CuxNINGHAM.—A Revision of the New Zealand Nidulariales. 61 
| NIDULARIACEAE. 
Saprophytie plants, growing on decaying organie matter on the ground. 
Fructifications consisting of variously-shaped peridia, containing numerous 
indehiscent, compressed peridiola, in the interior of which are borne the 
hyaline, unicellular basidiospores. - 
Of the three genera which occur in New Zealand, Cyathus is represented 
by five species, Crucibulum by one, and Nidula by two. 
KEY ТО THE GENERA. 
a. Peridiolum closed by a definite epiphragm. 
1. Peridiola attached by funiculi to the wall of the peridium. 
eridium of three distinct layers; tunica thin or 
wanting Е Vs Р; БА .. 3. Cyathus. 
b.) Peridium of one layer; tunica thick ДЕ .. 2. Crucibulum. 
2. Peridiola unattached by funiculi but free within the peridium 1. N idula. 
idium dehiscing irregularly, epiphragm absent ; peridium subglobose ^ Nidularia. 
р. 
. 
І. Nipura White. 
White, Bull. Torr. Cl., vol. 29, p. 271, 1902. 
gelatinous (when moist) gleba which fills the interior of the peridium, not 
attached by funiculi; similar in structure to those of Cyathus. Spores 
. ; 1 
This genus is separated from the two following because of the absence 
of a funiculus, the peridiola being free and embedded in the gelatinous 
gl h i 
the peridiola become free within the peridium. 
is similar in structure to that of Crucibulum, save that the filaments of 
which it is composed are pallid-white and not coloured. 
1. Nidula candida (Peck) White. (Plate 3, figs. 1, 2a.) 
White, l.c., p. 271. 
Nidularia candida Peck, Reg. Rept., vol. 45, p. 24, 1891. 
Peridia cyathiform, 6-15 mm. high, 6-15 mm. across the mouth, taper- 
ing slightly to the sessile truncate base, which is up to 8mm. diam. ; 
> 
shining, white or tinted yellow, darker below ; mouth expanded but not 
recurved, entire, smooth, thick and firm. Peridiola reddish-brown, lenti- 
cular, 1-5-2 mm. diam., smooth ; tunica thin, yellowish. Spores elliptical, 
6-10 x 4-8 mmm.,* rounded at both ends. 
Habitat —Growing solitary on decaying wood and sticks on the ground. 
Distribution.—Canada ; Washington, North America: rare and local. 
Wallaceville, Wellington, H. B. Kirk! 24/7/21; Fringe Hill, Nelson, 
500 m., Miss K. M. Curtis! 23/1/21. 
The New Zealand form appears to be intermediate between this and the 
following species. For example, it has the solitary habit, large white 
* In this article the contraction ** mmm." is used for micromillimetres. 
