THE LAR(;ER euxgi 
V. NIDULARIALES. 
Pevidiuin sessile, eu})uliite, eampanulate or depressed g'lobose, 1 to 4 layered, 
deliisc'iiig by ni]>ture of an cpipliragm covering tlie apex, or by irregular Assuring 
of tbe wall. Gleba enclosed in one or many lenticular peridiola, whicli may be 
embedded in mucilage, or attaclied to tlie peridial wall by funiculi. Capillitium 
absent. Basidia bearing aiiically 2, 4, or S spores. Spores liyaline, smoioth, 
variously shaped. 
NIDULARIACEAE. 
I’eiidium 1 to .3 layered, cupulate or subglobose, deliiseing by rupture of an 
apical epipliragm, or bv Assuring of the wall. Gleba consisting of numerous 
peridiola embed<led in mucilage or attached by funiculi to the wall. 
Pei'idium cupulate^ closed with a deAnite apical 
cpAphragm. 
Peridiola attached by funiculi to the peridium wall. 
Pei'idium of 3' distinct layers Cyathus, 
Peridium of a single layer Cruoibulum. 
Peridiola embedded in mucilage, not attached by 
funiculi Nidula. 
Peridium depressed globose, without an epipliragm . . Nidularia. 
SPHAEROBOLACEAE. 
Peridium 3 or 4 layered, depressed globose, dehiscing by stellate rupture of 
the e.xoperidium and evagiiiation of the cndopenidium. Gleba consisting of a 
solitary peridiolum free within the peridium. 
With the characters of the family Upkacrobolus. 
SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIES OF THE 
GASTEROMYCETES. 
PHALLALES. 
Peridium of two or three layers, enclosing the receptacle and gleba, rupturing 
ajiically and remaining at the base of the receptacle ns the volva. Receptacle 
of pseudoparenchyma, bearing the gleba on some portion of its surface. Gleba 
at maturity mucilaginous, olivaceous and usually foetid. Basidia 4 or 8-spored. 
Spores smooth, usually elliptical. — Cunningham. 
PHALLACEAE. 
Peridium of three layers, obovate or subglobose, at Arst submerged, becoming 
superHcial, or almost so; rupturing from the apex downwards to form several 
lobes, exposing the receptacle and persisting as a volva supporting this structure; 
gelatinous layer continuous, not broken into plates by intermediate tissue. 
Recejitacle completely free within tlie volva, stipitate, cylindrical or fusoid, stem 
hollow, of one or several layers of chambers; beaiiing the glelia on its inodiAed 
upper surface, or upon a eampanulate pileus attached to its apex. Indusium 
present in Dictyophfjra and Claufravia. Basidia bearing from 4 to 8 sessile, 
elliptical, smooth sjiores. — Cunningham. 
These comprise tlie well-known Phalloid Fungi or stink-horns, which are rare 
with us, the only species recorded being the scarlet Ith yphaUus rubicuiuhis. 
MUTINUS Pr. 
(L., mitio, the male organ of generation.) 
Receptacle a hollow, simple, cylindrical or fusiform, coloured stem, closed 
below, pervious or impervious above; wall chambered, cavities usually opening to 
the exterior below, to the interior in the glebiferous region. Gleba mucilaginous, 
olivaceous, foetid, borne up on the apical portion of the receptacle, which may 
be externalU' smooth or covered with pseudo-parenchymatous pulvinate or digi- 
tate ])roeesses. Growing on the grouml or on decayed wood. — Cunningham. 
