1910) HEALD & WOLF—STRUCTURE OF URNULA GEASTER 183 
According to the original description, the fungus was recorded as 
growing on the “ground’’4 (ad terram).5 The writers have examined 
a large number of specimens in the field, and in every case a direct 
connection with subterranean roots could be established. The ease 
with which the stipe breaks from its point of attachment and also the 
depth of the roots in the soil may have been the cause of the original 
error in observation. 
Structure 
The brown septate hyphae grow over the surface of the decaying 
wood as a loose network, or become aggregated into strands or com- 
pact layers in intimate contact with the surface of the root. 
Specimens of the apothecia have been collected in the cooler 
months, from October to April. Their appearance only during this 
portion of the year is undoubtedly due to the favorable conditions of 
moisture and temperature. The apothecia can generally be found 
in abundance following a short rainy season during the period men- 
tioned. They begin their development, however, in May or June 
and grow slowly through the dry summer period, reaching maturity 
in the months mentioned above. This last observation was contrib- 
uted by Professor W. H. Lone, Amarillo, Texas, and has been con- 
firmed by the writers. 
The mature apothecium while still closed is rather thick club- 
shaped (text fig. 1), with a stalk or stipe shorter than the apothecial 
cavity or equaling it in length. While this is the typical form, speci- 
mens which originate from deep-lying roots may have much longer 
stipes; others growing from more superficial roots may be nearly 
sessile and rather globular in form (text fig. 2). The apothecia 
before dehiscence vary in diameter from 1.2 to 3.5°™ in the broadest 
portion, and in length from 4 to 12°. The stalk varies from 0.75 
to 1.5°™ in diameter and is 1-5°™ in length. The outer surface of 
the entire fructification is covered with a dense chocolate-brown 
tomentum. The cut surface of the stalk and wall is pure white, 
while the hymenial layer is yellowish white (28),° becoming with age 
light leather colored (8). The fresh apothecia are of a soft leathery 
texture, becoming firmer with desiccation. 
4 Peck, C. H., Report of N. Y. State Botanist 46:39. 1893. 
5 Saccarpo, P. A., J. c. 422. 6 Jbid., Chromotaxia. 1894. 
