486 MINNESOTA BOTANICAL STUDIES. 



Morchellah&s eight species likewise representing two sections: 



§ Eumorchella Schroet. Pileus hollow throughout, the cavity- 

 continuous with that of the stipe. Contains M. esculenta and 

 most of the other species some of which are possibly mere 

 varieties of this species. 



§ Mitrophora Lev., Pileus hollow above, the lower part free 

 and surrounding the stem. Contains the two closely allied 

 species M. hijbrida and rimosipes. 



Gyromitra contains seven species some of which are the larg- 

 est members of the entire order and perhaps of the entire class 

 of Ascomycetes. 



Gidaris contains a single Schweinitzian species which is un- 

 known except from its original description. 



The third family, Rhizinaceae, are stemless plants forming 

 in some genera connections with the Pezizales. They resemble 

 the Helvellaceae in the dehiscence of the asci by opercula. Four 

 genera are known, one of which, Sphaerosoma, with spherical 

 spores, is found only in Europe. The other genera are found 

 in America and can be separated as follows: — 



Ascoma firm, fleshy, flattish or arched. 



Smooth beneath Psilopezia. 



With root-like fibrils beneath Khizina. 



Ascoma fleshy, columnar, the interior with longi- 

 tudinal chambers Uiiderwoodia. 



Psilopezia is represented by two species on the continent 

 and an additional one in Cuba. P. nummularis is a thick flat- 

 tish, dark colored species the size of a five cent piece or a little 

 larger, looking like a flattened Peziza. It is not uncommon on 

 wet mossy logs in the northern states in which I have collected. 



Bhizina contains two American species, one of which is found 

 only in Cuba. 



Underwoodia is peculiar to this country and has so far been 

 found in only one locality, Kirkville, Onondaga County, New 

 York. It was first discovered in 1889, by Dr. Joseph T. 

 Fischer, a former companion on fungus forays, and although it 

 has been carefully looked for at its season every year since, it 

 has been met with only twice (21 June, 1890, and 19 June, 1893). 

 Three plants were found the first time, two the second (one of 

 which was double), and the third only the fragment of one that 

 was distorted in attempting to push up through the somewhat 

 dry earth, but clearly showing the very peculiar interior struc- 

 ture which characterizes the genus. Like most of the mem- 

 bers of this order it appears to have a brief period during 



