ILLUSTRATIONS AND DESCRIPTIONS OF 
CUP-FUNGI— II. SEPULTARIA 
Fred J. Seaver 
(With Plate i6i, Containing 3 Figures) 
The genus Sepiiltaria was founded by Massee/ the name 
having been first used by Cooke for a subgenus of Peziza. The 
genus was based on Peziza sepiilta Fries,- one of the few species 
of true hypogaeous cup-fungi. 
Previous to the publication of Peziza sepiilta by Fries, Leveille® 
described a species with similar characters under the name of 
Peziza arenicola. According to Leveille, the latter species is 
peculiar in its mode of development, since the apothecia are at 
first subglobose and entirely concealed in the ground. After 
abundant rains they open and then for the first time become 
visible. The outer surface is covered with long fine hairs which 
bind the sand to the outside of the apothecia so closely that it is 
not easily detached. 
According to Berkeley and Broome who published Fries’s 
manuscript name of Peziza sepiilta, this species is closely related 
to Peziza arenicola Lev. and also has a close resemblance to 
Hydnocystis Tub The plants of the latter genus are said by 
Tulasne not to open to the surface and in this respect only they 
differ from those of Sepiiltaria. Hydnocystis is commonly placed 
among the Tuberales. 
The writer has examined a specimen of Peziza arenicola Lev. 
from Leveille and also a specimen of Peziza sepiilta Fries from 
Scandinavia and find that the two are identical. 
What appears to be the same species has been frequently col- 
lected by Professor Ellsworth Bethel in the vicinity of Denver, 
Colorado. He writes that the fungus is entirely submerged with 
’ Massee, Brit. Fungus FI. 4: 389. 1895. 
2 Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. II. 13: 463. 1854. 
® Ann. Sci. Nat. III. 9: 140. 1848. 
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