DISCOMYCETES 



303 



Cyttarieae 



A peculiar family containing only one genus, Cyttaria. 

 The general appearance of trie ascophore is that of a 

 Morchella without a stem. All known species are para- 



FIG. %i.Sclerotinia urnula, a Discomycete, the conidia of 

 which are liberated by ' disjunctors.' i, chain of conidia in a 

 young stage ; 2, chain of conidia at maturity, the narrow necks 

 or disjunctors deliquesce and liberate the conidia; 3, ascophores 

 springing from mummified berries of Vacciniiim filled with my- 

 celium, forming a sclerotium ; 4, ascus containing eight spores ; 

 5, paraphyses. Fig. 3, nat. size ; the remainder highly mag. 



sitic on species of evergreen beech (Fagus). They often 

 grow in dense clusters, springing from swollen portions of 

 the host. The species are edible, and at one time formed 

 a staple food for the natives. 



