sphærophorus

from The Century Dictionary.

• noun A genus of ascolichens, type of the family Sphærophoraceæ, having the thallus much branched and brittle, bearing terminal globose apothecia at first inclosed by the thallus, which finally ruptures. The spores are unicellular and dark-colored. About 10 species are known. They grow upon the ground or at the base of trees. S. coralloides is found in the mountains of Europe and America.