SPECULATIONS.
The scanty knowledge we have of the real structure of this group of plants leaves much to speculation. They are all evidently closely related plants, and I think best classified under one general head, or genus, Camillea. They are quite different from the Hypoxylons of the temperate region, although we do not question that the tropical species are included in Saccardo mostly under Hypoxylon. When we come to compare what little we know of the species we find several differences on which "genera" could be based, and no doubt will be in time. In the original sense, Camillea might be restricted to the two cylindrical species, C. Leprieurii and C. Bacillum.
Then we have the short, cylindrical or globose forms with persistent or semi-persistent perithecia, Camillea Labellum, C. Cyclops and C. turbinata with the intermediate species C. mucronata. The above will form one, or two, genera, according to taste.
In the following plants we find no perithecia in the ripe specimens, hence of course they will in time be considered a genus. We believe there are two distinct differences between the few species we know, corresponding with the old ideas of Bovista and Lycoperdon in the puff balls. Camillea Sagraena and C. poculiformis, with two divisions of the gleba, a fertile and a sterile portion, and Camillea Bomba and C. globosa (?) with homogenous gleba. The species Camillea Sagraena differs from the other in having the fertile portion composed largely of spores (scanty in others) and in having part of the sterile portion of uncolored hyphae. Of course, it will form a "genus." Thus the genus Camillea can be easily divided into five "genera" and we make the suggestion for the benefit of those engaged in breaking up the old genera, and proposing new names to which to add their own. Who will rise to the occasion?