gave the characters by which the plant can be recognized, and Fries gave not a single char- 

 acter by which it can be distinguished from any similar species. When a boy I used to p\ay a game 

 where the chief argument was " That is mine, I saw it first," and I think the argument is equal \y childish 

 as applied to nomenclature. No man should attempt to displace careful, accurate, thorough work that 

 can be correctly interpreted, solely on the strength of vague, indefinite work on the same subj ect, done 

 at a previous date. Authors should realize that they have obligations to mycology other than "seeing 

 new species first," and that they should not only " see " them, but should describe them, and partic- 

 ularly should illustrate thtm so accurately that others can "see" them. Then only should a man 

 have the assumption to claim recognition for his "new species" on the ground of priority. I have 

 great respect for the priority of good work. 



22 On this account, perhaps, Mr. Harris" specimens have been determined as Cyathus byssise- 

 dus, described by Junghuhn from Java. I dp not feel that any one is justified in deciding a plant to 

 be Cyathus byssisedus on either the description or figure. Certainly not this plant which differs in 

 habits from those shown by Junghuhn. 



23 Tulasne gives the measurement " 15-17 x 20-22 mic." In the type I find some as large as 32 mic. 



16 



