234 M. C. Montagne's Organographic and Physiologic 



into a solid disc, which is superior and sometimes spread over a con- 

 vex capitiform surface, but always limited. The hymenial disc, what- 

 ever be its conformation, is composed of erect, elongated, persistent 

 asci mixed with paraphyses, and enclosing a determinate number 

 of sporidia (4, 6, 8), which, when mature, are discharged elastically 

 under the form of a dusty cloud. 



Their hymenium is supported b}^ a receptacle (excipuhnn), whose 

 form and consistence, which are very variable, furnish their primary 

 distinctions. We will now trace their variations in the whole series. 

 Its substance, which is like wax in Helvella, is gelatinous in BulgaricB, 

 corky in DermecE, coriaceous in PateUarite, horny in PJiacidia. Its 

 forms are not less variable. It is in the first that it attains its max- 

 imum of development. Some of its species so much resemble cer- 

 tain Hymenomycetes, that we are obliged to have recourse to micro- 

 scopical analysis to determine accurately their place. Thus the re- 

 ceptacle, though pileiform and always limited, is irregularly alveolate 

 in the Morel, folded and sinuous in Gyrocephalus ; it is smooth, mi- 

 triform and lobed in HelveJIcE, campanulate in Verpa, clavate in Geo- 

 glossum, capituliform in Mitrula, Leotia and Vibrissea, and cupuliform 

 in Pezizce and Patellarice. In the first of these genera it has always 

 an elongated stem which is either smooth or furrowed. In the latter 

 the cup is stipitate or sessile. 



The receptacle is always open in Helvellce, with the exception of 

 the Peziz(P, where it is at first closed, as also in Cenangium, Exci- 

 pula, &c. It is also constantly open in Bulgaria. In Dermea, which 

 comprise six genera, it is at first closed in the three last (^Hirneola, 

 Dermea and Lachnella), and always open in the three others, as also 

 in the genera Sarea and Patellar ia of the following tribe. In Pha- 

 cidiacece the receptacle opens by a single longitudinal fissure (Hyste- 

 rium), or by several either radiating from a common centre as in 

 Actidium, or irregularly disposed as in Rhytisma. Finally, in Lepto- 

 stroma this organ is reduced to an orbicular scale, whose fall ex- 

 poses the sporigerous disc. In Stictldece the receptacle is obliterated 

 or wholly wanting ; it is the matrix, in which the fungus is developed, 

 which supplies its place. Nevertheless, even in this case, we observe 

 sometimes the rudiment of an excipulum, sometimes merely a layer 

 of cells, named by some subhymenial tissue. Lev., by others placen- 

 tary stratum (Placentar-schichte, Corda). 



The hymenium of Discomycetes is irregularly spread out, and fol- 

 lows all the sinuosities and folds of the receptacle in HelvellcB and 

 Bulgaria, or else it is orbicular and disciform as in Pezizce, PatellaritB, 

 and some Phacidiacea ; or elongated as in many Hysteria and Siic- 

 tidece. "Whatever form it assumes, the hymenium is always composed 

 of a certain number of membranous, transparent, very thin, elongated, 

 cylindrical or clavate cells, placed parallel the one to the other. These 

 cells, called asci, are fixed by one of their extremities to the receptacle, 

 the other being free and rounded ; they contain generally an even 

 number (4, 6, 8) of rounded, oval or elongated bodies formed of one 

 or more cells called sporce, which, as already said, are destined to pro- 

 pagate the species. Between the asci other tubular cells which re- 



