354 NEW SPECIES OF THE GENUS ASCOBOLUS. 
so distinct (from Ascobolus at least) as to require for their nomencla- 
hag the proposal of a new genus? r, Cooke, it may be remarked, 
Bondier’s plan. As I understand M. Boudier, he makes use of five 
generic names, and not of five sections of the genus Ascobolus. Such a 
division of this genus, in sections under M. Boudier’s generic names 
(omitting Ryparobius and Theothecus not then found in Engla nd), Mr. 
Cooke adopts, and he precedes it with Mr. Berkeley's old definition 
of Ascobolus, in which ‘‘ asci exploded,” is the important character. 
I presume, therefore, that he found M. Boudier’s arrangement un- 
manageable, not based upon artificial rather than natural dis- 
tinctions. 
The marked characteristic of the funguses it is my object to 
ca gt is the possession of a strongly-defined ring near the sum- 
t of the e ascus, for sed at an early stage of life by a thickening 
within of the external wall: This ring is in no way connected with 
the subsequent dehiscence of the ascus. It does not contract, or dry 
up, or split so as to constitute the portion of the ascus aboye it a 
large operculum. It rather acts at last in opposition to such a 
manner of rending. Dehiscence takes place transversely to the plane 
of this ring, and forms a bilabiate opening above it and down to it. 
For this reason M. Boudier excludes from his Ascobolei a growth 
which in all other respects, ty aspect, by contour, by habitat, by 
growth, and by enumeration of parts, is one with the eading forms 
of Ryparobius, and in my view can hardly be separated far from 
them without neglecting the principles of natural arrangemert. I 
ink of 
h 
general strongly prominent, as much so as in r Sapeollis and Ascopha- 
nus. Ihave often found empty cups by no means in a condition of 
extreme BS which seemed to me only to be accounted for by a 
power of ejecting asci. I do not think it would be advisable to 
admit into Pesiza or Helotium, vv bioh have only an eight-spored ascus, 
species having multisporous asci. J propose then to form a sixth 
The formation of the zonal stripe upon the ascus of these Ascoboli, 
which distinguishes them so definitely from the members of all other 
sections, can be well made out. I have been able in more than one of my 
species to trace its creation quite satisfactorily. In the earliest con- 
dition of the ascus, up to about half growth, the contents are nearly 
arsely and irregularly placed within the uniformly thin walls. At 
this time the contents begin to differentiate. Large globular granu- 
lations collect along and about the axis of the ascus, surrounded by a 
out near its ti 
shaped extension till it touches abe wa all near the widest part. Here 
for a while it seems to solder to the wall, spreading slightly above 
and below the first fine circular line of contact. At this line a 
thickening now takes place upon the wall, and is soon seen to have 
@ semicircular section projecting inwards. The central bes now 
