The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise Part 102

CHAPTER XIII.

NIDULARIACEAE--BIRD'S NEST FUNGI.

Spores produced on sporoph.o.r.es, 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.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _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.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 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, 12-1410. 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._

[Ill.u.s.tration: 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 s.h.a.ggy 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 gra.s.s, 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._

[Ill.u.s.tration: _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.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _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.