Figure 440.—Bulgaria inquinans. Two-thirds natural size.
Inquinans means befouling or polluting; so called because of the blackish, gelatinous coating of the cap.
Receptacle orbicular, closed at first, then opening, forming a cup, as shown on the right in Figure 440; disk or cup becoming plane; black, sometimes becoming lacunose; tough, elastic, gelatinous, dark-brown, or chocolate, almost black, wrinkled, and rough externally; stem very short, almost obsolete; cup light umber; sporidia large, elliptical, brown.
This plant is quite plentiful in some localities near Chillicothe. It is found in woods, on oak trunks or limbs partially decayed.
CHAPTER XIII.
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.
- Sphærobolus—Peridium double, sporangia ejected singly.