"3 



acters. The excipular or epithecial covering ("veil") is supposed 

 by some authors to be more permanent in Coniocybe. The impor- 

 tant distinguishing features are to be found in the spores and the 

 color of the stipes and apothecia ; the color varies from almost 

 white through yellowish-brown to reddish-brown ; the apothecia are 

 of about the same size and form as they are in Mycocalicium ; the 

 stipes are somewhat more rigid ; the spores are simple and color- 

 less. 



As a rule the thallus is very indistinct, though it is usually present. 

 In the European C. furfuracca the thallus is well developed and of 

 a marked sulphur color ; I have seen only a doubtful sterile form of 

 this species from Iowa, but Russell reports it from New England. It 

 is much rarer than C. pallida. 



In general the anatomy of the genus corresponds to that of Cali- 

 cium. In the thallus we find the following differences : the algae 

 are Chroolefus instead of Cystococcus ; the hyphae are more slen- 

 der, more branched and very indistinctly septate ; the algae are 

 quite intimately enclosed by haustorial branches ; the paraphyses 

 are few in number, considerably branched and variable in length ; 

 the spores are simple, colorless or faintly yellowish, spherical, with 

 a distinct irregular exosporium which is readily removed. The func- 

 tion and composition of the exosporium is still unknown ; it perhaps 

 forms a protection to the spores. The mature spores as well as the 

 hyphae of the stipe and apothecium also contain on the outside a de- 

 posit of acid crystals whose function is to protect the plant against 

 attacks of animals, particularly snails (Zukal). The thallus is typic- 

 ally crustaceous and, although quite rudimentary in C. pallida, may 

 be divided in three zones or layers ; the uppermost, consisting of 

 much-branched hyphae, devoid of algae, but containing in its meshes 

 the remnants of dead algae and algal cell-walls, forms the protective 

 covering; the second layer (b) bearing the algae (Chroolepus) con- 

 stitutes the assimilating tissue, and below this is another hyphal layer 

 (c) corresponding to the medullary layer in higher lichens contin- 

 uous with the rhizoidal hyphae (d) . Further observations are nec- 

 essary to determine whether Chroolefus is the constant algal symbi- 

 ont. 



The representatives of this genus occur upon the bark of trees in 

 shaded places ; less commonly on decaying wood. C. pallida occurs 

 throughout the territory. 



