2<S 



ASCOMYCETES 



Sub-class C. Discomycetes. 



[See Bulgaria (Plate 3, Fig. A) and Morchella (Plate 4, Fig. A).] 

 The apothecia of the species of Bulgaria and Peziza occurring at the Cape 

 are usually urn-shaped, and have a basal stalk, embedded in the ground. They 



are about an inch high, and of the same breadth. The apothecium is more or 

 less hairy on the outside, but very smooth and often brightly coloured on the 

 concave side, where the hymenium (made up of the closely packed asci) 

 is found. The asci (Fig. 22) are long and cylindrical, but somewhat narrowed 

 to the base, and contain eight ovoid spores in a row at the apical end, which are 

 eventually discharged through an apical pore (Fig. 22). The figure also shows 

 two of the sterile hairs (paraphyses) which always occur among the asci. 

 In some species of Peziza other reproductive spores {coTiidia) are met with, 

 but these are not known to occur in the South African forms. 



Morchella cornea (Plate 4, big. A) is one of the edible morels and resembles 

 to some extent an ordinary mushroom, but its structure is entirely different. 

 It consists of a stalk, surmounted by a cap, on the outer surface of which are a 

 number of saucer-shaped depressions, each similar to a shallow apothecium of 

 Peziza. On the concave surface of each are found the asci, which are similar 

 to those of Peziza, like them containing eight spores but somewhat broadened 

 at the apex. 



21. 1-5. Corynelia clavata (L.) Sacc. 1. Leaf of Podocarpui with carpophores. 



2. Asci, 500/1. 3. Spores, 1 000/ 1. 4. Long, section of pyenid, 90/1. 5- Sterig- 

 mata and spores of the pyenid, 600/1. (After Lindau & Wille) 6-9. Tripospora 

 tripos. 6. Leaf with carpophores. 7. Ascus. H. Spores, 600/1. 9. Section 

 through wall of carpophore, 100/1. (From Engler and Prantl) 



