322 
THE LARGER FUNGI 
NIDULA White. 
(L., nidulus, a little nest.) 
Pcridiuin C 3 'athifiorm or cupulate, composed of a single thick and felted layer 
of coloured coarse hyphae; dehiscing by rupture of an apical epiphragni wliich 
is similar in structure to that of Cyailnis. Peridiola numerous, embedded in 
a gelatinous matri.x which fills the peridlum, not attached by funiculi. Basidia 
2 or 4-sporcd. 
The genus is separated from Nidularia by the presence of a well-defined 
epiphragm; and from Cyathus and Crucihulum in that peridiola are embedded 
in mucilage and not attached to the wall of the peridium by funiculi. — 
Cunningham. 
No youth Australian species recorded. 
CRUCIBULUM Tulasne. 
(L., crncilmhis, a crucible.) 
Peridium cyathiform, sessile, composed of a single thick, felt-like membrane 
of closely woven, coloured hyphae; dehiscing by rupture of the iwell-iuarked 
epiphragm, which is formed from undifferentiated peridial tissue. Peridiola 
numerous, each composed of an outer thick loosely woven tunica, a thick, horny, 
dark-coloured cortex, and a loosely woven hynienial layer; attached to the 
peridial wall by a funiculus, which is simple in structure. Basidia 2 or 4-spored. 
The genus contains but one species. It is separated from Cyathus by the 
single layer compiising the peridial wall; and from Nidula bv the presence of 
funiculi. — Cunningham. 
541. Crucibulum vulgare Tul. (B., vulgaris, common). — Peridium cyathiform, 
to tin. (12 mm.) tall, and under iiii. (10 mm.) wide at the apex, tapering 
sligl'itly to a sessile truncate base, which may attain a thickness of 8 mm., seated 
on a basal pad of woven hyphae; exterior bright cinnamon, becoming dingy 
with age, in young specimens closely covered with silky appressed toniontum, 
becoming almost smooth, interior pallid cinnamon, smooth, shining ; margin erect 
or slightly expanded, even, thick, smooth. Peridiola pallid brown or dingy 
white, lenticular, smooth, 1.25 to 2 mm. diameter; tunica thick, dingy white, 
readily sejiarable. Spores narrowly elliptical, rounded at both ends, 7 to 10 x 
4 to (i y. Growing solitary or caespitose on decaying leaves,^ sticks, old sacking, 
manure, etc., on the ground. — C^iinningham. Sioiith Australia Ihe Ileimitage, 
Mount Loftv, Chireiidpn, Kinchina. New South Wales. Tasmania. Victoria. 
New Zealand. Probably world-wide. May to November. 
CYATHUS Haller. 
(6r., kyailtos, a cup.) 
Peiidium composed of 3 distinct layers, dehiscing by Wipture of an apical 
epiphragm. Peridiola numerous, lenticular, dark-coloured, each composed ot an 
external white tunica which may be thin and evanescent, a hard and horny 
cortex, and aji inner hynienial layer; attached to the pencual wall by a complex 
funiculus. Basidia 2, '4 or 8-spored.— Cunningham. 
542. Cyathus stercoreus (Schw.) de Toni. (L., stercoreus, of jlung)^ Peridium 
at first iirceolate, becoming obconio or campanulate, to §in. (5 to 45 mm.) tall, 
4 to 8 mm. across the anex, tapering gradually to the slender and short stipe, 
or sessile; exterior fawn ‘coloured, at first hirsute, becoming almost smooth with 
age interior smooth, lead coloured and shining; margin erect, slightly or not 
expanded, entire, even. Peridiola lenticular, 2 mm. diameter, smooth and shining, 
black; tunica ivanting. Spores globose, 20 to 40 y, epispore thick. Growing 
solitary or caespitose on manure, decaying wood, soil, etc.— Cunningham. South 
Australia— Fullarton (Adelaide), Mitcham, Mount Lofty, Clarendon. New South 
Wales. Western Australia. New Zealand. Probably world^wide. 1 ebruary, 
Becember. 
