24 GUIDE TO CRYPTOGAMS. 



GASTEROMYCETES. Genera : 



la. Peridium cup- shaped, opening at maturity and exposing 



several 2widiolce ; often resembling a miniature nest 



fidlofeggs. 



Nidularia. Peridium spheroidal, without a veil, rupturing 

 irregularly at the apex and becoming cyathiform ; peridiolae 

 stemless. 



Crucibulum. Peridium crucible-shaped, closed at first by a 

 drum-head-like veil (formed by the inner peridial layer) which 

 finally disappears, margin not limbate ; peridiolae attached by 

 thread-like stalks. 



Cyathus. Peridium cyathiform, margin limbate ; otherwise 

 as in Crucibulum. 



1 b. Peridium at first globular, opening and cut into teeth 

 at the margin. Outer and inner peridia joined to- 

 gether only by the tips of the teeth. In the peridium 

 lies loosely a single peridiolum. At maturity the 

 inner peridium arches upwards with a jerk, shooting 

 forth the peridiolum for some distance. 



Sphaerobolus. The plants of this genus are of quite small 

 size, and are found mostly on rotten wood. 



1 c. Peridium rupturing at maturity when the gleba emerges 

 covered by the inner peridium. 



Phallus. (Stink-horn.) Outer peridium rupturing irregu- 

 larly ; the gleba elevated on a long stalk. Finally the gleba and 

 inner peridium become transformed into a slimy mass, which, 

 together with the spores, flows down the stalk. The plant gives 

 forth a disgusting fetid odor. 



Geaster. (Earth-star.) Outer peridium rupturing radiately 

 into hygroscopic lobes which, when dry, spread back like a star, 

 exposing the inner peridium, which encloses a powdery mass of 

 spores mingled with a capillitium, and at maturity opens at the 

 summit in various ways. 



1 d. Peridium one- or two-layered, in the latter case the 

 layers not separating from one another; gleba not 

 emerging from the peridium, but forming with the 

 spores a flocculent, powdery mass. 



