I 



46^ 44. CRATERIUM PYRIFOllME. [CL. XXIV. 



Diagnosis and Affinity. 



This genus is most nearly related to the genus Helvella. 

 The two hymenia, which are here united, are separated in 

 Helvella, and hang down in the form of a mitre. The co- 

 lour of the pileus is also commonly darker. Geoglossum 

 forms a peculiar club, which is distinctly separated from the 

 stem. 



Synonymes and Figures, 



Elvella clavata, Schaft Fung, t. 149. 



Clavaria Spathula, Flor. Dan. 658. 



CI. spathulata, Schmid. ic. p. 196. t. 50. f. 1. (alter). 



Helvella spathulata, Afzel. Stockh. Handl. 1783. p. 302, 



Sowerb, Fung. t. 35. 

 Helvella farctoria, Bolt. Fung. ed. Willd. 3. p. 10. t. 97. 

 Spathularia flavida, Pers. Dispos. Meth. Fung. p. 36. Com-' 



ment. de Fung* clavaform. p. 34 — ^36. Syn. p. 601. 



Nees, Syst. p. 174. t. 17. f. 156. (Sp. rufa eadem, icones 



malae). 



IX. Gastromyci, 

 44. 



Craterium pyriforme, Ditmar. 



(Tab. I. Fig. 25—28.) 



In harvest, this fungus is observed on the rind of birch 

 trees in moist places. It is scarcely a line in size, and of a 

 brownish-yellow colour. On a short stalk stands the pear or 

 flask shaped peridium, contracted below the mouth. The 

 mouth is covered by a whitish round operculum, which opens 

 and shews the sporae, with intermingled tufts of hairs as the 

 contents of the peridium. 



Ditmar, in den Pilzen Deutschl. b. 1. n. 10. 



