Basidia and Spores of the Nidulariaceae

Summary

The basidia and spores of five species belonging to the Nidulariaceae, including three species of Cyathus, one of Nidularia and one of Crucibulum, have been studied. The spores of Cyathus are sessile; those of Nidularia and Crucibulum are borne on well-developed sterigmata. The spores of all species are separated from the basidia by the collapse and gelatinization of the latter accompanied by the gelatinization of the tissues lining the walls of the peridiole. After separation, the spores remain immersed in a gelatinous matrix in the interior of the peridiole, where they undergo further development, which may consist in nothing more than a thickening of the spore wall, or may involve a very considerable enlargement of the spore itself, amounting in the case of Cyathus stercoreus to 2600 per cent.

A method of dissemination of the peridioles of Crucibulum is described.