12 Cincinnati Society of Natural History. 



VI. CRATERIUM Trent. Sporangium obovoid to cylin- 

 dric, stipitate; the upper and usually greater part of the wall 

 covered with granules of lime, the basal portion naked and 

 more persistent. Stipe short or sometimes elongated, arising 

 from a small circular hypothallus, longitudinally plicate, con- 

 fluent above and similarly colored with the base of the 

 sporangium. Capillitium of tubules, forming a loose net- 

 work, bearing numerous large angular and irregular nodules 

 of lime, which are often confluent along the axis of the 

 sporangium into a pseudo-columella. Spores globose, 

 minutely warted, violaceous. 



In this genus the sporangium is commonly obovoid, with a 

 naked base which is confluent with the stipe and similarly 

 colored ; after dehiscence there is left behind the more per- 

 sistent cyathiform portion standing on the substratum. 



§i. Eu-Craterium. Sporangium at maturity dehiscent 

 in a regular circumcissile manner, the apex falling away as a 

 lid, leaving behind the more persistent cup-shaped portion. 



i. Cratkrium minutum Leers. Sporangium cyathiform, 

 stipitate ; the lid slightly convex, discrete from the first, 

 usually depressed below the rim of the cup, falling away at 

 maturity, and leaving a smooth, circular margin to the lower 

 cyathiform portion. The wall a thick, firm, yellow-brown 

 membrane, the outer surface of the cup entirely naked, 

 smooth and shining, varying greatly in color from alutaceous 

 or ochraceous to various shades of brown ; the lid usually 

 whitened by a thin layer of granules of lime. Stipe short, 

 erect or bent, and slightly curved at the apex, varying in 

 color from rusty yellow to reddish brown, longitudinally 

 plicate, arising from a small, circular hypothallus. Capil- 

 litium of tubules forming a loose net-work, bearing large, 

 irregular, white nodules of lime, which are sometimes con- 

 fluent in the axis of the sporangium. Spores globose, very 

 minutely warted, violaceous, 8-10 mic. in diameter. 



Growing on old wood, sticks, leaves, etc. Sporangium, to- 

 gether with the stipe, .8-1.4 mm - i n height and .3-5 mm. in 

 diameter, the stipe usually shorter than the sporangium, 

 sometimes equal to it in length, rarely longer. The latest 

 authorities include the three species Craterium vulgare, C. 



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