456 BRITISH FUNGI 



not SO highly differentiated, is met with in Polysaccum, a genus 

 connecting the two.famihes, Sclerodermaces and Nidulariaceae. 



All the species are small, some quite minute, and grow on manure, 

 rich soil, wood, chips, dead leaves, or any kind of decaying vegetable 

 matter. 



Key to the Genera- 



Peridium cup-shaped or bell-shaped, mouth widely open at 

 maturity ; peridiola compressed, with a depression on one side, 

 from the centre of which an elastic cord springs, which attaches the 

 peridiolum to the wall of the peridium. Cyathus. 



General structure as in Cyathus, only the peridiola have a minute 

 wart, instead of a depression on one side, from which the elastic 

 cord originates that attaches the peridiolum to the wall of the 

 peridium. Cnicibiilum. 



General appearance of Crucibitlum, only there is no elastic 

 cord attaching the peridiola to the v>all of the peridium, and the 

 peridiola are involved in mucus. Niduloria. 



Minute. Peridium splitting at maturity into se\'eral sharp teeth 

 at the apex. Sphceroholns. 



Peridiolum solitary, projecting from the apex of the peridium 

 at maturity. iMinute. Thelebolus. 



NOTES ON THE GENETIA 



Cyathus 

 The members of this genus are to some extent known in this 

 country as " birds'-nest fungi," on account of the more or less 

 nest-like peridia, containing a number of peridiola or egg-like 

 bodies lying loosely at the bottom of the peridium. The distinction 

 between the genera turns on minute details, which require careful 

 observation with a good pocket lens. In this genus the peridiola 

 are attached to the inside wall of the peridium by a long elastic cord, 

 which is attached to the peridiolum in the middle of a slight de- 

 pression or umbilicus, situated on one of its flattened sides. 



Crucibulum 

 The general aspect of the entire fungus is similar to that of the 

 species of Cyathus, but the slender cord or funiculus attaching each 

 peridiolum to the inner wall of the peridium is attached to a pro- 

 jecting, nipple-like structure situated on one side of the peridiolum, 

 instead of being attached at the centre of a depression, as in 

 Cyathus. 



NiDULARIA 



This genus is much less differentiated than in the two preceding 

 genera. It consists of a single thin membrane, which collapses 

 over the enclosed peridiola, and eventually opens by a more or less 

 regular mouth, or altogether irregularly The important point to 



