INTRODUCTION TO CRYPTOGAMIC BOTANY. 



289 



is the fleshy or soft texture, and the more or less early and 

 comjDlete exposure of the surface of the hymenium. In the 

 more perfect species, there is in no stage of growth the slightest 

 tendency to form a cup ; but even these are so intimately allied 

 with the more noble Pezizw, that it is a matter of some diffi- 

 culty to distinguish certain states of Peziza Tnacropus and 

 Hdvella elastica (Fig. 13, c, b). In Burcardia and Gyttaria 

 the cups are quite as hollow as in Sphceria, and in the latter 

 (in one species at least) almost as much closed ; and in these 

 genera there is a peculiarity of texture separating them in 

 some measure from the others of the section, though connected 

 by Bulgaria. The sporidia vary very much in form, and some- 



Fig. 67. 



a. Cyitarla Gunnii, Berk., nat. size, young and old, with ascus mag- 

 nified. From specimens communicated by Sir W. J. Hooker. 



b. Spores of Rhizina zonata, Berk., magnified Gathered in Sikkim 

 by Dr. Hooker. 



c. Ditto of Rhizina imdulata. From South Carolina, by Eev, M. A. 

 Curtis. 



d. Ascophora elegans, Corda. From specimens gathered at King's Cliffe. 

 Above is the vesicle filled with oblong spores, the columella, and the 

 spores ; below, the secondary fruit, each vesicle containing a very few 

 spores, which are shorter and broader. 



times approach in appearance those of such truffles as Geiiea; 

 and there are species of Peziza which are essentially subter- 

 19 



