NIDULARIACEAE--BIRD'S NEST FUNGI.
Spores produced on sporophores, compacted into one or more globose or
disciform bodies, contained within a distinct peridium. _Berkeley._
There are four genera included in this order.
Cyathus--Peridium cup-shaped, composed of three different membranes.
Crucibulum--Peridium of a uniform spongy membrane.
Nidularia--Peridium globose, sporangia enveloped in mucus.
Sphaerobolus--Peridium double, sporangia ejected singly.
_Cyathus. Pers._
Cyathus is from a Greek word meaning a cup.
The peridium is composed of three membranes very closely related, closed
at first by a white membrane, but finally bursting at the top. Sporangia
plane, umbilicate, attached to the wall by an elastic cord.
_Cyathus striatus. Hoffm._
STRIATE CYATHUS.
[Illustration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._
Figure 441.--Cyathus striatus.]
The plants are small, obconic, truncate, broadly open; externally
ferruginous, with a hairy tomentum, internally lead-color, smooth,
striated.
The sporangia are somewhat trigonous, whitish, broadly umbilicate;
covering of the cup thin, evanescent, somewhat thicker underneath, and
cottony, often covered with down-like meal.
The spores are thick and oblong.
This is a very interesting little plant. It is quite widely distributed.
I have had it from several states, including New England. It is easily
identified by the striations, or lines, on the inside of the cup, being
the only species thus marked by internal striae. The peridioles of the
species fill only the lower part of the cup, below the striations.
_Cyathus vernicosus. D. C._
VARNISHED CYATHUS.
[Illustration: Figure 442.--Cyathus vernicosus.]
Vernicosus means varnished. It is bell-shaped, base narrowly subsessile,
broadly open above, somewhat wavy; externally rusty-brown, silky
tomentose, finally becoming smooth, internally lead-colored.
The sporangia are blackish, frequently somewhat pale, even; covering
rather thick, sprinkled with a grayish meal. Spores elliptical,
colorless, 12-14x10u. I have frequently seen the ground in gardens and
stubble-fields covered with these beautiful little plants. The quite
firm, thick, and flaring cup will easily distinguish the species. The
eggs or peridioles are black and quite large, appearing white because
covered with a thin white membrane. Found in late summer and fall. The
plants in Figure 442 were photographed by Prof. G. D. Smith.
_Cyathus stercoreus._
[Illustration: Figure 443.--Cyathus stercoreus.]
Stercoreus is from _stercus_, dung. This species, as the name suggests,
is found on manure or manured grounds. Mr. Lloyd gives the following
description: "The cups are even inside, and with shaggy hairs outside.
When old they become smoother, and are sometimes mistaken for Cyathus
vernicosus. However when once learned, the plants can be readily
distinguished by the cups. Cyathus stercoreus varies considerably,
however, as to shape and size of cups, according to habitat. If growing
on a cake of manure, they are shorter and more cylindrical; if in loose
manured ground, especially in grass, they are more slender and inclined
to a stalk at the base." The peridioles or eggs are blacker than other
species. They are found in late summer and fall.
_Crucibulum. Tul._
The peridium consists of a uniform, spongy, fibrous felt, closed by a
flat scale-like covering of the same color.
The sporangia are plane, attached by a cord, springing from a small
nipple-like tubercle.
This genus is distinguished from Cyathus, its nearest ally, by the
peridial wall, consisting of two layers only.
_Crucibulum vulgare. Tul._
[Illustration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._
Figure 444.--Crucibulum vulgare.]
The peridium is tan-colored, thick externally nearly even, internally
quite even, smooth, shining; mouths of young plants are covered with a
thin yellowish membrane called the epiphragm. When old the cups bleach
out and lose their yellow color. The peridioles or eggs are white, that
is they are covered with a white membrane. Their yellowish color and
white eggs will readily distinguish this species.
They are found on decayed weeds, sticks, and pieces of wood. The
specimens in the halftone grew on an old mat and were photographed by
Mr. C. G. Lloyd.
_Nidularia. Tul._
The peridium is uniform, consisting of a single membrane; globose, at
first closed, finally ruptured or opening with a circular mouth.
The sporangia are quite small and numerous, not attached by a funiculus
to the peridium, enveloped in mucus.
_Nidularia pisiformis. Tul._
PEA-SHAPED NIDULARIA.
[Illustration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._
Figure 445.--Nidularia pisiformis.]
Pisiformis is from two Latin words meaning _pea_ and _form_.
The plant is gregarious, nearly round, sessile, rootless, hairy, brown
or brownish, splitting irregularly.
The sporangia are subrotund or discoidal in form, dark brown, smooth,
shining.
The spores are colorless, round or elliptical or pear-shaped, produced
on sterigmata, 7-8x8-9u. Sometimes found on the ground and on leaves,
but their favorite home is an old log. Found from July to September.