CLASSIFICATION 467 



obserN'c is that the peridiola are quite free in the peridium, and not 

 attached to its inner wall by elastic threads. They are in\olved in 

 mucus. 



Sph^robolus 

 In the three preceding genera the peridium contained several 

 peridiola. In the present genus only one peridiolum is present in 

 the peridium. The peridium consists of two distinct walls or layers. 

 At maturity the outer walls split open at the apex or top into several 

 sharp-pointed teeth or segments. Following this rupture the inner 

 wall suddenly becomes inverted through the opening in the outer 

 peridium, and in the act of so doing, shoots its contained peri- 

 diolum into the air. The whole fungus is only 1-2 lines across. 



Thelebolus 

 This genus agrees with Sphceroholus in the peridium containing 

 only a single peridiolum, but it is much simpler in structure gener- 

 ally. The wall of the peridium consists of a single layer only, and 

 the peridiolum at length protrudes through the apex of the peri- 

 dium, but is not shot away. The individual peridia are not a line 

 across, yellow, and aggregated in crowds on a dense white, cottony 

 mycelium, running over wood, rotten leaves, etc. 



Cyathus 



Peridium consisting of three distinct layers, the apex at first 

 closed by a membrane, then becoming open and expanded, more or 

 less bell-shaped ; peridiola lentil-shaped, attached to the peri- 

 dium by an elastic thread. 



Known by the wall of the peridium being composed of 3 layers 

 (seen in a microscopic section only), and by the peridiola having a 

 depression on one side, from which the attachment cord springs. 



C. striatus (PI. XXVII, fig. 6). — Obconic, apex truncate, at first 

 closed by a membrane, lead-colour and striate inside, hairy and 

 brownish outside, J-| in. high ; peridiola sub circular, compressed. 



Known by the fluted inside of the peridium. 



On wood, twigs, fir cones, etc. Tufted. 



C. vernicosus. — Bell-shaped, broadly open, inside e\en, dull 

 lead-colour, about \ in. high ; peridiola circular, biconvex, blackish. 



Differs from C. striatus in being even and not fluted inside the 

 peridium. 



On the ground. Tufted. 



Crucibulum 



Wall of peridium double, mouth at first closed by a flat membrane, 

 then expanded and bell-shaped ; peridiola numerous, compressed, 

 attached to the peridium by a long cord springing from a nipple-like 

 projection on one side of the peridiolum. 



Differs from Cyathus in the thread springing from a projection, 

 and not from a depression on one side of the peridiolum. 



