Shear and Dodge : Patellina, Leptothyrium, Peziza151 



somewhat enlarged at one end, 8 X 2 fi, uniseriate when young 

 becoming biseriate when mature especially toward the apex (pi. 

 10, fig. 21). Spore dispersal is certainly not by "puffing" and 

 air currents. The walls - of the asci appear to deliquesce rapidly 

 and it may be that insects and water are the chief agencies for 

 the distribution of -the ascospores. The paraphyses are narrow 



above the level of fully developed asci. The tips spread out 

 and disorganize, giving rise to the " epithecium " which is 

 composed in part of the mucilaginous products of this disor- 

 ganization (pi. 10, fig. 21). 



A comparison of the fruit forms of this species of fungus 

 shows that the sporodochia and discocarps are so similar in their 

 texture, size, color and general appearance as to be easily con- 

 fused when dry. Even in this condition, however, they can be 

 distinguished with a fair degree of certainty w T ith a good lens 

 as the mass of conidia usually forms a heap giving a pulvinate 

 or conical shape to the top of the sporodochium ; whereas the 

 discocarp does not retain such a spore mass and is nearly plane 

 or somewhat concave. They are readily distinguished in wet 

 weather or when a drop of water is put on the surface of the 

 fruit body. Under such conditions the conidia collect in a large 

 droplet which maintains its form in whatever position the sporo- 

 dochium be placed. Such a drop never collects on the surface 



Fig. 5. Asci and paraphyses. Pezizella lythri. X 920. 



linear 60-70X i-i ! /2 ^, simple or branched, at first extending 



