SPHAEROCARPUS 65 
lenticular, or sometimes concavo-convex, areolate ог cristate, in 
S. Dounellii prominently tuberculate-papillate in the basilar cir- 
cumference. Accompanying the spore-mother-cells are smaller 
starch-bearing sterile cells probably equivalent to elaters morpho- 
logically, but lacking a spiral band, these more or less shriveled 
and obscure at the maturity of the spores. 
Key to the Species. ' 
Spores permanently united in tetrads, the surface of these regularly areolate; © invo- 
lucre 1.2-2.6 mm. high, oblong-cylindrical, fusiform-clavate, or very rarely subpyri- 
form, more or less pointed at the apex, cells near the middle 90-150 и X 30-50 и 
S. Са tfornicus. 
Spores separating long before the maturity of the capsule, their surface typically cristate, 
less:commonly irregularly and sparingly areolate; Ф involucre .85-1.2 mm. hi 
subglobose or obovoid, rounded at the apex, cells near the middle 45-80 и X 30-40 и. 
S. cristatus. 
I. SPHAEROCARPUS CALIFORNICUS Aust. Bull. Torr. Bot. Club, 6: 
305. 19794 >>: 
Sphaerocarpus Berteri Aust. р. p. Hep. Bor.-Am. 138. 1873. 
Not Mont. Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. IL, 9: 39. 1838. 
Sphaerocarpus Michelii Bell, var. Californicus Aust.; Underw. 
Bull. Ill. State Lab. Nat. Hist. 2: 30. 1884. 
Sphaerocarpus terrestris Mich., var. Californicus Underw. Zoe, 
I: 364. 1890. 
© thallus suborbicular, somewhat stipitate, mostly 4-8 mm. 
in diameter, commonly in thickly gregarious masses, the often leaf- 
like lobes almost entirely concealed by the involucres, these 1.2- 
2.6 mm. high, oblong-cylindrical, fusiform-clavate, very rarely 
subpyriform, sessile, more or less acuminate, the orifice usually 
inconspicuous ; marginal cells of the thallus about 45 и, medial 
surface cells 60-90 и, cells near mouth of % involucre 45-60 = 
near Ше middle, 90-т5омх 30-50 4: 8 thallus oblong, commonty 
furcate or subpalmately parted, the flask-shaped antheridial invo- 
lucres .27~.36 mm. high: capsule .5-.7 mm 
gonal or somewhat elongated, 15-30 pin diameter, 
pearing crenulate or slightly papillate in opt 
the somewhat increased elevation of the ridg d 
the meshes, the entire surface very minutely granulate ; лета 
cells subspherical to irregularly oblong-cylindrical, 3 Е 
longest diameter, evanescent at maturity of the spores. 
