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SUMMARY
Cultural, cytological, and developmental aspects of a coprophilous discomycete, Coprotus lacteus (Pezizales), have been investigated. Spore shots were obtained from field collections of rabbit dung in moist chambers. Spores germinated on water agar and ascocarps developed in dung-oatmeal agar. Vegetative cytology was similar to that of members of the Thelebolaceae. Growth and reproduction occurred in the pH range 4.5-9.5; light was necessary for apothecia to form. Sexual reproduction began with the initiation of many globose to pyriform ascogonia, some of which formed trichogynes. Each ascogonium formed an ascogenous hyphal system. Development of the ascocarp is gymnocarpic. This organism is biologically clocked: meiosis, ascosporogenesis, and spore liberation demonstrate a diurnal response. Details of these features are illustrated and described and taxonomic affinities among the Pezizales are discussed.