CYTTARIA 251 



DISCOMYCETES 



The typical form of the ascophore in the higher forms is 

 that of a shallow cup, either sessile or supported on a 

 stem. When young the margin of the ascophore is strongly 

 incurved, but gradually expands and exposes the hymenium,, 

 which is often brightly coloured. In some of the minute 

 kinds, that grow immersed in wood, or in the tissues of 

 leaves, the cup-like form is not apparent, and the disc or 

 hymenium may be plane or convex, without any margin. 

 The substance of the ascophore is soft and often fleshy, 

 never carbonaceous as in the Pyrenomycetes. 



The majority are pure saprophytes, although some of the 

 minute species are destructive parasites. Some of the larger 

 kinds, as the Morels (Morchella) are edible. None are 

 known to be poisonous. Conidial stages are produced in 

 some instances. The species of Sclerotinia, which are all 

 parasites, form sclerotia. 



Massee, Geo., British Fungus-Flora, 4. 



A. Spores hyaline. 



CYTTARIA (BERK.) 



Ascophore obovate or subglobose, fleshy, stuffed or hollow, 

 surface with sunken pits lined with the hymenium, and at 

 first covered by a veil ; asci cylindrical, 8-spored ; spores 

 elliptical, continuous, hyaline ; paraphyses numerous. 



Tree morel (Cyttaria gunnii, Berk.) is parasitic on Fagus 

 Cunninghamii) the Tasmanian myrtle-tree. It grows in dense 

 clusters on the branches ; the mycelium is perennial and 

 forms rough knobs or swellings which produce the fungus 

 every season. It was used as food by the aborigines. 



Broadly pear-shaped, becoming hollow, loculi on surface, 

 small, dehiscing by an irregular large opening, whitish ; asci 

 cylindrical, 8-spored, spores elliptical, hyaline. 



Cyttaria berteri (Berk.) grows on Fagus obliqua^ in 

 Tierra del Fuego, Patagonia, and Chili. 



Cyttaria darwinii (Berk.) grows on Fagus antarctica and 

 F. bttuloidts, in Chili. 



Cyttaria hookeri (Berk.) grows on Fagus obliqua and F. 



