188 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [MARCH 
made up wholly of large parenchymatous cells, those of the excipulum 
averaging 34 # in diameter, those of the hypothecium 1o-14 #.” In 
our study of the structure of Urnula geaster we have shown, by detailed 
examination of material fixed in chromacetic acid and stained with 
iron alum-hematoxylin, that the wall of the apothecium is not paren- 
chymatous, but composed of distinct interlacing hyphae with promi- 
nent intercellular spaces. The supposed parenchymatous wall was 
the main character which separated Urnula geaster from Urnula 
craterium, the type of the genus. — Since this supposed character was 
based entirely upon erroneous interpretation of the structure, there 
can be little ground for the establishment of a new genus. A com-_ 
parison of some of the characters of Urnula geaster and Urnula 
craterium will indicate still further that there is little ground for this 
separation. 
Urnula craterium (Schw.) Fries . Urnula geaster Peck 
MMR Sig ee ees aa Rye Pay pas ¥-2-3:5 
WR ores ei es 400-500 X 14-15 # 700-800 X 14-17-25 # 
Grates. 26 ee 23.33X8-13 u 54-68 X 10-13 ¢@ ' 
LOnmstency uss... ‘Leathery Leathe 
ry 
Wall of apothecium Interlacing hyphae _ Interlacing hyphae 
The agreement of our specimens with Urnula craterium, the type 
of the genus as established by Fries, makes impossible any separation 
of the species under discussion from the genus Urnula. Therefore 
the original name of Urnula geaster, as given by Peck, should be 
retained. 
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS 
AUSTIN, TEXAS 
EXPLANATION OF PLATE XII 
Fic. 1.—Portion of cross-section of the apothecium, showing the different 
layers. X15. 
Fic. 2.—A single ascus with branched paraphysis. 83. 
Fic. 3.—A single ascus, showing the position of spores. X 330. 
Fic. 4.—Origin of paraphyses and asci from the subhymenium. 33° 
Fic. 5.—A single spore showing empty spaces from which the reserve food in 
the form of oil has been dissolved. X 330. 
Fic. 6.—Tip of ascus showing apical pore. 660. 
. 7—Interlacing hyphae from the wall of the apothecium preceding 
ee X 330. 
Fic. 8.—Interlacing hyphae from the wall of a mature open apothecium. 
X 330. 
