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diff --git a/29534-8.txt b/29534-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1b69159 --- /dev/null +++ b/29534-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4923 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Myxomycetes of the Miami Valley, Ohio, by +A. P. Morgan + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Myxomycetes of the Miami Valley, Ohio + +Author: A. P. Morgan + +Release Date: July 29, 2009 [EBook #29534] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MYXOMYCETES--MIAMI VALLEY--OHIO *** + + + + +Produced by Peter Vachuska, Chuck Greif, Leonard Johnson +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +From the Journal of the Cincinnati Society of Natural History, Oct. +1892, Jan. 1893. + + +THE MYXOMYCETES OF THE MIAMI VALLEY, OHIO. + +BY A. P. MORGAN. + +First Paper. + +(Read January 3, 1893.) + + +Table of Contents + +MYXOMYCETES, Wallr. + + Order Genera Page + LICEACEÆ. 4 + Licea 4 + Tubulina 6 + Lycogala 7 + RETICULARIACEÆ. 10 + Reticularia 10 + Clathroptychium 12 + Cibraria 13 + Dictydium 16 + PERICHÆNACEÆ. 19 + Perichæna 19 + Ophiotheca 21 + ARCYRIACEÆ. 23 + Lachnobolus 23 + Arcyria 24 + Heterotrichia 27 + TRICHIACEÆ. 28 + Hemiarcyria 29 + Calonema 33 + Trichia 34 + Oligonema 40 + STEMONITACEÆ. 43 + Clastoderma 44 + Lamproderma 45 + Comatricha 48 + Stemonitis 52 + Enerthenema 56 + Diachaea 56 + DIDYMIACEÆ. 58 + Didymium 59 + Spumaria 64 + Diderma 66 + Lepidoderma 72 + PHYSARACEÆ. 73 + Angioridium 75 + Cienkowskia 75 + Leocarpus 76 + Physarella 78 + Cytidium 80 + Craterium 84 + Physarum 88 + Fuligo 102 + Badhamia 105 + Scyphium 109 + + + List or Illustrations + + Vol. XV. Plate III. Figs. 1-12. + Vol. XVI. Plate I. Figs. 13-24. + Vol. XVI. Plate XI. Figs. 25-36. + Vol. XVI. Plate XII. Figs. 37-48. + Vol. XIX. Plate XIII. Figs. 49-55. + Vol. XIX. Plate XIV. Figs. 56-63. + Vol. XIX. Plate XV. Figs. 64-73. + + +PRESTON, HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO, December 28, 1892. + +MR. DAVIS L. JAMES + +_Dear Sir_--Along with this I send you the first installment of the +papers, entitled "The Myxomycetes of the Miami Valley, Ohio." + +The work in these papers is based upon my ample collection of +Myxomycetes growing in this region, comprising more than one hundred +species; these have been diligently compared with specimens obtained +from correspondents elsewhere in this country and in Europe. + +At the same time, I have also included many extra limital species. This +has been done chiefly to more clearly elucidate the subject in places +where the local material is not sufficient. + +The only apology I can make for the arrangement which I present, is that +I have been obliged to choose from several different systems. I have +aimed not to hamper myself, by attaching paramount importance to some +particular character throughout. + +I purpose to furnish a synopsis of the whole at the end of the work. + + Very truly yours, + A. P. MORGAN. + + * * * * * + + + + +MYXOMYCETES, Wallr. + + +Fructification essentially a minute membranaceous vesicle, the +SPORANGIUM inclosing the SPORES, the product of a motile protoplasmic +body called the PLASMODIUM. + +Microscopic organisms with the habit of the Fungi. The ripe spore of the +Myxomycetes is globose or ellipsoidal in shape, with the epispore +colorless or colored, and smooth or marked by characteristic +surface--sculpture according to the species; the spore in germination +gives rise to an elongated protoplasmic body, which exhibits amoeboid +movements, and is known by the name of _swarm-cell_. The swarm-cells +multiply by bipartition, which may be repeated through several +generations; they then unite together to form the large motile +protoplasmic bodies named _plasmodia_. The newly-formed plasmodium is +distinguished by its greater size from the swarm-cells, while it +exhibits essentially the same movements and changes of shape. The +plasmodia gradually increase in size, and as they grow assume commonly +the form of branched strands; these spread over the surface of the +substratum, which is usually the decaying parts of plants, in the form +of veins and net-works of veins, giving rise to a copiously-branched +reticulated or frill-like expansion, which covers surfaces varying in +extent from a few to several centimeters. They are chiefly composed of a +soft protoplasm of the consistence of cream, which may be readily spread +out into a shapeless smear, and is usually colorless, but sometimes +exhibits brilliant colors of yellow, orange, rose, purple, etc. The +development of the plasmodium ceases with the formation of the _spores_ +within their _sporangia_. + +The formation of the sporangia out of the plasmodium appears under three +general forms, which, however, pass into each other and are, therefore, +not strictly limited. + +_First:_ An entire plasmodium spread out on its substratum becomes +transformed into a sporangium, or it divides into a variable number of +unequal and irregular pieces, each of which undergoes transformation. +Such a sporangium lying flat on the substratum, more or less elongated +and flexuous, often branched and reticulate, is termed a +_plasmodiocarp_. + +_Second:_ Erect sporangia on a narrow or stalk-like base, begin as +node-like swellings on the branches of the plasmodium, and gradually +rise to their ultimate form as the surrounding protoplasm flows into +them and assumes an upward direction. These sporangia are nearly always +perfectly regular in shape; they may be globose, obovoid, somewhat +depressed, or more or less elongated, and are either stipitate or +sessile. + +_Third:_ A number of plasmodia collect together from every side and +become fused into a single body, often of considerable dimensions; from +these combinations originate the large spore-receptacles which are +called _æthalia_. The component sporangia may be regular in shape, +standing close together, in a single stratum, with entire connate walls; +more often, being elongated and flexuous, they branch and anastomose +freely, their walls becoming perforated and more or less defective; in +other cases, the æthalium is a compound plasmodiocarp, the narrow +sinuous sporangia branched and anastomosing in all directions, forming +an intricate network, closely packed together and inseparable. The +surface of the æthalium is often covered by a continuous layer of some +excreted substance, which is called the _common cortex_. + +The wall of the sporangium, typically, is a thin, firm membrane, +colorless and pellucid, or colored in various shades of violet, brown, +yellow, etc.; it is sometimes extremely delicate, as in Lamproderma, or +is scarcely evident, as in Stemonitis; in other instances it is +thickened by deposits on the inner surface, as in Tubulina, or by +incrustations on the outer surface, as in Chondrioderma. The stipes are +tubes usually with a thick wall, which is often wrinkled and folded +lengthwise, and is confluent above with the wall of the sporangium; in +some cases the stipe also enters the sporangium, and is more or less +prolonged within it as a _columella_. The stipe commonly expands at the +base into a membrane, which fastens it to the substratum, and is called +the _hypothallus_; when all the stipes of the same group of sporangia +stand upon a single continuous membrane, it is called a _common +hypothallus_. + +In the simplest forms, the cavity of the sporangium is filled +exclusively with the numerous spores; but in most all of the genera, +tubules or threads of different forms occur among the spores and +constitute the _capillitium_. The capillitium first makes its appearance +in Reticularia, in which upon the inner surface of the walls of the +sporangia there are abundant fibrous thickenings; next in Cribraria it +is spread over the inner surface of the wall, and is early separated +from it; here, also, it first assumes a more definite form and +arrangement; in Physarum it is in connection with the wall of the +sporangium only by its extremities while it traverses the interior with +a complicated network; in Stemonitis and its allies the capillitium +originates wholly from the columella; in most species of Arcyria it +issues from the interior of the stipe. The capillitium in Trichia +consists of numerous slender threads which are _free_, that is, are not +attached in any way; they are usually simple and pointed at each +extremity; the surface of these threads exhibits beautiful spiral +markings. + + + + +ORDER I. LICEACEÆ. + + +Sporangia always sessile, simple and regular or plasmodiocarp, sometimes +united into an æthalium. The wall a thin, firm, persistent membrane, +often granulose-thickened, usually rupturing irregularly. Spores +globose, usually some shade of umber or olivaceous, rarely violaceous. + +The species of this order are the simplest of the Myxomycetes; the +sporangium, with a firm, persistent wall contains only the spores. There +is no trace of a capillitium, unless a few occasional threads in the +wall of Tubulina prefigure such a structure. To the genera of this order +is appended the anomalous genus Lycogala, which seems to me better +placed here than elsewhere. + +TABLE OF GENERA OF LICEACEÆ. + +1. LICEA. Sporangia simple and regular or plasmodiocarp, gregarious; +hypothallus none. + +2. TUBULINA. Sporangia cylindric, or by mutual pressure becoming +prismatic, distinct or more or less connate and æthalioid, seated upon a +common hypothallus. + +3. LYCOGALA. Æthalium with a firm membranaceous wall; from the inner +surface of the wall proceed numerous slender tubules, which are +intermingled with the spores. + + +I. LICEA, Schrad. Sporangia sessile, simple and regular or +plasmodiocarp, gregarious, close or scattered; hypothallus none; the +wall a thin, firm membrane, sometimes thickened with scales or granules, +breaking up irregularly and falling away or dehiscent in a regular +manner. Spores globose, variously colored. + +The sporangia are not seated on a common hypothallus; they are, +consequently, more or less irregularly scattered about on the +substratum. + +1. LICEA VARIABILIS, Schrad. Plasmodiocarp not much elongated, usually +scattered, sometimes closer and confluent, somewhat depressed, the +surface uneven or a little roughened and not shining, reddish-brown or +blackish in color; the wall a thin, firm pellucid membrane, covered by a +dense outer layer of thick brown or blackish scales, rupturing +irregularly. Spores in mass pale ochraceous, globose or oval, even or +nearly so, 13-16 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood. Plasmodiocarp 1-1.5 mm. in length, though sometimes +confluent and longer. The wall is thick and rough, not at all shining. +It is evidently the species of Schweinitz referred to by Fries under +this name. + +2. LICEA LINDHEIMERI, Berk. Sporangia sessile, regular, globose, +gregarious, scattered or sometimes crowded, dark bay in color, smooth +and shining; the wall a thin membrane with a yellow-brown outer layer, +opaque, rupturing irregularly. Spores in mass bright bay, globose, +minutely warted, opaque, 5-6 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on herbaceous stems sent from Texas. Sporangia about .4 mm. in +diameter. The bright bay mass of spores within will serve to distinguish +the species. The thin brown wall appears dark bay with the inclosed +spores. + +3. LICEA BIFORIS, Morgan, n. sp. Sporangia regular, compressed, sessile +on a narrow base, gregarious; the wall thin, firm, smooth, yellow-brown +in color and nearly opaque, with minute scattered granules on the inner +surface, at maturity opening along the upper edge into two equal parts, +which remain persistent by the base. Spores yellow-brown in mass, +globose or oval, even, 9-12 mic. in diameter. See Plate III, Fig. 1. + +Growing on the inside bark of Liriodendron. Sporangia .25-.40 mm. in +length, shaped exactly like a bivalve shell and opening in a similar +manner. I have also received specimens of this curious species from +Prof. J. Dearness, London, Canada. + +4. LICEA PUSILLA, Schrad. Sporangia regular, sessile, hemispheric, the +base depressed, gregarious, chestnut-brown, shining; the wall thin, +smooth, dark-colored and nearly opaque, dehiscent at the apex into +regular segments. Spores in the mass blackish-brown, globose, even, +16-18 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, Sporangium about 1 mm. in diameter. On account of +the color of the spores the genus _Protoderma_ was created for this +species by Rostafinski. It is number 2,316 of Schweinitz's N. A. Fungi. + + +II. TUBULINA, Pers. Sporangia cylindric, or by mutual pressure becoming +prismatic, distinct or more or less connate and æthalioid, the apex +convex, seated upon a common hypothallus; the wall a thin membrane, +minutely granulose, firm and quite persistent, gradually breaking away +from the apex downward. Spores abundant, globose, umber or olivaceous. + +The sporangia usually stand erect in a single stratum, with their walls +separate or grown together: in the more compact æthalioid forms, +however, the sporangia, becoming elongated and flexuous, pass upward and +outward in various directions, branching and anastomosing freely. See +Plate III, Figs. 2, 3, 4. + +1. TUBULINA CYLINDRICA, Bull. Sporangia cylindric, more or less +elongated, closely crowded, distinct or connate, pale umber to +rusty-brown in color, seated on a well developed hypothallus; the wall +thin, firm, with minute veins and granules, semi-opaque, pale umber, +often iridescent. Spores in mass pale umber to rusty-brown, globose, +most of the surface reticulate, 6-8 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, mosses, etc. Æthalium circular or irregular in +shape, from one to several centimeters in extent, the individual +sporangia 2-4 mm. in height. Plasmodium at first milky-white, soon +changing to bright red, then to umber, becoming paler when mature and +dry. + +2. TUBULINA CASPARYI, Rost. Sporangia more or less elongated, closely +crowded and prismatic, connate, pale umber to brown in color, seated on +a conspicuous hypothallus; the wall thin, firm, minutely granulose, +semi-opaque, pale umber, iridescent when well matured; all or many of +the sporangia traversed by a central columella, from which a few narrow +bands of the membrane stretch to the adjacent walls. Spores in the mass +pale umber to brown, globose, the surface reticulate, 7-9 mic. in +diameter. + +Growing on old prostrate trunks. Æthalium two or three to several +centimeters in extent, the individual sporangia 3-5 mm. in height. +Plasmodium white, the immature sporangia dull-gray tinged with sienna +color. The columella, with its radiating bits of membrane, is the same +substance as the wall; it may be a reëntrant edge of the prismatic +sporangium, caused by excessive crowding together; at least, this may be +regarded as its origin; there may have arisen some further adaptation. +The species is _Siphoptychium Casparyi_, Rost. I am indebted to Dr. +George A. Rex for the specimens I have examined. + +3. TUBULINA CÆSPITOSA, Peck. Sporangia short-cylindric, closely crowded, +distinct or connate, argillaceous olive to olive-brown in color, seated +on a well-developed hypothallus; the wall a thin membrane, with a dense +layer of minute dark-colored round granules on the inner surface. Spores +argillaceous olive in the mass, globose, minutely warted, 6-8 mic. in +diameter. + +Growing on old wood. Æthalium in irregular patches sometimes several +centimeters in extent, the single sporangia about 1 mm. in height. +Plasmodium dark olivaceous, the sporangia blackish if dried when +immature, taking a paler shade of olivaceous, according to development +and maturity. This is _Perichæna cæspitosa_, Peck, in the 31st N. Y. +Report. + + +III. LYCOGALA, Mich. Æthalium with a firm membranaceous wall; from the +inner surface of the wall proceed numerous slender tubules, which are +intermingled with the spores. The material of the wall appears under +three different forms: the inner layer is a thin membrane, uniform in +structure, of a yellow-brown color, and semi-pellucid; the outer layer +consists of large flat roundish or irregular vesicles, brown in color, +filled with minute granules, and arranged in one or more strata; from +these vesicles originate the tubules, which traverse the wall for a +certain distance, and then enter the interior among the spores; the +tubules are more or less compressed, simple or branched, and the surface +is ornamented with warts and ridges, which sometimes form irregular +rings and reticulations. + +If the sporophores in this genus be regarded as simple sporangia, which +is the view that Rostafinski takes of one of the species, the tubules +are simply the peculiar threads of a capillitium. If, however, the +æthalium is a compound plasmodiocarp, the tubules stand for the original +plasmodial strands and, consequently, represent the component sporangia. + +1. LYCOGALA CONICUM, Pers. Æthalia small, ovoid-conic, gregarious, +sometimes close together with the bases confluent, the surface pale +umber or olivaceous marked with short brown lines, regularly dehiscent +at the apex. The wall thin; the outer layer not continuous, the +irregular brown vesicles disposed in angular patches and elongated +bands, which have a somewhat reticulate arrangement. The tubules appear +as a thin stratum upon the inner membrane; they do not branch, and they +send long slender simple extremities inward among the spores. Spores in +mass pale ochraceous, globose, minutely warted, 5-6 mic. in diameter. +See Plate III, Fig. 5. + +Growing on old wood. Æthalium 2-5 mm. in height, the tubules 3-8 mic. in +thickness. This is _Dermodium conicum_ of Rostafinski's monograph, but +the structure is essentially the same as in the other species. Massee +evidently did not have specimens of this species. I have never seen any +branching of the tubules either in the wall or in the free extremities +of the interior. + +2. LYCOGALA EXIGUUM, Morg. n. sp. Æthalia small, globose, gregarious, +the surface dark brown or blackish, minutely scaly, irregularly +dehiscent. The wall thin; the vesicles with a dark polygonal outline, +disposed in thin irregular reticulate patches, which are more or less +confluent. The tubules appear as an interwoven fibrous stratum upon the +inner membrane; they send long slender branched extremities inward among +the spores. Spores in mass pale ochraceous, globose, nearly smooth, 5-6 +mic. in diameter. See Plate III, Fig. 6. + +Growing on old wood. Æthalium 2-5 mm. in diameter, the threads 2-10 mic. +in thickness, with very slight thickenings of the membrane. The +polygonal vesicles give a reticulate appearance to the dark-brown +patches which ornament the surface of the wall. + +3. LYCOGALA EPIDENDRUM, Buxb. Æthalia subglobose, gregarious, sometimes +closely crowded and irregular, the surface umber, brown or olivaceous, +minutely warted, at length, irregularly dehiscent at or about the apex. +The wall thick, the brown vesicles loosely aggregated and densely +agglutinated together, traversed in all directions by the much-branched +tubules, which send long-branched extremities inward among the spores; +the main branches thick and flat, with wide expansions, especially at +the angles, the ultimate branchlets more slender and obtuse at the apex. +Spores in the mass from pale to reddish ochre, globose, minutely warted, +5-6 mic. in diameter. See Plate III, Fig. 7. + +Growing on old wood. Æthalium 5-12 mm. in diameter, the width of the +tubules varying from 12-25 mic. in the main branches, with broader +expansions at the angles, to 6-12 mic. in the more slender final +branchlets. This is one of the most common of the Myxomycetes; it grows +in all countries, and in this region may be found on old trunks at all +seasons of the year. + +4. LYCOGALA FLAVOFUSCUM, Ehr. Æthalia large, subglobose or somewhat +pulvinate, solitary or gregarious, the surface at first silvery-shining, +becoming yellow-brown, minutely areolate, irregularly dehiscent. The +wall very thick and firm, hard and rigid; the thick outer layer of +roundish brown vesicles closely compacted in numerous strata; from the +vesicles of the lower strata the long and broad much-branched tubules +proceed into the interior among the spores; the ultimate branchlets +clavate and obtuse at the apex. Spores in the mass pale ochre, cinerous +or brownish, globose, minutely warted, 5-6 mic. in diameter. See Plate +III, Figs. 8, 9. + +Growing on old trunks. Æthalium 1 to several centimeters in diameter, +the width of the tubules varying from 25-60 mic. in the main branches, +with sometimes much broader expansions at the angles, to 10-25 mic. in +the ultimate branchlets. The brown vesicles of the outer wall are easily +separated from each other and emptied of their contents by maceration; +it is then seen that a thin pellucid membrane incloses numerous roundish +granules, much resembling the spores, but usually a little larger, 5-8 +mic. in diameter. + + + + +ORDER II.--RETICULARIACEÆ. + + +Sporangia simple, regular and stipitate, or compound, forming an +æthalium; the wall a thin membrane with distinct fibrous thickenings +upon the inner surface, the membrane, or at least certain portions of +it, disappearing usually at the maturity of the spores, leaving behind +the more permanent fibrous thickenings as a more or less definite +capillitium. Spores globose, purple, brown, ochraceous, rarely +violaceous. + +In this order the threads of a capillitium first make their appearance; +but they are confined to the inner surface of the wall of the +sporangium, being set at liberty by the early decay of the outer +membrane. + +TABLE OF GENERA OF RETICULARIACEÆ. + +_a. Æthalia._ + +1. RETICULARIA. Æthalium composed of numerous slender sinuous sporangia +which repeatedly branch and anastomose. + +2. CLATHROPTYCHIUM. Æthalium composed of numerous regular erect +sporangia. + +_b. Sporangia simple._ + +3. CRIBRARIA. Capillitium of slender threads combined into a network of +polygonal meshes. + +4. DICTYDIUM. Capillitium of numerous convergent ribs, which extend from +base to apex, and are united by fine transverse fibers, thus forming a +network of rectangular meshes. + + +I. RETICULARIA, Bull. Æthalium composed of numerous slender sinuous +sporangia, which repeatedly branch and anastomose, closely packed +together and seated upon a common hypothallus, the apices of the final +branches coherent at the surface, and naked or covered by an additional +corticate layer. Walls of the sporangia consisting of a thin membrane, +with abundant fibrous thickenings, presenting broad expansions, +narrowing to thin flat bands, and reduced in many places to slender +fibrous threads. Spores abundant, globose, umber or violaceous. + +After the maturity of the spores disintegration of the sporangial wall +begins, the thin membrane disappearing more rapidly than the fibrous +thickenings or the portions of the sporangial walls near the base, which +are more compactly grown together; there is thus left at each stage an +increasing number of the shreddy fibers mingled with the spores. + +1. RETICULARIA SPLENDENS, Morg. n. sp. Æthalium pulvinate, circular or +more or less elongated and irregular, seated on a conspicuous silvery +hypothallus; the surface naked, bright umber, smooth and shining. Walls +of the sporangia firm and quite persistent, pale umber, slowly +disintegrating, consisting for the most part of wide expansions, with +their angles tapering to narrow bands and slender threads. Spores in the +mass pale umber, globose, most of the surface reticulate, 7-9 mic. in +diameter. See Plate III, Fig. 10. + +Growing on old wood. Æthalium from 1 to several centimeters in extent +and 5-10 mm. in thickness, usually growing singly, rarely close enough +to be confluent. This species has lately been referred to _Reticularia +rozeana_, Rost., but it varies greatly from the account given of that +species in the Journal of Botany for September, 1891. + +2. RETICULARIA UMBRINA, Fr. Æthalium pulvinate, roundish, more or less +irregular, the surface covered by a thin, silvery, shining, common +cortex, which at the base is confluent with the hypothallus. Walls of +the sporangia umber or rusty-brown next the base, with broad expansions +in places thickly grown together, toward the surface passing into narrow +bands and abundant fibrous threads, which rapidly disintegrate. Spores +in the mass umber or rusty brown, globose, most of the surface +reticulate, 7-9 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old trunks. Æthalium one to several centimeters in extent, +and 5-15 mm. in thickness. The walls of the sporangia are much more +reduced to the shreddy fibrous condition than in the preceding species, +and on this account they much more rapidly disintegrate, causing the +æthalium soon to collapse. It is _Reticularia Lycoperdon_, Bull. + +3. RETICULARIA ATRA, A. & S. Æthalium pulvinate, variable in form and +size, covered with a thin, fragile, blackish, cortical layer. Walls of +the sporangia violaceous, next the base with broad expansions, in places +more thickly grown together, toward the surface becoming narrow with +more abundant fibrous threads, sometimes presenting a loose irregular +network, the whole structure, however, quite variable, according to the +stage of the disintegration. Spores globose, violet, minutely warted, +14-16 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on wood and bark, especially of pine. Æthalium 2 or 3 to several +centimeters in extent. This is _Amaurochæte atra_ of Rostafinski's +monograph, but the structure appears to be altogether similar to that of +_Reticularia umbrina_. + + +II. CLATHROPTYCHIUM, Rost. Æthalium composed of numerous regular erect +sporangia, seated in a single compact stratum, on a well-developed +hypothallus, the surface formed by the coherent apices. Sporangia at +first cylindric, with the apex convex and the wall entire; soon, by +mutual pressure, they become prismatic and the lateral faces disappear, +leaving the edges and the apex permanent. Spores globose, ochraceous. + +1. CLATHROPTYCHIUM RUGULOSUM, Wallr. Æthalium composed of numerous very +slender sporangia, closely compacted into a single stratum, and seated +on a conspicuous silvery hypothallus; the surface ochroleucous, honey +color or olivaceous. The sporangia are typically hexangular when the +lateral faces disappear, leaving at the edges six simple triangular +threads, extending from the angles of the hexagonal apex downward to the +base. Spores in the mass ochraceous, yellowish or brownish, globose, +minutely warted, 8-10 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood. Æthalium somewhat circular, or often quite +irregular in shape, 1 to several centimeters in extent, the individual +sporangia nearly 1 mm. in height, but scarcely .1 mm. in thickness. +Deviations from the typical form of the sporangia sometimes occur, they +are not seldom pentangular, and I have seen the apices quadrangular, +with only four threads, or even triangular, and with but three; the +threads, too, are said occasionally to branch and anastomose. +_Reticularia plumbea_, Fries, S. M. III, 88; and _Ostracoderma +spadiceum_, Schw., N. A. Fungi No. 2,381. + + +III. CRIBRARIA, Pers. Sporangia simple, globose or obovoid, stipitate, +often cernuous; the wall regularly thickened on the inner surface in two +ways, the lower basal portion by radiating ribs consisting of minute +brown granules, the upper part by slender threads combined into a +network of polygonal meshes; the basal portion of the membrane is +commonly persistent with its thickening and is called the _calyculus_, +the upper part nearly always disappears from the network at maturity; +there are usually nodules of the brown granules at the angles of the +network. Spores globose, purple, brown, ochraceous. + +_a. Sporangium, large._ + +1. CRIBRARIA ARGILLACEA, Pers. Sporangia globose or obovoid, stipitate +or nearly sessile, standing close together on a thin and evanescent +hypothallus; the wall quite firm, silvery-shining, the greater portion +persistent, breaking away about the apex; calyculus small, the brown +radiating ribs soon passing into a network of polygonal meshes, the +threads with irregular granulose-thickened portions at intervals +throughout their whole extent. Stipe very short, erect, brown. Spores in +the mass argillaceous, globose, 5-7 mic. in diameter. + +Growing in large irregular patches on rotten trunks. Sporangia .6-.8 mm. +in diameter, the stipe always much shorter than the sporangium, +sometimes nearly obsolete. The resemblance of this species to some forms +of _Tubulina cæspitosa_ is very great. + +2. CRIBRARIA VULGARIS, Schrad. Sporangium large, globose, stipitate, +somewhat cernuous; the calyculus brown, finely ribbed and granulose +within, occupying but a small part of the sporangium; the network of +slender threads, with very small nodules at the angles, each with +several (3-7) radiating threads, sometimes with one or two free +extremities, the meshes triangular or rhombic. Stipe rather short, +stout, tapering upward, usually a little bent or curved at the apex, +dark purplish brown in color. Spores in the mass pale ochraceous, +globose, even, 5-7 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood. Sporangium .5-.7 mm. in diameter, the stipe two or +three times the diameter of the sporangium in length. Recognized by the +large sporangium and the very small nodules with their few radiating +threads. + +3. CRIBRARIA DICTYDIOIDES, C. & B. Sporangium large, globose, stipitate, +cernuous; the calyculus small, with thickish brown ribs, from which the +outer thin membrane often disappears soon after maturity; the network of +slender threads, with large brown nodules at the angles, more or less +elongated and irregular in shape, each with numerous (5-15) radiating +threads, usually some with free extremities, the meshes largely +triangular. Stipe long, tapering upward, flexuous, curved at the apex, +dark purplish-brown in color. Spores in mass pale ochraceous, globose, +even, 5-7 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on rotten wood, especially of oak. Sporangium .5-.6 mm. in +diameter, the stipe from three to five times as long. This species +appears to be intermediate between _Cribraria vulgaris_ and _Cribraria +intricata_; the nodules are usually large and irregular, but the +characteristic parallel threads of _C. intricata_ do not often occur. +The outer membrane of the calyculus is by no means always absent. + +4. CRIBRARIA ELEGANS, B. & C. Sporangium rather large, globose, +stipitate, somewhat cernuous; the calyculus thickly coated inside with +dark purple granules, faintly ribbed, occupying about a third part of +the sporangium; the network of slender threads, with large irregular +dark purple nodules, quite variable in shape and size, angular and +lobed, below sometimes much elongated, the meshes very irregular. Stipe +rather short, tapering upward, bent at the apex, dark purple in color. +Spores in the mass bright purple, globose, even, 5-7 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood. Sporangium .4-.5 mm. in diameter, the stipe two or +three times as long. It does not appear to be greatly different from +_Cribraria purpurea_, Schrad. + +_b. Sporangium, small._ + +5. CRIBRARIA TENELLA, Schrad. Sporangium small, globose, stipitate, +cernuous; the calyculus brown, shining, granulose within and faintly +ribbed, occupying from one-fourth to one-half the sporangium, sometimes +the outer thin membrane early disappearing; the network of slender +threads with small roundish or irregular nodules at the angles, each +with several (4-8) radiating threads, sometimes two or three with free +extremities, the meshes triangular or rhombic. Stipe long, tapering +upward, flexuous, curved at the apex, purplish-brown in color. Spores +pale ochraceous in mass, globose, even, 5-7 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood. The sporangium .3-.4 mm. in diameter, the stipe +three to five times as long. This is a much more delicate species than +_Cribraria dictydioides_. The calyculus is variable in size; in some +examples the thin connecting membrane between the ribs has disappeared. + +6. CRIBRARIA MICROCARPA, Schrad. Sporangium very small, globose, +stipitate, somewhat cernuous; the calyculus represented by a few short +brown ribs, the outer membrane soon disappearing; the network of slender +threads, with small roundish nodules at the angles, each with several +(4-6) radiating threads, with an occasional free extremity, the meshes +largely rhombic. Stipe very long, slender, somewhat flexuous, bent at +the apex, purplish-brown in color. Spores in mass pale ochraceous, +globose, even, 6-7 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood. Sporangium .22-.27 mm. in diameter, the stipes 1-2 +mm. in length. Readily distinguished by its very small sporangium and +the comparatively very long stem. I am indebted to Dr. George A. Rex for +specimens of this species. + +7. CRIBRARIA CUPREA, Morg. n. sp. Sporangium very small, oval or +somewhat obovoid, stipitate, cernuous; the calyculus copper-colored, +finely ribbed and granulose within, occupying from one-third to one-half +the sporangium; the network of slender threads, with rather large +triangular or quadrilateral meshes, and with large irregular dark +copper-colored nodules, each having several (4-7) radiating threads, +with an occasional free extremity. Stipe not very long, tapering upward, +curved at the apex, of the same color as the sporangium or darker below. +Spores pale coppery in mass, globose, even, 6-7 mic. in diameter. See +Plate III, Fig. 11. + +Growing on old wood. Sporangium .30-.35 X .25-.30 mm, the stipe two to +four times as long as the sporangium. A minute species, easily +recognized by its almost uniform color of bright new copper. + + +IV. DICTYDIUM, Schrad. Sporangium simple, depressed-globose, stipitate, +cernuous; the wall regularly thickened on the inner surface by numerous +convergent ribs, which extend from base to apex and are united by fine +transverse fibers, thus forming a network of rectangular meshes; the +basal portion of the membrane sometimes persists as a calyculus, the +upper part disappears at maturity. Spores globose; purplish. + +The ribs run from base to apex like the meridians on a globe; they are +simple, or here and there they separate into two divergent branches, +which sometimes again converge into one; at the apex of the sporangium +there is usually a small irregular net in which all the ribs terminate. + +1. DICTYDIUM CERNUUM, Pers. Sporangium depressed-globose, umbilicate at +the apex, stipitate, cernuous, purplish-brown in color; the calyculus +granulose within, occupying from one-fourth to one-third of the +sporangium, the ribs united by firm, persistent fibers. Stipe not very +long, erect, tapering upward, bent at the apex, purplish-brown, the apex +pale and pellucid, standing on a small hypothallus. Spores +purplish-brown in mass, globose, even, 5-7 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood. Sporangium .4-.5 mm. in diameter, the stipe two or +three times longer than the diameter of the sporangium. This appears to +be the species figured and described by Rostafinski and by Massee. + +2. DICTYDIUM LONGIPES, Morg. n. sp. Sporangium large, depressed-globose, +the apex umbilicate, stipitate, cernuous, dark purple in color; +calyculus usually wholly wanting, the ribs united by weak fibers, which +are easily torn asunder, allowing the ribs to curl up inwards. Stipe +very long, flexuous, tapering upward, curved and twisted at the apex, +dark purple in color, standing on a thin hypothallus. Spores in the mass +dark purple, globose, even, 5-7 mic. in diameter. See Plate III, Fig. +12. + +Growing on rotten wood, mosses, etc. Sporangium .5-.7 mm. in diameter, +the stipe three to five times as long. This is a much larger species +than the preceding; it has a uniform dark purple hue, the stipe is very +long and much bent and twisted, the ribs of the sporangium are soon torn +apart and rolled inward. + + +EXPLANATION OF PLATE III + +Fig. 1.--Licea biforis, Morgan, n. sp. + +Figs. 2, 3, 4.--Diagrammatic representation of the structure of Tubulina + +Fig. 5.--Lycogala conicum, Pers., natural size + +Fig. 6.--Lycogala exiguum, Morgan, n. sp., natural size + +Fig. 7.--Lycogala epidendrum, Buxb., natural size + +Fig. 8.--Lycogala flavofuscum, Ehr., natural size + +Fig. 9.--Portion of tubule of Lycogala flavofuscum + +Fig. 10.--Reticularia splendens, Morgan, n. sp., natural size + +Fig. 11.--Cribraria cuprea, Morgan, n. sp. + +Fig. 12.--Dictydium longipes, Morgan, n. sp. + +[Illustration: The Journal of the Cin. Soc. Natural History. + + VOL. XV. PLATE III.] + + * * * * * + +From the Journal of the Cincinnati Society of Natural History, April, +1893. + + +THE MYXOMYCETES OF THE MIAMI VALLEY, OHIO. + +BY A. P. MORGAN. + +Second Paper. + +(Read May 2, 1893.) + + + + +ORDER III. PERICHÆNACEÆ. + + +Sporangia sessile or plasmodiocarp; the wall a thin membrane, with a +more or less thickened outer layer of minute brownish scales and +granules. Capillitium of long and very slender tubules, proceeding from +numerous points of the sporangial wall, loosely branched, forming no +evident network, the surface minutely warted or spinulose. Spores +globose, oval, or somewhat irregular, yellow. + +The order is distinguished by the sessile sporangia, with thick brown +walls, and the very slender threads of the capillitium, with irregular +and indefinite markings. + +TABLE OF GENERA OF PERICHÆNACEÆ. + +1. PERICHÆNA. Sporangia more or less depressed, roundish or more +commonly polygonal and irregular, dehiscent in a circumscissile manner. + +2. OPHIOTHECA. Plasmodiocarp terete and more or less elongated, bent and +flexuous, sometimes annular or reticulate, irregularly dehiscent. + + +I. PERICHÆNA, Fr. Sporangia more or less depressed, roundish or more +commonly polygonal and irregular, the edges approximate and sometimes +confluent; the wall a thin membrane, with a thick dense yellow-brown +outer layer of minute scales and granules, becoming darker at the +surface, dehiscent in a circumscissile manner. Capillitium of very +slender loosely-branched threads, with the surface minutely warted. +Spores globose, oval or somewhat irregular, yellow. + +Distinguished from Ophiotheca by the flattened sporangium with a regular +circumscissile dehiscence. + +1. PERICHÆNA DEPRESSA, Lib. Sporangia very much depressed, polygonal, +irregular, crowded, the edges contiguous, sometimes confluent; the wall +thick, yellow-brown within and scarcely impressed by the spores; the +outer surface smooth, brown-red to brown or blackish in color, dehiscent +in a circumscissile manner. Capillitium of slender loosely-branched +threads, 1-3 mic. in thickness, the surface merely uneven or very +minutely warted. Spores globose, yellow, 9-10 mic. in diameter. See +Plate I, Fig. 13. + +Growing on the inside of the bark of Juglans, Acer, etc. Sporangia +variable in size, 7-1.3 mm. in breadth, irregular and angular, much +flattened. It is said to include _Perichæna vaporaria_, Schw. + +2. PERICHÆNA IRREGULARIS, B. & C. Sporangia depressed, irregular, +polygonal, crowded, the edges contiguous and sometimes confluent; the +wall thick, yellow inside and faintly reticulately impressed by the +spores, the outer surface smooth, purplish-brown, dehiscent in a +circumscissile manner. Capillitium of slender-loosely branched threads, +about 2 mic. in thickness, the surface minutely warted or spinulose. +Spores subglobose, yellow, 9-10 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on the outer bark of Acer, etc. Sporangium .5-.6 mm. in width, +closely crowded and irregular. It is much smaller than _Perichæna +depressa_, and its threads are more distinctly warted and spinulose. + +3. PERICHÆNA CORTICALIS, Batsch. Sporangia globose, the base depressed, +gregarious: the wall thick, yellow within and distinctly reticulately +impressed by the spores, the outer surface reddish-brown or yellow-brown +in color, dehiscent in a circumscissile manner. Capillitium of slender +loosely-branched threads, about 2 mic. in thickness, the surface very +minutely warted. Spores subglobose, yellow, 10-12 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on the inside of the bark of Elm. Sporangia .5-.6 mm. in +diameter, quite regular in shape, with a slightly flattened base. My +specimens are from Prof. McBride, of Iowa. + +4. PERICHÆNA MARGINATA, Schw. Sporangia depressed, polygonal, +approximate and sometimes confluent, the surface cinereous-pulverulent, +seated on a silvery hypothallus; the wall firm, thick, the outer surface +yellow-brown, covered with minute whitish scales, the inner surface +yellow, deeply reticulately impressed by the spores which rest against +it, dehiscent in a circumscissile manner. Capillitium consisting of a +few simple or somewhat branched threads or well-nigh obsolete. Spores +subglobose, yellow, 12-14 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on the outer surface of the bark of Acer, Fagus, etc. Sporangia +.4-.6 mm. in width. This is plainly _Perichæna cano-flavescens_, +Raunkier. I do not find any threads of a capillitium in my specimens. + + +II. OPHIOTHECA, Currey. Plasmodiocarp terete and more or less elongated, +bent and flexuous, sometimes annular or reticulate, the surface not +polished or shining: the wall a thin membrane, with a thin outer layer +of minute scales and granules, irregularly dehiscent. Capillitium of +very slender loosely-branched threads, with the surface minutely warted +and spinulose. Spores globose, oval or somewhat irregular, yellow. + +Distinguished from Perichæna by the terete plasmodiocarp and by the more +spinulose capillitium. _Cornuvia_ of Rostafinski. + +1. OPHIOTHECA CHRYSOSPERMA, Currey. Plasmodiocarp globose or oblong to +elongated, and bent or flexuous, sometimes annular or branched and +reticulate, dull brown in color; the wall a thin yellowish membrane, +with a thin yellow-brown outer layer, irregularly dehiscent. Capillitium +of slender loosely-branched threads, 2-3 mic. in thickness, the surface +minutely spinulose. Spores subglobose, yellow, 8-9 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on the inner surface of old bark of Quercus, etc. Plasmodiocarp +.4-.5 mm. in thickness, variable in length. _Cornuvia circumscissa_ of +Rostafinski's monograph. + +2. OPHIOTHECA WRIGHTII, B. & C. Plasmodiocarp more or less elongated, +bent and flexuous, very commonly in small rings, from brownish-ochre to +brown or blackish in color, not polished; the wall a thin yellow +membrane, with a thin brown outer layer, irregularly dehiscent. +Capillitium of slender loosely-branched threads, 2-3 mic. in thickness, +furnished with numerous straight or bent long-pointed spinules. Spores +subglobose, yellow, minutely warted, 10-12 mic. in diameter. See Plate +I, Fig. 14. + +Growing on the inside of bark of Acer, Carya, etc. Plasmodiocarp about +.5 mm. in thickness, variable in length, often in small rings 1-2 mm. in +diameter. The prickly threads are quite characteristic; the spinules are +3-5 mic. in length. _Hemiarcyria melanopeziza_, Speg., is evidently the +same thing. + +3. OPHIOTHECA VERMICULARIS, Schw. Plasmodiocarp terete and more or less +elongated, bent and flexuous, sometimes annular or reticulate, the +surface not polished, brownish in color; the wall a thin yellow +membrane, covered on the outside by a more or less thickened brown layer +of scales and granules, irregularly dehiscent. Capillitium of slender +loosely branched threads, 2-3 mic. in thickness, the surface with minute +warts and ridges. Spores subglobose, yellow, 10-12 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on the inside of old bark. Plasmodiocarp about .4 mm. in +thickness and various in length; in my specimens the sporangia are +mostly small rings. The species looks exactly like _Ophiotheca +Wrightii_, but the character of the threads is quite different. + +4. OPHIOTHECA PALLIDA, B. & C. Plasmodiocarp terete, oblong or elongated +annular and flexuous, the surface dull, pale ochraceous; the wall a thin +pellucid membrane, minutely granulate, with a thin pale ochraceous outer +layer, irregularly dehiscent. Capillitium of slender loosely-branched +threads, 2-3 mic. in thickness, the surface minutely warted or +spinulose. Spores subglobose, pale yellow, 10-12 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on dead stems of herbaceous plants. Plasmodiocarp .3-.4 mm. in +thickness, variable in length, sometimes short and roundish or oblong, +sometimes much elongated and flexuous. More delicate than _Ophiotheca +vermicularis_, and distinguished by its pallid color throughout. + + + + +ORDER IV. ARCYRIACEÆ. + + +Sporangia regular and stipitate, rarely sessile; the wall a thin +membrane, minutely granulose, colored as the spores and capillitium, the +upper part soon torn away in a somewhat circumscissile manner, and early +disappearing. Capillitium of slender tubules, repeatedly branching and +anastomosing to form a complicated network of evident meshes, more or +less expanded after dehiscence; the surface of the threads minutely +warted or spinulose or with elevated ridges in the shape of rings, half +rings or reticulations. + +This order is specially distinguished by the threads of the capillitium +forming a complicated network of evident meshes. + +TABLE OF GENERA OF ARCYRIACEÆ. + +1. LACHNOBOLUS. Capillitium of slender tubules, quite variable in +thickness, proceeding from numerous points of the sporangial wall. + +2. ARCYRIA. Capillitium of slender tubules, issuing from the interior of +the stipe, the network without any free extremities. + +3. HETEROTRICHIA. Capillitium issuing from the interior of the stipe, +the peripheral portion of the network bearing numerous short acute free +branches. + + +I. LACHNOBOLUS, Fr. Sporangia stipitate or sessile, the wall a thin +delicate membrane, minutely granulose, rupturing irregularly. Stipe +short or sometimes wanting. Capillitium of slender tubules quite +variable in thickness, proceeding from numerous points of the sporangial +wall and forming a complicated network, the surface minutely warted or +spinulose. Spores globose, yellowish or flesh-color. + +This genus differs from Arcyria in the capillitium springing from +numerous points of the sporangial wall. + +1. LACHNOBOLUS GLOBOSUS, Schw. Sporangia globose, stipitate, pale +yellow, changing to clay-color; the wall thin and delicate, pellucid, +minutely granulose, the upper part torn away and soon disappearing, the +lower half more persistent. Stipe short, tapering upward, expanding at +the base into a small hypothallus. Capillitium arising from the lower +portion of the sporangium, forming a complicated network, the threads +3-5 mic. in thickness, the surface closely covered with minute warts. +Spores globose, pale yellow to clay-color in mass, 8-9 mic. in diameter. +See Plate I, Fig. 15. + +Growing on the spines of Chestnut burs. Sporangia .5-.6 mm. in diameter, +the stipe shorter than the sporangium. + +2. LACHNOBOLUS INCARNATUS, A. & S. Sporangia globose or ellipsoidal, +substipitate, closely crowded and seated on a common hypothallus; the +wall thin and delicate, pellucid, minutely granulose, dehiscing +irregularly. Stipe very short or often obsolete. Capillitium proceeding +from the inner surface of the sporangial wall, forming a complicated +network, the threads extremely variable in thickness, minutely warted +and spinulose. Spores globose, flesh-color in the mass, 8-9 mic. in +diameter. + +Growing on old wood. Sporangia .5-.8 mm. in height, sessile on a narrow +base or with a very short stipe; the threads of the capillitium are +generally 3-5 mic. in thickness, but there are broader expansions at the +nodes and elsewhere. My specimens are from Prof. McBride, of Iowa. The +species is extremely variable, and these specimens differ much from +those described elsewhere. + + +II. ARCYRIA, Hill. Sporangia regular ovoid to cylindric, stipitate; the +wall a thin delicate membrane, circumscissile or torn away near the +base, the upper portion evanescent, the lower part persistent, small and +cup-shaped. Stipe more or less elongated, the interior containing +roundish vesicles which become smaller upward, and gradually pass into +the normal spores. Capillitium of slender tubules, issuing from the +interior of the stipe, forming a complicated network, without any free +extremities, the surface minutely warted or spinulose or with annular +ridges. Spores globose, red, brown, yellow, cinereous. + +§1. CLATHROIDES, Mich. Capillitium closely attached by a few threads +which issue from the interior of the stipe, and are free from the +calyculus (except in _A. punicea_), much elongated after dehiscence, +weak and drooping or prostrate; the meshes open and irregular, not +differing externally and internally, their threads similar throughout, +the warts or ridges of the surface exhibiting a spiral arrangement. + +1. ARCYRIA PUNICEA, Pers. Sporangium ovoid, more or less elongated; the +calyculus small, plicate-sulcate. Stipe long, erect, brownish-red in +color, expanded at the base into a small hypothallus. Capillitium firmly +attached by numerous threads which are connate with the wall of the +calyculus, much elongated after dehiscence, ovoid-oblong to cylindric, +bright red in color, fading to red-brown or brownish-ochre; the threads +uniform in thickness, about 3 mic., the surface with a series of +prominent half-rings, which wind around the thread in a long spiral. +Spores globose, even, 6-8 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old bark, wood, mosses, etc. The stipe 1-2 mm. in length, the +capillitium elongated 2-4 mm. The commonest of the species, conspicuous +by reason of its bright red color. + +2. ARCYRIA MINOR, Schw. Sporangium ovoid-oblong; the calyculus small, +sulcate and ribbed, granulose. Stipe short, erect, brownish-red in +color, standing on a thin hypothallus. Capillitium much elongated after +dehiscence, oblong to cylindric, lax and prostrate, bright red to +brownish in color; the threads uniform in thickness, 2.5-3 mic., the +surface with a series of prominent half-rings, which wind around the +thread in a long spiral. Spores globose, even, 7-9 mic. in diameter. See +Plate I, Fig. 17. + +Growing on old wood, bark, Polyporus, etc. The stipe .4-.7 mm. in +length, the capillitium elongated 1.5-3 mm. Not uncommon, but it is +usually referred to _A. adnata_. + +3. ARCYRIA ADNATA, Batsch. Sporangium ovoid; the calyculus very small, +finely ribbed and granulose. Stipe very short or entirely wanting. +Capillitium much expanded after dehiscence, globose or obovoid, pale red +to brownish in color; the threads uniform in thickness, about 4 mic., +the surface with a series of prominent half-rings with mingled warts and +spines, which wind around the thread in a long spiral. Spores globose, +even, 6-8 mic. in diameter. + +Growing in small clusters on old wood. A small species, the capillitium +expanded 1-2 mm., the stipe extremely short, or altogether absent. + +4. ARCYRIA NUTANS, Bull. Sporangium cylindric; the calyculus small, +granulose, ribbed and sulcate. Stipe very short, arising from a common +hypothallus. Capillitium greatly elongated after dehiscence, cylindric, +drooping and pendulous, pale yellow or pale ochraceous; the threads 3-4 +mic. in thickness, the surface covered with spinules, among which are +rings and half-rings, with an indistinct spiral arrangement. Spores +globose, even, 7-9 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood. The capillitium elongated 4-8 mm., the stipe very +short. A very conspicuous species by reason of its long pale yellow +capillitium. + +§2. PLECTANELLA. Capillitium erect, firmly attached by numerous threads, +which issue from the interior of the stipe, but are connate with the +wall of the calyculus, after dehiscence not much expanded: the meshes at +the surface of the network much smaller than those within, folded back +and forth, narrow and irregular, their threads densely warted or +spinulose; the meshes of the interior much larger, open and expanded, +their threads with minute scattered warts or perfectly smooth. + +5. ARCYRIA CINEREA, Bull. Sporangium ovoid or oblong-ovoid; the +calyculus very small. Stipe long, erect, cinereous, becoming blackish, +standing on a thin hypothallus. Capillitium not much expanded after +dehiscence, ovoid-oblong, erect, pale cinereous, sometimes pale +yellowish; the external threads densely spinulose, 2-3 mic. in +thickness; the threads of the interior thicker, 3-5 mic., and very +minutely warted or quite smooth. Spores globose, even, 6-8 mic. in +diameter. + +Growing on old wood. Capillitium 1-2 mm. long, the stipe about the same +length. + +6. ARCYRIA COOKEI, Mass. Sporangium ovoid-cylindric, the calyculus very +small. Stipe long, erect, gray to mouse-color, darker below, arising +from a thin hypothallus. Capillitium not much expanded after dehiscence, +ovoid-cylindric, erect, gray to mouse-color; the superficial threads +densely and uniformly covered with minute warts, 3-5 mic. in thickness; +the threads of the interior thinner, about 2 mic. and smooth, or with +very minute scattered warts. Spores globose, even, 6-8 mic. in diameter. +See Plate I, Fig. 16. + +Growing on old wood, mosses, etc. Capillitium 1-2 mm. long, the stipe +about the same length. It seems as common as _Arcyria cinerea_, and has +heretofore been included in it. See Massee's Monograph, p. 154. + +7. ARCYRIA DIGITATA, Schw. Sporangium cylindric, the calyculus very +small. Stipe long, ascending, brownish in color, usually several +fasciculate or to some extent connate, the sporangia divergent at the +apex. Capillitium not much expanded after dehiscence, cylindric, pale +cinereous, or pale yellowish; the threads variable in thickness. 2-4 +mic., those at the surface densely and minutely warted, those of the +interior nearly smooth. Spores globose, even, 6-8 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood. Capillitium 2-4 mm. long, the stipe about the same +length. _Arcyria bicolor_, B. & C. + + +III. HETEROTRICHIA, Massee. Sporangia regular, oblong-ovoid, stipitate; +the wall a thin delicate membrane, the upper part disappearing at +maturity, leaving the basal portion as a small calyculus. Stipe filled +with large thick-walled vesicles, which are sub-angular from mutual +pressure; these become smaller upward, and pass gradually into normal +spores. Capillitium issuing from the interior of the stipe, the central +and superficial threads dissimilar, forming a complicated network, with +numerous free extremities, the surface minutely warted, or with annular +ridges. Spores globose, brownish. + +Distinguished from Arcyria by the numerous free extremities of the +peripheral portion of the network. + +1. HETEROTRICHIA GABRIELLÆ, Massee. Sporangium oblong-ovoid, stipitate; +the calyculus small, thin, smooth. Stipe very short, erect, +yellowish-brown in color. Capillitium much elongated after dehiscence, +cylindric-ovoid, sub-erect; the threads of the central portion about 1.5 +mic. thick, with slightly elevated ridges partly encircling the tube, +nearly colorless; threads of the peripheral portion bright yellow, 5-6 +mic. thick, with numerous short acute free branches, the surface densely +and minutely warted. Spores in mass, yellowish-brown, globose, even, 7-8 +mic. in diameter. See Plate I, Fig. 18. + +Growing on wood; S. Carolina, _H. W. Ravenel_. The sporangia densely +crowded, becoming scattered toward the margin of the cluster. Massee's +Monograph of the Myxogasters. + + + + +ORDER V. TRICHIACEÆ. + + +Sporangium regular and stipitate or sessile, rarely plasmodiocarp; the +wall a thin membrane, usually granular or venulose on the inner surface, +colored as the spores and capillitium, irregularly dehiscent. +Capillitium of slender tubules, simple or branched, scarcely forming an +evident network; the surface of the threads furnished with continuous +ridges, which wind around the tube in a spiral manner. Spores globose, +red, brown, yellow, olivaceous. + +This order is readily recognized by the spiral ridges which wind around +the tubules of the capillitium. + +TABLE OF GENERA OF TRICHIACEÆ. + +1. HEMIARCYRIA. Capillitium of long slender tubules, arising from the +base of the sporangium, or issuing from the interior of the stipe; the +spiral ridges parallel and conspicuous. + +2. CALONEMA. Capillitium of slender tubules, arising from the base of +the sporangium; the surface traversed by a system of branching veins. + +3. TRICHIA. Capillitium consisting of numerous short slender tubules, +called elaters, which are wholly free; the spiral ridges parallel and +conspicuous. + +4. OLIGONEMA. Capillitium scanty, composed of elaters habitually +irregular and abnormal; the surface variously marked. + + +I. HEMIARCYRIA, Fr. Sporangia regular and stipitate, rarely +plasmodiocarp, the wall at maturity breaking away from above downward, +leaving more or less of the lower portion persistent. Stipe more or less +elongated, rarely wanting, resting on a thin hypothallus. Capillitium of +long slender tubules, more or less branched, arising from the base of +the sporangium, or issuing from the interior of the stipe; the spiral +ridges parallel and conspicuous, 3-5, rarely more in number, smooth or +spinulose. Spores globose, red, yellow. + +The genus is related on the one hand to Arcyria by the mode of +attachment of the threads, on the other hand to Trichia, by the parallel +spiral ridges which wind around them. By the mode of branching of the +threads, the species fall readily into two sections. + +§1. ARCYRIOIDES. Capillitium of slender threads, branching and +anastomosing, thus forming a more or less evident network. + +In some of the species the large irregular meshes of the network are +scarcely to be discerned, but are rather to be inferred from the +abundant branching of the threads and the paucity of the free +extremities. + +1. HEMIARCYRIA PLUMOSA, Morgan, n. sp. Sporangium obovoid to turbinate, +olive-yellow to olive-brown in color, stipitate; the wall densely +granulose within, externally smooth and shining, the upper part soon +disappearing, leaving a funnel-shaped persistent base. Stipe long, +erect, reddish-brown, arising from a thin hypothallus. Capillitium of +threads 5-7 mic. in thickness, repeatedly branched and anastomosing, to +form a dense network without any free extremities, olive-yellow to +olive-brown in color; the spiral ridges five or six, close, smooth. +Spores in mass, lemon-yellow, globose, very minutely warted, 8-9 mic. in +diameter. See Plate I, Fig. 19. + +Growing gregariously on old damp logs; very common in this region. +Sporangium with the stipe 2-3 mm. in height, the stipe usually much +longer than the sporangium; the capillitium expands considerably after +the disappearance of the upper part of the sporangium. This species is +an Arcyria in every respect, except the spiral ridges, which wind about +the thread of the capillitium. + +2. HEMIARCYRIA VARNEYI, Rex. Sporangium elongated ovoid, pale yellow, +stipitate; the upper part of the wall disappearing at maturity, leaving +a small cup-shaped persistent base. Stipe very short, dull brown. +Capillitium of very slender threads 3.2-3.5 mic. in thickness, dull +ochre in color, forming a network of small meshes, with numerous short +slightly clavate free extremities, which proceed from the peripheral +meshes; the spiral ridges seven or eight, winding unevenly, those of the +superficial threads minutely spinulose. Spores in mass pale yellow, +globose, even, 6-7 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood; Kansas, May Varney. Sporangium with the stipe about +1 mm. in height, the stipe very short. Dr. Rex, in Proceedings of the +Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, 1891. + +3. HEMIARCYRIA ABLATA, Morgan n. sp. Sporangium obovoid to turbinate, +yellow or olive-yellow, stipitate; the wall rather firm, smooth and +shining, breaking away about the apex, leaving the greater portion +persistent. Stipe short, erect, yellow-brown to blackish in color, +arising from a thin hypothallus. Capillitium of threads, 5-7 mic. in +thickness, yellowish-ochre in color, more or less branched; the free +extremities very scarce, obtuse or slightly swollen; the spiral ridges +four or five, close, smooth or very minutely warted. Spores in mass, +yellow, globose, minutely warted, 8-9 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood of Elm, etc. Sporangium with the stipe 1.5-2.5 mm. +in height, the stipe variable in length, but not longer than the +sporangium, diameter of the sporangium .6-.8 mm. A half dozen threads +proceed from the inner wall of the stipe branch twenty-five or thirty +times, and afford scarcely half a dozen free ends. + +4. HEMIARCYRIA STIPATA, Schw. Sporangia terete, elongated and flexuous, +closely packed together and lying upon one another, stipitate, from +bright incarnate to brick red or bay in color, smooth and shining; the +wall thin and fragile, soon disappearing, except a small cup-shaped +portion at the base. The stipes very short, often entirely concealed by +the dense mass of sporangia, arising from a common hypothallus. +Capillitium of threads somewhat variable in thickness, 3-6 mic., +repeatedly branched and forming a network of very unequal meshes, with +occasional clavate free extremities, pale to dark red in color; the +spiral ridges three or four, often irregular, thickened or interrupted +by minute warts and spinules. Spores in mass incarnate to brownish-red, +globose, even, 7-9 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood of Liriodendron. Sporangia usually in small patches, +each 1-2 mic. in length, the stipe very thin and short. + +§2. HEMITRICHIA. Capillitium of very long slender threads, simple or +remotely branched, and not forming a network, their further extremities +all free. + +The threads of the capillitium in these species are usually much coiled +and entangled, but when straightened out they are seen to be very long, +but few in number, fixed at one end and free at the other. + +5. HEMIARCYRIA LONGIFILA, Rex. Sporangium obovoid or pyriform, yellow, +stipitate; the wall a thin pellucid membrane, smooth and shining, +beautifully iridescent, breaking away above the middle, the lower +cup-shaped portion persistent. Stipe very short, reddish-brown to +blackish, arising from a common hypothallus. Capillitium of slender +threads, 3.5-4 mic. in thickness, golden yellow in color, simple or very +rarely branched; the free extremities obtuse or slightly swollen, +sometimes minutely apiculate; the spiral ridges, three or four, rather +distant, with very minute scattered spinules or nearly smooth. Spores in +mass, golden-yellow, globose, minutely warted, 9-10 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood of Oak, etc. Sporangium with the stipe .8-1.5 mm. in +height, the stipe very short, not exceeding the diameter of the +sporangium. A small species, distinguished by its golden-yellow spores +and capillitium. + +6. HEMIARCYRIA FUNALIS, Morgan n. sp. Sporangium obovoid to turbinate, +yellow or olive yellow, polished stipitate; the wall firm, thickened on +the inner surface by an olivaceous layer, breaking away from above +downward, leaving an irregular cup-shaped base. Stipe short, +reddish-brown to blackish, arising from a thin hypothallus. Capillitium +of threads 6-8 mic. in thickness, yellowish-ochre or dull ochre in +color, simple or remotely branched; the free extremities obtuse or +swollen; the spiral ridges four or five, minutely warted. Spores in mass +yellow, globose, minutely warted, 8-9 mic. in diameter. See Plate I, +Fig. 20. + +Growing on old wood. Sporangium 1.5-2.5 mm. in height, the stipe +variable, but usually much shorter than the sporangium. Scarcely to be +distinguished from _Hemiarcyria ablata_, except by the threads of the +capillitium. + +7. HEMIARCYRIA RUBIFORMIS, Pers. Sporangium obovoid or turbinate to +cylindric, usually few to many fasciculate upon the united stipes, +sometimes sessile, brown-red to brown or blackish in color, smooth and +often shining with a metallic luster; the wall much thickened by a dense +brownish-red layer of minute granules, at maturity the apex torn away, +leaving much the greater part persistent. Capillitium of slender +threads, 4-6 mic. in thickness, brownish-red in color, very rarely +branched; the free extremities usually terminated by a stout spine; the +spiral ridges three or four, furnished with numerous spinules. Spores in +mass, brownish-red, globose, minutely warted, 9-11 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood; one of the commonest of the Myxomycetes. The +fascicle 3-4 mm. in height, the individual sporangia .5-.6 mm. in +diameter. + +8. HEMIARCYRIA SERPULA, Scop. Plasmodiocarp terete, flexuous, usually +branching and anastomosing to form an extensive network, from tawny to +golden-yellow in color; the wall thin above and yellow, breaking open +irregularly and falling away down to the brownish thicker adherent +base. Capillitium consisting of a few long slender threads with +numerous scattered short branches, the threads 4-6 mic. in thickness, +golden-yellow; the free ends of the branches terminating in a slender +spine; the spiral ridges three or four, covered with numerous slender +spinules. Spores in the mass golden-yellow, globose, the surface +reticulate, 10-12 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on and inside of rotten wood. Plasmodiocarp an irregular patch, +one to several centimeters in extent, the strands of the net about .5 +mm. in thickness. A single reticulate plasmodium is usually converted +without change of form into an individual plasmodiocarp. + + +II. CALONEMA, Morgan, gen. nov. Sporangia subglobose, irregular, +sessile, without a hypothallus; the wall thin, marked with branching +veins, irregularly dehiscent. Capillitium of slender tubules, arising +from the base of the sporangium, repeatedly branched and with numerous +free extremities; the surface traversed by a system of branching veins, +ending in minute veinlets, which appear as irregular rings and spirals. +Spores subglobose, yellow. + +The habit of the single species is that of an Oligonema, and it has +spores similar to those of most species of this genus, but the threads +are long and branched, and they are fastened below to the base of the +sporangium. + +1. CALONEMA AUREUM, Morgan n. sp. Sporangia subglobose to turbinate, +sessile, closely crowded and from mutual pressure quite irregular; the +wall thin, marked with branching veins, golden-yellow in color, smooth +and shining. Capillitium of threads more or less branched, 5-6 mic. in +thickness, golden-yellow; the surface minutely venulose, and with larger +rings and spirals, and sometimes with scattered spinules; the free +extremities obtuse. Spores subglobose, yellow, the surface with elevated +ridges combined into a network, 14-16 mic. in diameter. See Plate I, +Fig. 21. + +Growing on and within rotten wood. Sporangia quite irregular and +variable in size, .3-.6 mm. in diameter. The beautiful venation of the +wall of the sporangium is continued upon the surface of the threads of +the capillitium. + + +III. TRICHIA, Haller. Sporangia regular and stipitate or sessile and +somewhat irregular; the wall, at maturity, irregularly ruptured. The +stipe more or less elongated or often wanting, usually resting on a +hypothallus. Capillitium consisting of numerous short slender tubules, +called _elaters_, intermingled with the spores and wholly free; elaters +simple or rarely branched a time or two, each extremity terminating in a +smooth tapering point; the spiral ridges parallel and conspicuous, 2-5 +in number, smooth or spinulose. Spores globose, yellow, ochraceous, +olivaceous. + +The genus Trichia is unique among the Myxomycetes in having its +capillitium composed of tubules, which are entirely free from the wall +of the sporangium. The length of these free tubes varies usually between +.3 mm. and .5 mm., being sometimes shorter, but seldom longer; they are +typically cylindric, or equally thickened from end to end, or quite +rarely they are thickened in the middle, and taper gradually to each +extremity; the extremities terminate in a smooth tapering point, +straight or sometimes a little curved or flexuous, which maintains an +average length in each species. The spiral ridges wind around the thread +almost invariably to the left, or with the hands of a watch; they are +always more or less prominent and conspicuous, and usually maintain a +regular curve and uniform interval between each other in the same +species; their surface is either smooth, or sometimes it is invested +with minute warts or spinules. + +In all the species of this genus, however, irregular and abnormal +elaters are occasionally met with among the typical ones. As these +abnormal forms always arrest attention, and have been conceived to +possess specific value, it may be well to note the principal of them. + +1. The elater is sometimes branched. In two or three species the +branching appears to be quite regular and not abnormal; still, even in +these species, most of the elaters in the sporangia are not branched. In +some cases the branching arises from confluence of two or more elaters. + +2. Ellipsoidal swellings, or enlargements of the elater, sometimes +occur, at one or both extremities, or at points intermediate between +them; these always occur irregularly, and are essentially abnormal. + +3. The smooth tapering point is rarely wanting, in which case the +extremity presents a blunt end, the spiral ridges running to the end. +More frequently the tapering points are multiplied, the elaters bearing +two or three spines at the extremities; this often occurs in the species +of Trichia, and also of Hemiarcyria with spinulose elaters. + +4. The spiral ridges are sometimes defective, there being less than the +typical number; sometimes they are merely displaced, there being a much +wider interval between them than usual; rarely do they habitually wind +about the thread in an irregular manner. + +5. Under high magnifying power, fine ridges are sometimes seen running +lengthwise of the elaters, bridging the intervals between the spirals. +These were first observed by DeBary, in _Trichia chrysosperma_, but they +have since been seen in the elaters of nearly every other species of +Trichia, and also in species of Hemiarcyria. + +The few species with elaters, so far as yet known, habitually irregular, +defective and abnormal, are referred to the genus Oligonema. + +The normal species of Trichia arrange themselves quite naturally into +three sections. + +§1. A NACTIUM. Sporangia varying from globose to pyriform or turbinate, +supported on a more or less elongated stipe. Spores globose, the surface +minutely warted. + +_a. Elaters with very long tapering extremities._ + +1. TRICHIA FRAGILIS, Sow. Sporangia obovoid to pyriform or clavate, +often fasciculate, stipitate; the wall a thin membrane, with a thick +dense outer layer of brown-red granules. Stipes long, erect or curved, +simple or usually fasciculate and often connate, arising from a thin +hypothallus. Mass of spores and capillitium from reddish-brown to yellow +and ochraceous; elaters simple, rarely branched, 4-5 mic. thick, with +very long tapering extremities, ending in smooth points 8-12 mic. long; +spirals, three or four, perfectly smooth. Spores globose, minutely +warted, 10-12 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood. Sporangia with the stipe 2-4 mm. in height, the +sporangium .6-.8 mm. in diameter, the stipe usually longer than the +sporangium. The color quite variable, mostly dull red-brown or +blackish-brown, more rarely yellow or coffee-brown, usually opaque, +rarely shining. + +2. TRICHIA FALLAX, Pers. Sporangium obovoid to pyriform or turbinate, +rarely clavate, stipitate; the wall thin, smooth and shining, colored as +the spores and capillitium. Stipe more or less elongated, simple, erect, +brownish below, filled with roundish vesicles. Mass of capillitium and +spores yellowish, ochraceous or olivaceous; elaters simple or sometimes +with several branches, 4-6 mic. thick in the middle, tapering gradually +to each extremity, ending in smooth tapering points, 20-40 mic. in +length; spirals, three, perfectly smooth. Spores globose, minutely +warted, 10-12 mic. in diameter. See Plate I, Fig. 22. + +Growing on old wood. Sporangium with the stipe 2-4 mm. in height, +sporangium .6-.8 mm. in diameter, the stipe usually longer than the +sporangium. Under high magnifying power the spores are seen to be +minutely reticulated. + +_b. Elaters cylindric, ending in a smooth tapering point._ + +3. TRICHIA SUBFUSCA, Rex. Sporangium globose, rarely globose-turbinate, +stipitate; the wall thickish, dull tawny-brown above, shading to dark +brown at the base. Stipe simple, erect, brown or blackish in color. Mass +of capillitium and spores bright yellow; elaters simple, rarely +branched, cylindric, 3.5-4 mic. in thickness, ending in smooth tapering +points, 10-12 mic. in length; spirals, four in number, perfectly smooth. +Spores globose, minutely warted, 11.5-12.5 mic. in diameter. + +On old wood and bark, Adirondack Mountains, New York. Dr. George A. Rex. +Sporangium .5-.8 mm. in diameter, the stipe equal in height to the +diameter of the sporangium. + +4. TRICHIA ERECTA, Rex. Sporangium globose to globose-turbinate, +stipitate; the wall of both sporangium and stipe with a rough outer +layer of brown scales and granules, which, on the upper surface of the +sporangium, soon breaks up into irregular patches. Stipes long, erect, +usually simple, rarely fasciculate and connate. Mass of capillitium and +spores, bright yellow; elaters simple, cylindric, 4 mic. in thickness, +ending in smooth points, 4-6 mic. long; spirals four, often united by +intervening branches, covered with numerous irregular spinules. Spores +globose, minutely warted, 12-14 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood and bark, Adirondack Mountains, New York, Dr. Geo. +A. Rex. Sporangium .5-.8 mm. in diameter, the stipe about 1 mm. in +height. This Trichia is conspicuous by the checkering or areolation of +the upper surface in the mature sporangia, affording a sharp contrast +between the brown patches and the yellow bands. + +§2. CHRYSOPHIDIA. Sporangia globose, obovoid or somewhat irregular, +sessile, rarely with a short stipe, usually closely crowded. Spores +globose, the surface minutely warted. + +_a. Elaters perfectly smooth._ + +5. TRICHIA VARIA, Pers. Sporangia globose, obovoid or somewhat +irregular, gregarious and scattered or crowded, yellowish, ochraceous or +olivaceous, sessile, or with a very short brown or blackish stipe. Mass +of capillitium and spores yellow; elaters long, simple or sometimes +branched a time or two, 4-5 mic. in thickness, ending in a smooth +tapering point, 8-12 mic. long; spirals only two, smooth, very prominent +in places, causing the elater to appear notched. Spores globose, oval or +somewhat irregular, minutely warted, 10-14 mic. in diameter. + +Growing in patches on old wood; a very common species. Sporangium .6-.8 +mm. in diameter, or when irregular sometimes elongated to 1 mm. or more. +Extremely variable as to the form of the sporangium, but readily +recognized by its elaters. + +6. TRICHIA ANDERSONI, Rex. Sporangia globose or obovoid, sessile, +gregarious, closely crowded, or sometimes scattered, the wall thickened +with minute scales, in color brownish-ochre or olivaceous. Mass of +capillitium and spores yellow; elaters long, simple, 3-4 mic. in +thickness, ending in a very long flexuous point, 14-18 mic. in length; +spirals three or four, winding evenly and closely, perfectly smooth. +Spores globose, minutely warted, 10-12 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on the inside of bark of Acer. Sporangium .4-.5 mm. in diameter. +The capillitium is deep orange and the spores olivaceous, but this +difference in shade of color between spores and capillitium occurs in +other species. _Trichia advenula_, Mass., is a closely related species, +the swellings in the elaters having no specific value. + +7. TRICHIA INCONSPICUA, Rost. Sporangia very small, subglobose, sessile, +collected together in clusters, or scattered, without any hypothallus; +the wall brown, smooth and shining. Mass of capillitium and spores +yellow; elaters long, simple, cylindric, 3-4 mic. in thickness, ending +in smooth tapering points, 6-7 mic. in length; spirals three or four, +close, not prominent, perfectly smooth. Spores globose, minutely warted, +10-12 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on bark of Platanus, etc. New York, _Peck_; Iowa, _McBride_. The +sporangia spherical or reniform and very small. + +_b. Elaters spinulose._ + +8. TRICHIA IOWENSIS, McBride. Sporangia subglobose, sessile, gregarious, +scattered, or sometimes close and confluent; the wall thickened with +minute scales, reddish-brown in color. Mass of capillitium and spores +yellow; elaters quite variable, usually very long, but sometimes very +short, simple, rarely branched, the thickness unequal, 3-4 mic. in the +same elater, with occasional thicker swellings, bearing numerous +scattered spines, usually about as long as the thickness of the elater, +but sometimes much longer, those at the ends being similar; spirals +three or four, fine and close, in places nearly obsolete. Spores +globose, or more or less irregular, minutely warted, 9-11 mic. in +diameter. + +Growing on old bark of Populus; Iowa, McBride. Sporangia .4-.5 mm. in +diameter. This is a very curious species of Trichia; it suggests +_Ophiotheca Wrightii_, but the elaters are short and simple, and there +is no question as to the spirals upon them. I could find no branched +elaters in my specimen. + +9. TRICHIA SCABRA, Rost. Sporangia globose or somewhat irregular, +sessile and closely crowded on a well-developed hypothallus; the wall +thin, gold-yellow or orange to yellow-brown in color, smooth and +shining. Mass of capillitium and spores orange or golden-yellow; elaters +long, simple, 4-5 mic. in thickness, ending in a smooth tapering point, +5-8 mic. in length; spirals three or four, covered with numerous short +acute spinules. Spores globose, minutely warted, 9-11 mic. in diameter. +See Plate I, Fig. 23. + +Growing on old wood in patches, sometimes several centimeters in extent. +Sporangia .6-1 mm. in diameter. "The papillæ, which cover the spore, +show, when highly magnified, a distinct net-like pattern," _McBride_. +The elaters of this species are subject to much irregularity in the way +of abnormal swellings, duplicating the spines at the apex, etc.; the +spinules are sometimes quite obsolete on some or all of the elaters of a +sporangium. + +§3. GONIOSPORA, Fr. Sporangia obovoid to oblong, sessile and closely +crowded on a well-developed common hypothallus. Spores with thick ridges +upon the surface, which are combined into a more or less incomplete +network of polygonal meshes. + +The ridges of the epispore are 1-2 mic. in height, and do not present to +the view more than two or three perfect polygons on a hemisphere of the +spores; more often the reticulation is imperfect, the ridges being +interrupted and defective. When highly magnified these ridges are seen +to be "perforated through their thickness with one, two or three rows, +or with clusters of cylindrical openings or pits, or are sculptured into +intricate plexuses of minute reticulations with quadrilateral +interspaces." + +10. TRICHIA AFFINIS, DeB. Sporangia obovoid to oblong, sessile and +closely crowded on a common hypothallus; the wall thin, golden-yellow to +tawny or brownish-yellow, smooth and shining. Mass of capillitium and +spores golden to tawny-yellow; elaters long, simple, 4-5 mic. in +thickness, ending in a smooth tapering point, 6-10 mic. in length; +spirals four, usually spinulose, rarely smooth. Spores angularly or +irregularly globose, 10-12 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood and bark in small patches of a few millimeters to a +centimeter or more in extent. Sporangia .6-.8 mm. in height by .4-.5 mm. +in diameter. _Trichia Jackii_, Rost., is included in this species. + +11. TRICHIA CHRYSOSPERMA, Bull. Sporangia oblong-obovoid to cylindric, +sessile and closely crowded on a well-developed hypothallus; the wall +thin, pale citron to olive-yellow, smooth and shining. Mass of +capillitium and spores, golden to ochre-yellow; elaters long, simple, +6-8 mic. in thickness, ending in a smooth tapering point, 3-7 mic. in +length; spirals four or five, usually smooth, rarely spinulose. Spores +angularly or irregularly globose, 12-14 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, in small patches, one to several centimeters in +extent. Sporangia 1-2 mm. in height and .5-.6 mm. in diameter. This is +readily distinguished from _Trichia affinis_ by the larger and +differently colored sporangia. + + +IV. OLIGONEMA, Rost. Sporangia subglobose, more or less irregular, +sessile and closely crowded, often in heaps, one upon another, the wall +thin, smooth and shining; hypothallus none. Capillitium scanty, composed +of elaters habitually irregular and abnormal, intermingled with the +spores; elaters simple or sometimes branched, commonly very short, but +varying greatly in length, even in the same sporangium; the surface +marked with faint spirals, with a few annular ridges, minutely +punctulate or altogether smooth. Spores globose, yellow. + +The species of this genus are to be regarded as degenerate Trichias. Of +course, the abnormality is exhibited most markedly by the elaters; +nevertheless, the sporangia of some of the species have a peculiar habit +of heaping themselves upon each other. + +_A. Surface of the spores reticulate._ + +_a. Elaters with projecting rings._ + +1. OLIGONEMA NITENS, Lib. Sporangia subglobose, irregular, sessile, +closely crowded and heaped upon each other, the wall thin, yellow, +smooth and shining. Mass of capillitium and spores yellow; elaters +simple or sometimes branched, 3-4 mic. in thickness, with a few distant +projecting rings, the surface smooth between, or with very faint +spirals, the extremities obtuse, or sometimes with a minute apiculus. +Spores angularly or irregularly globose, the surface reticulate, 11-14 +mic. in diameter. + +Growing in small patches on and within rotten wood. Sporangia .4-.5 mm. +in diameter; the elaters variable, some with as many as a dozen +projecting rings, some with but a few or nearly smooth. _Trichia +nitens_, Libert. + +2. OLIGONEMA PUSILLA, Schr. Sporangia subglobose, irregular, sessile, +scattered or collected together in heaps; the wall thin, yellow, smooth +and shining. Mass of capillitium and spores yellow; elaters simple or +sometimes branched, 4 mic. in thickness, sometimes with thicker inflated +portions, the surface marked with low faint spirals or perfectly smooth; +the extremities rounded and usually terminating in a smooth point, 3-5 +mic. in length--this point either curved, bent to one side or turned +back, and twisted around the extremity as a ring. Spores angularly or +irregularly globose, the surface reticulate, 11-14 mic. in diameter. + +Growing in small clusters in rotten wood. Sporangia .3-.5 mm. in +diameter; the elaters variable in length, scarcely exceeding 100 mic. +and often much shorter. _Trichia pusilla_, Schroeter. + +_b. Elaters with no projecting rings._ + +3. OLIGONEMA FLAVIDUM, Peck. Sporangia obovoid to oblong, sessile, +closely crowded and irregular from mutual pressure; the wall thin, +yellow, shining, punctulate or minutely granulose. Mass of spores and +capillitium yellow; elaters simple or sometimes branched, 3-4 mic. in +thickness, sometimes with thicker inflated portions; the surface +punctulate or minutely warted, occasionally marked with very faint +spirals; the extremities usually rounded and obtuse, sometimes acute, +and rarely with a minute apiculus. Spores angularly or irregularly +globose, the surface reticulate, 11-14 mic. in diameter. See Plate I, +Fig. 24. + +Growing in dense patches on old wood and mosses. Sporangia .4-.6 mm. in +diameter, and reaching 1 mm. in height, the elaters usually rather long, +sometimes quite long and branched. + +4. OLIGONEMA BREVIFILA, Peck. Sporangia subglobose, irregular, sessile, +crowded, forming clusters or effused patches; the wall thin, yellow, +densely granulose and venulose. Mass of capillitium and spores +ochre-yellow; elaters simple or sometimes branched, often very short and +fusiform, when elongated having long tapering extremities, sometimes +with irregular swollen portions; the surface minutely granulose and +rugulose, here and there a few spinules, occasionally with indistinct +spirals. Spores angularly or irregularly globose, the surface +reticulate, 11-12 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood and mosses. Sporangia .4-.5 mic. in diameter, the +elaters varying greatly in length, some not more than 20 or 30 mic. +long, others more than 100 mic. in length. + +_B. Spores minutely warted._ + +5. OLIGONEMA FULVUM, Morgan n. sp. Sporangia rather large, subglobose, +sessile, closely crowded and more or less irregular; the wall tawny +yellow, very thin and fragile, smooth, shining and iridescent. Mass of +capillitium and spores tawny yellow; elaters simple or sometimes +branched, mostly very short, 4 mic. in thickness, sometimes with thicker +swollen portions; the surface marked with low smooth spirals, in places +faint and obsolete; the extremities rounded and obtuse, usually with a +very minute apiculus, 1-3 mic. in length. Spores globose, minutely +warted, 10-13 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on an old effused Sphæria. Sporangia .6-.8 mm. in diameter, the +elaters mostly 40-80 mic. in length, rarely much longer and sometimes +shorter; the longer elaters and those that are branched often arise from +confluence of the shorter ones. + + +EXPLANATION OF PLATE I. + +Fig. 13.--Perichæna depressa, Lib. + +Fig. 14.--Ophiotheca Wrightii, B. & C. + +Fig. 15.--Lachnobolus globosus, Schw. + +Fig. 16.--Arcyria Cookei, Massee. + +Fig. 17.--Arcyria minor, Schw. + +Fig. 18.--Heterotrichia Gabriellæ, Massee. (After Massee.) + +Fig. 19.--Hemiarcyria plumosa, Morgan. + +Fig. 20.--Hemiarcyria funalis, Morgan. + +Fig. 21.--Calonema aureum, Morgan. + +Fig. 22.--Trichia fallax, Pers. + +Fig. 23.--Trichia scabra, Rost. + +Fig. 24.--Oligonema flavidum, Peck. + +NOTE.--Each figure exhibits the sporangium as it appears magnified about +100 diameters, and the capillitium and spores magnified about 500 +diameters. + +[Illustration: The Journal of the Cin. Soc. Natural History. + + VOL. XVI. PLATE I.] + + * * * * * + +THE MYXOMYCETES OF THE MIAMI VALLEY, OHIO. + +BY A. P. MORGAN. + +Third Paper. + +(Read February 6, 1894.) + + + + +ORDER VI. STEMONITACEÆ. + + +Sporangia globose or ovoid to oblong and cylindrical, stipitate; the +wall very thin and fragile, soon disappearing. Stipe tapering upward and +continued within the sporangium as a more or less elongated columella. +Capillitium of slender brown threads, arising from numerous points of +the columella, repeatedly branching and usually anastomosing to form a +network, persistent and rigidly preserving the outline of the +sporangium. Spores globose, brown or violaceous. + +This order is readily distinguished by the brown persistent capillitium, +arising from a lengthened columella, and rigidly maintaining the form of +the sporangium. + +Table of Genera of Stemonitaceæ. + +_A. Stipe and columella brown or black._ + +_a. The columella scarcely reaching the center of the sporangium._ + +1. CLASTODERMA. Threads of the capillitium forking several times, but +not combined into a network. + +2. LAMPRODERMA. Threads of the capillitium branching and anastomosing to +form a network. + +_b. The columella extending beyond the center of the sporangium._ + +3. COMATRICHA. Threads of the capillitium forming only an interior +network, attaining the wall by numerous more or less elongated free +extremities. + +4. STEMONITIS. Threads of the capillitium forming an interior network of +large meshes and a superficial network of smaller meshes. + +5. ENERTHENEMA. Threads of the capillitium pendent from a discoid +membrane at the apex of the columella. + +_B. Stipe and columella white or yellowish._ + +6. DIACHAEA. Threads of the capillitium branching and anastomosing to +form a network. + + +I. CLASTODERMA, Blytt. Sporangium regular, globose, stipitate; the wall +very thin and fragile. Stipe elongated, tapering upward, entering the +sporangium as a very short or nearly obsolete columella. Capillitium +arising by a few branches from the apex of the columella, these branches +forking several times at a sharp angle, but not combined into a network, +the ultimate branchlets long and free, or only connected together at +their tips by persistent fragments of the sporangial wall. Spores +globose, violaceous. + +The claim of this genus to be distinguished from Lamproderma must rest +upon the fact that the branchlets of the capillitium do not anastomose +and form a network. It is the same as the genus Orthotricha of Wingate. + +1. CLASTODERMA DE BARYANUM, Blytt. Sporangium very small, globose; the +wall early disappearing, except the minute fragments which persist at +the extremities of the capillitium, and a narrow collar at the base of +the columella. Stipe very long, thick and brown below, tapering upward +to a pellucid oblong swelling, thence abruptly narrowed to the apex; the +columella extremely short, capillitium of very slender pale-brown +semi-pellucid threads, divergently forking, the ultimate branchlets +often joined 2-4 together at their tips by fragments of the sporangial +wall. Spores globose, even, violaceous, 8-9 mic. in diameter. See Plate +XI, Fig. 25. + +Growing in rather a scattered way on old rotten wood. Sporangium .20-.25 +mm. in diameter, the stipe .7-1.3 mm. long. _Orthotricha microcephala_, +Wingate. Blytt's species was found in Norway, Wingate's in Pennsylvania; +I have met with it several times in this locality. It is possibly more +common than it appears, as by reason of the difficulty of seeing the +minute sporangium it is passed by as some mold. Blytt's spore +measurements are 9.5-11 mic.; in some specimens I have seen a few spores +of this size, but they are abnormal. + + +II. LAMPRODERMA, Rost. Sporangia regular, globose, stipitate; the wall +thin and fragile, rugulose, shining with metallic tints, breaking up +irregularly and gradually falling away. Stipe more or less elongated, +smooth, brown or black in color, arising from a hypothallus, tapering +upward and entering the sporangium as a short columella scarcely +reaching the center. Capillitium of numerous threads radiating from the +columella, usually forking several times and combined into a net by +lateral anastomosing branchlets. Spores globose, brown or violaceous. + +Lamproderma is distinguished by the shining metallic tints of the +sporangial wall, and by the short columella scarcely reaching half the +height of the sporangium. + +1. LAMPRODERMA PHYSAROIDES, A. & S. Sporangium globose; the wall with a +silvery metallic luster, at length breaking up and falling away. Stipe +long, slender, brown or blackish, arising from a small circular +hypothallus; columella clavate, obtuse, not reaching the center of the +sporangium. Capillitium of brownish-violet threads, arising from the +upper part of the columella; these branch repeatedly at a sharp angle, +form an intricate network of elongated meshes, terminating at the wall +in numerous short free branchlets. Spores globose, minutely warted, +bright brown, 12-14 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, moss, etc., New York, _Chas. H. Peck_. +Distinguished by the pale silvery sporangial wall and the clear brown +spores. + +2. LAMPRODERMA ARCYRIONEMA, Rost. Sporangium small, globose; the wall +dark bronze, with a silvery sheen when loosened from the spores, soon +breaking into scales and falling away. Stipe long and slender, smooth, +shining and black, rising from a thin hypothallus; the columella short +cylindric, variable in length, but not attaining the center of the +sporangium. Capillitium arising by division of the apex of the columella +into several primary branches; these immediately separate into numerous +slender flexuous brown threads, which unite and form a dense network of +small arcuate meshes, the ultimate branchlets not free. Spores globose, +even, violaceous, 6-7 mic. in diameter. See plate XI, Fig. 26. + +Growing on old wood of Juglans and Carya. Sporangium .3-.5 mm. in +diameter, the stipe three or four times as long. The columella is +somewhat variable, it sometimes forks or divides immediately on entering +the sporangium, at other times it is longer and cylindric, with more +slender primary branches. The meshes of the capillitium resemble those +of Arcyria, whence the name. This is the _Stemonitis physaroides_, A. & +S. var. _suboeneus_ of Lea's Catalogue. + +3. LAMPRODERMA VIOLACEUM, Fr. Sporangium depressed-globose, convex above +and more or less flattened and umbilicate beneath; the wall shining with +steel or violet, blue and purple tints, deciduous. Stipe short, stout, +brown or blackish in color, arising from a thin, brown, common +hypothallus; columella cylindric, or tapering slightly to an obtuse +apex, attaining the center of the sporangium. Capillitium of numerous +slender threads, radiating from the upper part of the columella; these +threads are brown below, with a variable outer portion colorless; they +branch a few times and form an interior network of elongated meshes, +outwardly arching and freely anastomosing they give rise to an external +network of small irregular meshes, they then attain the wall by +innumerable short, simple, or forked free branchlets. Spores globose, +minutely spinulose, violaceous, 9-11 mic. in diameter. See plate XI, Fig +27. + +Growing on old wood, mosses, etc., late in Autumn. Sporangium .5-.8 mm. +in diameter, the stipe about the same length. The capillitium is +sometimes most of it colorless and flaccid; sometimes it is all brown +and rigid except the minute free extremities. + +4. LAMPRODERMA ARCYRIOIDES, Somm. Sporangium globose or ellipsoid, and +somewhat elongated; the wall with tints of violet, purple, and blue, +deciduous. Stipe usually short, or sometimes nearly obsolete, brown or +blackish in color, arising from a strongly-developed hypothallus; the +columella cylindric or slightly tapering upward, and obtuse, reaching +nearly to the center of the sporangium. Capillitium of numerous +pale-brown threads, radiating from the apex of the columella; these fork +directly from the base, are bent and flexuous, and are combined into a +dense, intricate net, with abundant free extremities. Spores globose, +spinulose, violaceous, 13-16 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old leaves, wood, etc. Sporangium .5-.8 mm. in diameter, the +stipe variable in length from very short to 1 mm. long or beyond. +_Lamproderma columbinum_, Pers. is a doubtful species, the forms of that +name being easily distributed between the present species and _L. +physaroides_. + +5. LAMPRODERMA SCINTILLANS, B. & Br. Sporangium globose; the wall +shining with colors of blue, purple, and bronze, deciduous. Stipe long, +slender, smooth, and shining, brown or blackish, rising from a thin, +brown, common hypothallus; columella cylindric or slightly tapering to +the obtuse apex, not reaching the center of the sporangium. Capillitium +of numerous brown threads, originating about the apex of the columella; +these fork several times, with few anastomosing branchlets, and +terminate at the wall in long, free extremities. Spores globose, +minutely warted, violaceous, 7-9 mic. in diameter. See Plate XI, Fig. +28. + +Growing on old leaves, moss, etc., in early Spring. Sporangium .3-.5 mm. +in diameter, the stipe from once to twice as long. This is _Lamproderma +irideum_ of Massee's Monograph. I am indebted to Arthur Lister, Esq., of +London, for the identification of my specimens with _Stemonitis +scintillans_, B. & Br., and with _Lamproderma irideum_, Cke. + + +III. COMATRICHA, Preuss. Sporangia various in shape, from globose or +ovoid to oblong and cylindric, stipitate; the wall very thin and +fugacious. Stipe more or less elongated, smooth and black, arising from +a common hypothallus, tapering upward, entering the sporangium and +prolonged nearly or quite to the apex as a columella. Capillitium +arising from numerous points of the columella throughout its entire +length; the threads immediately branching and anastomosing to form an +interior network, attaining the wall by numerous more or less elongated +free extremities. Spores globose, brown or violaceous. + +This genus is not sharply limited from Stemonitis. The species with very +short free ends, and consequently with superficial meshes approximate to +the wall, are near the form of Stemonitis. But it may be observed that +in these species, the meshes of the capillitium become smaller gradually +outward, the sides of the superficial meshes are arched away from the +wall, and they are in contact with it only by the free extremities. + +§1. TYPHOIDES. Threads of the capillitium repeatedly branching and +anastomosing, to form a dense network of small meshes, with innumerable +short, free extremities. + +1. COMATRICHA TYPHINA, Roth. Sporangia short, erect or a little curved, +cylindric or usually narrowing slightly upward, the base quite blunt, +the apex more rounded, growing together on a thin hypothallus. Stipe and +columella brown or blackish, tapering upward and vanishing near the apex +of the sporangium, the stipe much shorter than the columella. +Capillitium of slender flexuous tawny-brown threads; these branch +repeatedly, forming an intricate network of small irregular meshes, +ending in very short free extremities. Spores globose, violaceous, very +minutely warted, 6-8 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, mosses, etc. Sporangium with the stipe 2-4 mm. in +height, the stipe much the shorter, the sporangium .35-.40 mm. in +thickness. _Stemonitis typhoides_, Fries, S. M. + +2. COMATRICHA ÆQUALIS, Pk. Sporangia usually more or less inclined or +curved and nodding, cylindric, obtuse at each end, growing together on a +thin hypothallus. Stipe and columella slender, smooth, black, extending +nearly or quite to the apex of the sporangium, the stipe longer than the +columella. Capillitium of very slender flexuous tawny-brown threads; +these branch repeatedly, forming an intricate network of small irregular +meshes, ending in very short free extremities. Spores globose, minutely +warted, dark violaceous, 7-9 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood. Sporangium 1.5-3 mm. in height by .35-.40 mm. in +thickness, the stipe usually about the same length as the sporangium, +but sometimes nearly twice as long. The capillitium is rather looser +than in _C. typhina_, whence the drooping habit. Peck, Thirty-first +Report, p. 42. + +3. COMATRICHA NIGRA, Pers. Sporangia globose or ovoid to ellipsoid or +oblong, erect or sometimes inclined or even nodding. The stipe very +long, smooth and black, tapering upward, expanding at the base into a +small circular hypothallus; the columella short, reaching from one-half +to three-fourths the height of the sporangium. Capillitium of slender +flexuous brown threads, which branch repeatedly, forming a dense +intricate network of small meshes, ending in very short free +extremities. Spores globose, even, dark violaceous, 8-10 mic. in +diameter. + +Growing on old wood, leaves, etc. Sporangium .5-1.5 mm. in height, .5-.8 +mm. in diameter, the stipe 1.5-3 mm. long or sometimes considerably +longer. This species seems to be rare in this country. I have preferred +the name adopted by Schroeter to Rostafinski's _Comatricha Friesiana_. + +4. COMATRICHA ELLISII, Morgan, n. sp. Sporangia short, erect, oval or +ovoid to oblong. Stipe and columella erect, brown and smooth, rising +from a thin pallid hypothallus, tapering upward and vanishing into the +capillitium toward the apex of the sporangium, the stipe usually longer +than the columella. Capillitium of slender pale brown threads; these +branch several times with lateral anastomosing branchlets, forming a +rather open network of small meshes, ending with very short free +extremities. Spores globose, even, pale ochraceous, 6-7 mic. in +diameter. See Plate XI, Fig. 29. + +Growing on old pine wood. Sporangium .3-.6 mm. in height by .3-.5 mm. in +width, the stipe usually a little longer than the sporangium. This +elegant little species I have from Mr. J. B. Ellis, of Newfield, N. J. +It is said to be mingled in some of the specimens with _Lamproderma +Ellisiana_, Cke. + +§2. LARVELLA. Threads of the capillitium branching a few times and +anastomosing to form a network of large meshes, attaining the wall by +numerous long, free extremities. + +5. COMATRICHA CRYPTA, Schw. Sporangia cylindric, bent or flexuous and +more or less inclined, growing close together on a conspicuous +purplish-brown hypothallus. Stipe and columella smooth and black, +tapering upward and reaching the apex of the sporangium, the columella +bent and flexuous or spirally twisted, about as long as the stipe. +Capillitium composed of irregular, bent and uneven threads, which are +brown below, becoming colorless outwardly; the threads branch a few +times, forming a network of large irregular meshes, sometimes much +defective; the free extremities irregular and unequal, simple or +branched. Spores globose, brown, minutely warted, 7-9 mic. in diameter. +See Plate XI, Fig. 30. + +Growing out of fissures of the bark and wood of Hickory, Acer, etc. +Sporangium with the stipe 4-7 mm. in height, the stipe a little shorter, +or sometimes much longer than the sporangium, the latter .25-.30 mm. in +thickness. The exterior colorless portion of the capillitium is +exceedingly delicate, easily breaking away and leaving the capillitium +quite irregular and defective. _Stemonitis crypta_, Schweinitz's N. A. +Fungi, 2351. _Comatricha irregularis_, Rex, is the same thing. + +6. COMATRICHA CÆSPITOSA, Sturgis. Sporangia short, clavate, densely +crowded or cæspitose upon a delicate hypothallus; the wall +subpersistent, silvery, shining with tints of purple and blue. Stipe +very short or nearly obsolete, the columella rising to two-thirds or +three-fourths the height of the sporangium. Capillitium of slender +dark-brown threads, which branch and anastomose quite irregularly, +forming a network of intermingled large and small meshes, ending in +long, tapering, free extremities. Spores globose, minutely spinulose, +dark violaceous, 10-12 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on moss and lichens, at Wood's Holl, Massachusetts. Sporangium +1-1.5 mm. in height, the stipe very short or sometimes apparently +wanting. I am indebted to Dr. W. C. Sturgis, of New Haven, Conn., for a +specimen of this unique species. + +7. COMATRICHA LONGA, Peck. Sporangia very slender and much elongated, +tapering gradually upward, weak and prostrate or pendulous, growing +close together on a well-developed purplish-black hypothallus. Stipe and +columella capillary, smooth and black, reaching to the apex of the +sporangium or often vanishing in the network far below it, the stipe +very short, the columella long and flexible. Capillitium of long, +slender, dark-brown threads; these are reticulately connected near the +base, forming a network of large irregular meshes in a series along the +columella; outwardly they are terminated by very long free branchlets, +which vary from simple to two or three times forked or branched. Spores +globose, minutely warted, dark brown, 8-10 mic. in diameter. See Plate +XI, Fig. 31. + +Growing on old wood and bark of Elm, Willow, etc., in Autumn. Sporangium +with the stipe 15-40 mm. in length, the stipe 3-8 mm. long, the +sporangium .25-.40 mm. in thickness. This is the most characteristic +species of the genus, being farthest removed from Stemonitis. + +8. COMATRICHA FLACCIDA, Lister. Sporangia growing closely crowded +together and more or less confluent, on a purplish-brown hypothallus, +the walls fugacious. Columellas rising simply from the common +hypothallus, or sometimes grown together below and then apparently +branching, running through to the apex, and there often confluent with +each other, or joined together by portions of membrane. Capillitium of +slender brown threads, which branch and anastomose very irregularly, +forming a ragged network with large irregular meshes, and long free +extremities; the capillitium of adjoining columellas being much +entangled, and often confluent or grown together. Spores globose, very +minutely warted, brown, 7-9 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood and bark of Oak, Willow, etc. The component +sporangia 5-10 mm. in length. The early appearance is much like that of +species of Stemonitis, but the mature stage is a great mass of spores +with scanty capillitium, as in Reticularia; the columellas, however, are +genuine and not adjacent portions of wall grown together. Arthur Lister +calls this _Stemonitis splendens_, var. _flaccida_. + + +IV. STEMONITIS, Gled. Sporangia subcylindric, elongated, stipitate, +standing close together on a well-developed common hypothallus, the wall +very thin and evanescent. Stipe brown or black, smooth and shining, +tapering upward, entering the sporangium and prolonged nearly to the +apex as a slender columella, the stipe shorter than the columella. +Capillitium arising from numerous points of the columella throughout its +entire length; the threads immediately branch and anastomose to form an +interior network of large meshes, they then spread out next the wall of +the sporangium into a superficial network of smaller meshes. Spores +globose, brown or violaceous. + +In this genus there are two distinctly differentiated series in the +capillitium, the one an interior supporting network of large meshes, the +other a superficial network of smaller meshes; sometimes the superficial +network disappears or is wanting toward the upper part of the +capillitium, there is then an approach to Comatricha. Very minute +scattered branchlets usually connect the superficial network with the +wall of the sporangium. + +§1. DICTYNNA. Threads of the capillitium arising from numerous points of +the columella, immediately branching several times and anastomosing to +form the interior network of large meshes; the superficial network +consisting of small irregular and unequal meshes, varying from smaller +than the spores to two or three times their diameter. + +1. STEMONITIS FUSCA, Roth. Sporangia elongated, subcylindric, tapering +and obtuse at the apex, tapering gradually downward, growing closely +crowded together on a strongly-developed brown hypothallus. Stipe and +columella smooth and black, tapering gradually upward and disappearing +near the apex of the sporangium, the stipe shorter than the columella. +Capillitium of slender brown or blackish threads, which immediately +branch and anastomose, forming a dense interior network of large +irregular meshes, the ultimate branchlets of which support a superficial +network of small polygonal meshes. Spores globose, dark violaceous, the +surface minutely warted, the warts with a reticulate arrangement, 7-9 +mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, bark, leaves, etc.; common everywhere. Sporangium +with the stipe 6-15 mm. in height, the sporangium .3-.4 mm. in +thickness, the stipe variable in length, but always shorter than the +sporangium. The meshes of the superficial net vary in size in the same +sporangium, being usually 5-25 mic. in width, but sometimes they are +larger, ranging from 10-40 mic. in extent. The name _Stemonitis maxima_ +was given by Schweinitz to some unusually large specimens which grew on +a Polyporus. _Stemonitis dictyospora_ of Rostafinski's monograph, with +spores 12 mic. in diameter, is said to occur in South Carolina; I have +seen no specimens. + +2. STEMONITIS TENERRIMA, B. & C. Sporangia small, subcylindric, tapering +and obtuse at the apex, tapering gradually downward, growing close +together on a thin brown hypothallus. Stipe and columella black and +smooth, tapering gradually upward and vanishing toward the apex of the +sporangium, the stipe shorter than the columella. Capillitium of very +slender pale violet threads, which branch and anastomose to form a dense +interior network of large irregular meshes, and then spread out into a +superficial network of small polygonal meshes. Spores globose, even, +pale brownish-violet, 6-8 mic. in diameter. See Plate XI, Fig. 32. + +Growing on old wood, mosses, etc. Sporangium with the stipe 5-9 mm. in +height, the sporangium .2-.3 mm. in thickness, the stipe variable in +length, but always shorter than the sporangium. The meshes of the +superficial network varying usually from 3-15 mic. in width, but +sometimes larger from 8-25 mic. The species grows scantily in this +region, but I have elegant specimens from Alabama, sent me by Prof. Geo. +F. Atkinson. + +3. STEMONITIS MICROSPORA, Lister. Plasmodium white. Sporangia elongated, +subcylindric, tapering and obtuse at the apex, tapering gradually +downward, growing closely crowded together on a strongly-developed brown +hypothallus. Stipe and columella brown and smooth, tapering gradually +upward and reaching nearly to the apex of the sporangium, the stipe +shorter than the columella. Capillitium of slender tawny-brown threads; +the primary branches simple or only branched above, or with a few +lateral anastomosing branchlets, forming a rather loose network of large +irregular meshes; these support a superficial network of very small +polygonal meshes. Spores globose, even, tawny-brown, 5-6 mic. in +diameter. + +Growing on old wood, bark, leaves, etc.; very common in this region. +Sporangium with the stipe 7-15 mm. in height, the sporangium .3-.4 mm. +in thickness, the stipe shorter than the sporangium. Meshes of the +superficial network 4-20 mic. in width. I am indebted to Arthur Lister, +Esq., of London, for pointing out to me the difference between this +species and the _Stemonitis ferruginea_ of Fries and Rostafinski. + +4. STEMONITIS FERRUGINEA, Ehr. Plasmodium lemon-yellow. Sporangia +subcylindric, the apex obtuse, growing closely crowded together on a +thin, brown hypothallus. Stipe and columella brown and smooth, tapering +gradually upward and vanishing beneath the apex of the sporangium, the +stipe much shorter than the columella. Capillitium of slender, +tawny-brown threads, which immediately branch and anastomose, forming a +dense interior network of large irregular meshes, supporting a +superficial network of small polygonal meshes. Spores globose, very +minutely warted, tawny-brown in color, 7-9 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, leaves, grasses, etc. Sporangium with the stipe +4-10 mm. in height, the sporangium .3-.4 mm. in thickness, the stipe +much shorter than the sporangium. The meshes of the superficial network +varying from 6-30 mic. or sometimes from 10-40 mic. in width, according +to the specimen. The species is certainly rare in this country, and my +description is drawn up from British specimens. But I am unable to +distinguish authentic specimens of _Stemonitis herbatica_, Peck, from +these British specimens. + +§2. MEGALODICTYS. Threads of the capillitium arising from rather distant +points of the columella, branching and anastomosing but a few times, +thus forming an interior network of very large meshes; the superficial +network consisting of large irregular meshes, varying from three or four +to many times the diameter of the spores. + +5. STEMONITIS WEBBERI, Rex. Sporangia subcylindric, the apex obtuse, +tapering gradually downward, growing close together on a common +hypothallus. Stipe and columella black and smooth, the stipe very short, +the columella extending nearly or quite to the apex of the sporangium, +the upper part usually flexuous. Capillitium composed of slender, +flexuous brown threads; these immediately branch and anastomose several +times, forming an interior network of very large meshes; the superficial +network consisting of large irregular meshes, sometimes much elongated. +Spores globose, very minutely warted, brown, 7-9 mic. in diameter. See +Plate XI, Fig. 34. + +Growing on old wood, bark, etc. Sporangium with the stipe 5-10 mm. in +height, the stipe 1-2 mm. in length, the sporangium .3-.4 mm. in +thickness; meshes of the superficial net of the capillitium 40-100-150 +mic. in extent. This is a much smaller species than _Stemonitis +splendens_, and the structure of the interior network of the capillitium +is entirely different. + +6. STEMONITIS SPLENDENS, Rost. Sporangia linear-cylindric, obtuse at the +apex, growing close together on a conspicuous hypothallus. Stipe and +columella black and shining, the stipe very short, the columella +reaching nearly or quite to the apex of the sporangium, often flexuous +above. Capillitium composed of brown threads, variable in thickness, +often with membranaceous expansions; the primary branches some of them +simple or only branched above, others with a few anastomosing +branchlets, forming an interior network of extremely large meshes; the +superficial network consisting of large, irregular, roundish or +polygonal meshes. Spores globose, very minutely warted, brown, 7-9 mic. +in diameter. See Plate XI, Fig. 33. + +Growing on old wood. Sporangium with the stipe 15-25 mm. in height, the +stipe 4-6 mm. in length, the sporangium about .4 mm. in thickness; the +meshes of the superficial network of the capillitium 25-50-80 mic. or +sometimes as much as 100 mic. in extent. This is _Stemonitis Morgani_, +Peck. + + +V. ENERTHENEMA, Bowm. Sporangium regular, globose, stipitate; the wall +thin and fragile, fugacious. Stipe stout, thick, tapering upward, +entering the sporangium and prolonged to its apex, there expanding into +a discoid membrane. Capillitium originating from the lower surface of +the apical disk of the columella; the threads branched a few times and +hanging downward, their extremities free. Spores globose, violaceous. + +A well-marked genus, by reason of the peculiar origin of the +capillitium. + +1. ENERTHENEMA PAPILLATUM, Pers. Sporangium globose, stipitate; the wall +brown or blackish, soon disappearing. Stipe black, rugulose, thick +below, tapering above into the slender columella, which, at its apex, +expands into a thin membranaceous disk. Capillitium of long brown +threads suspended from the apical disk, the threads branched a few +times, occasionally anastomosing by a short, transverse branchlet, the +free ends often forked. Spores globose, very minutely warted, +violaceous, 10-12 mic. in diameter. See Plate XI, Fig. 35. + +Growing on old wood. Stipe and columella .8-1.2 mm. in height. The +species seems to be rare in this country, as I have met with it but once +myself, and have received only a few specimens from elsewhere. + + +VI. DIACHÆA, Fr. Sporangia globose to oblong, stipitate, arising from a +common hypothallus; the wall thin, rugulose, iridescent with metallic +tints, breaking up irregularly and gradually falling away. Stipe and +columella thick, erect, rigid, tapering upward, filled with minute, +roundish granules of lime, white or yellowish in color. Capillitium +arising from numerous points of the columella, the threads repeatedly +branching and anastomosing to form an intricate network, attaining the +wall by numerous short free extremities. Spores globose, violaceous. + +This genus is scarcely to be distinguished from Lamproderma, except by +the white mass of lime which fills the tube of the stipe and columella. + +1. DIACHÆA LEUCOPODA, Bull. Sporangia ovoid-oblong to short cylindric, +the base obtuse or slightly umbilicate, the apex more rounded; the wall +with bronze, blue, purple, and violet tints, gradually falling away. +Stipe short, thick, white, arising from a white, venulose, hypothallus, +tapering upward; the columella cylindric or slightly tapering, obtuse, +terminating below the apex of the sporangium. Capillitium of slender, +flexuous brown threads forming a dense network of rather small meshes. +Spores globose, very minutely warted, violaceous, 7-9 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old leaves, sticks, etc., and sometimes running over living +plants. Sporangium with the stipe 1-2 mm. in height, the stipe usually +much shorter than the sporangium, the latter .4-.5 mm. in thickness. +_Diachæa elegans_, Fr. + +2. DIACHÆA SPLENDENS, Peck. Sporangia globose, sometimes a little +depressed, with the base umbilicate; the wall steel-blue with tints of +purple and violet, quite persistent, rupturing irregularly. Stipe short, +thick, white, arising from a white, reticulate hypothallus, tapering +upward; the columella oblong or short cylindric, extending beyond the +center of the sporangium. Capillitium of slender, brown threads, which +branch several times and form a loose network of rather large meshes. +Spores subglobose, with very large warts, dark violet, 8-10 mic. in +diameter. + +Growing on old leaves and twigs. Sporangium .4-.6 mm. in diameter, the +stipe about the same length. This is a beautiful species. + +3. DIACHÆA THOMASII, Rex. Sporangia globose, or sometimes a little +depressed; the wall gold-bronze, with tints of purple and blue, +subpersistent, rupturing irregularly. Stipe thick, dull ochre-yellow in +color, variable in length, usually very short and sometimes quite +obsolete, arising from an ochre-yellow hypothallus; the columella +varying from bluntly-conical to cylindric-clavate, attaining the center +of the sporangium. Capillitium of slender, brown threads, radiating from +all points of the columella, branching several times and forming a loose +network of elongated meshes. Spores globose, minutely warted, +violaceous, 11-12 mic. in diameter. See Plate XI, Fig. 36. + +Growing on sticks, leaves, etc. Sporangium .5-.7 mm. in diameter, the +stipe usually shorter or sometimes wanting. This species has been found +only in the mountains of North Carolina. I am indebted to Dr. George A. +Rex for my example. In its structure the species is essentially a +Lamproderma, but the stipe and columella are stuffed with granules of +lime. + + +EXPLANATION OF PLATE XI. + +Fig. 25.--Sectional view of the capillitium and stipe of Clastoderma De +Baryanum, Blytt. + +Fig. 26.--Section through the capillitium, columella and stipe of +Lamproderma arcyrionema, Rost. + +Fig. 27.--Perpendicular section through Lamproderma violaceum, Fr. + +Fig. 28.--Perpendicular section through Lamproderma scintillans, Berk. + +Fig. 29.--Section through the capillitium, columella and stipe of +Comatricha Ellisii, Morgan. + +Fig. 30.--Sectional view through the capillitium and columella of a +portion of Comatricha crypta, Schw. + +Fig. 31.--Sectional view through the columella and capillitium of a +portion of Comatricha longa, Peck. + +Fig. 32.--A portion of the capillitium of Stemonitis tenerrima, B. & +C.--A sectional view through the columella above and below a view of the +superficial network. + +Fig. 33.--A portion of the capillitium of Stemonitis splendens, Rost.--A +sectional view through the columella above and below a view of the +superficial network. + +Fig. 34.--The capillitium of a very short sporangium of Stemonitis +Webberi, Rex; the breadth, however, somewhat exaggerated. + +Fig. 35.--Showing the stipe, columella, apical disk and pendent +capillitium of Enerthenema papillatum, Pers. + +Fig. 36.--Perpendicular section through the capillitium, columella, and +stipe of Diachæa Thomasii, Rex. + +NOTE.--The figures of the objects are drawn as they appear under a +magnifying power of about 100 diameters. + +[Illustration: The Journal of the Cin. Soc. Natural History. + +VOL. XVI. PLATE XI.] + + + + +ORDER VII.--DIDYMIACEÆ. + + +Sporangia simple and subglobose, or plasmodiocarp, rarely combined into +an æthalium. Wall of the sporangium a thin membrane with an outer layer +composed of minute stellate crystals, or of minute roundish granules of +lime; these either lie singly upon the surface, or are compacted into a +crustaceous coat. Stipe present or often wanting; the columella usually +conspicuous and well-developed. Capillitium consisting of very slender, +often sinuous threads, which extend from the base of the sporangium or +from the columella to the walls, either simple or outwardly branching a +few times at a sharp angle, combined into a loose irregular net by a few +transverse branchlets, which are situated chiefly at the extremities. +Spores globose, violaceous. + +This order is readily distinguished from the Physaraceæ by the absence +of lime from the threads of the capillitium. + +TABLE OF GENERA OF DIDYMIACEÆ. + +_a. The lime on the wall of the sporangium in the form of minute +stellate crystals._ + +1. DIDYMIUM. Sporangium simple, subglobose and stipitate, the base +commonly umbilicate, or sometimes sessile and plasmodiocarp. + +2. SPUMARIA. Æthalium composed of numerous elongated +irregularly-branched sporangia, closely compacted together and +confluent. + +_b. The lime on the wall of the sporangium consisting of minute roundish +granules._ + +3. DIDERMA. Wall of the sporangium with the outer calcareous layer +usually compacted into a smooth continuous crust. + +4. LEPIDODERMA. Wall of the sporangium with an outer layer of large +scales, consisting of bicarbonate of lime. + + +I. DIDYMIUM, Schrad. Sporangium simple, subglobose and stipitate, the +base commonly umbilicate, or sometimes sessile and plasmodiocarp; the +wall a thin membrane with an outer layer of minute stellate crystals of +lime. Stipe present or sometimes wanting; the columella mostly +conspicuous, sometimes thin or obsolete. Capillitium of very slender +threads, straight or often sinuous, stretching from the columella to the +wall of the sporangium, simple or outwardly sparingly branched at a +sharp angle. Spores globose, violaceous. + +Didymium, together with Spumaria, is to be distinguished from all other +genera of the Myxomycetes by the covering of stellate crystals, like +hoar-frost, upon the outer surface of the sporangium. + +§1. CIONIUM. Columella prominent, subcentral, globose, obovoid, or +turbinate; the threads of the capillitium radiating in all directions to +the wall of the sporangium. + +_A. Sporangium stipitate._ + +1. DIDYMIUM SQUAMULOSUM, A. & S. Sporangium variable in form and size, +small and globose, or large and much depressed, the base usually +umbilicate, stipitate, or sometimes sessile, and even plasmodiocarp; the +wall very thin and pellucid, with a thin, gray-white layer of stellate +crystals of lime, breaking up into subpersistent scales. Stipe short, +erect, snow-white, longitudinally furrowed or plicate; the columella +central, snow-white, various in shape, globose, obovoid, turbinate, and +stipitate or sessile. Capillitium of numerous colorless threads, +radiating from the columella and separating outwardly into several +branches. Spores globose, very minutely warted, dark violaceous, 8-10 +mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, leaves, herbaceous stems, etc. Sporangium .4-.6-.8 +mm. in diameter, the stipe scarcely longer than the diameter, often much +shorter or nearly wanting. + +2. DIDYMIUM PROXIMUM, B. & C. Sporangium globose or depressed-globose, +the base more or less umbilicate, stipitate; the wall very thin and +pellucid, with a loose white covering of stellate crystals of lime, the +upper part breaking up and falling away. Stipe long, erect, tapering +upward, yellow-brown to reddish-brown, expanding at the base into a +small hypothallus; the columella central, white, turbinate, or discoid +turbinate. Capillitium of slender, colorless threads, radiating from the +columella, branching and often anastomosing. Spores globose, even, pale +violaceous, 8-10 mic. in diameter. Plate XII, Fig. 37. + +Growing on old leaves, sticks, culms, etc. Sporangium .4-.6 mm. in +diameter, the stipe two or three times the diameter. + +3. DIDYMIUM EXIMIUM, Peck. Sporangium depressed-globose, the base +umbilicate, sometimes very much depressed and also umbilicate above, +stipitate; the wall pale ocher or pale yellow, with a thin layer of +minute white crystals of lime, the upper part gradually breaking away. +Stipe long, erect, tapering upward, pale yellow-brown, darker below, +expanding into a small brown hypothallus; the columella central, large, +discoid, or sometimes rough and irregular, pale ochre or yellowish. +Capillitium of much-branched colorless threads, radiating upward and +downward from the columella. Spores globose, very minutely warted, dark +violaceous, 9-11 mic. in diameter. Plate XII, Fig. 38. + +Growing on old leaves, sticks, etc. Sporangium .5-.6 mm. in diameter, +the stipe about twice the diameter. + +4. DIDYMIUM MICROCARPUM, Fr. Sporangium small, globose, the base +slightly umbilicate, stipitate; the wall a dark-colored membrane, +covered with abundant snow-white crystals of lime. Stipe long, slender, +erect, delicately striate, yellow-brown to blackish in color, expanded +at the base into a small hypothallus; the columella small, globose, +sessile or substipitate, pale yellow-brown. Capillitium of pale brown +threads, somewhat branched and forming a loose net. Spores globose, very +minutely warted, violaceous, 6-7 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, leaves, mosses, etc. Sporangium .4-.5 mm. in +diameter, the stipe two or three times as long. The species is more +particularly distinguished by its small spores. + +5. DIDYMIUM MINUS, Lister. Sporangium depressed-globose, the base +umbilicate, stipitate, rarely sessile and plasmodiocarp; the wall a +dark-colored membrane with a thin layer of stellate crystals of lime, +breaking up gradually and falling away. Stipe erect or sometimes bent at +the apex, variable in length, rarely wanting, from pale brown to +blackish in color, rising from a small hypothallus; the columella +reaching the center, brown or blackish, rough, convex, subglobose or +pulvinate, substipitate. Capillitium of slender colorless threads, +radiating from the columella and more or less branched outwardly. Spores +globose, very minutely warted, violaceous, 8-10 mic. in diameter. Plate +XII, Fig. 39. + +Growing in vast abundance in Spring on old leaves, bark, wood, etc. +Sporangium .4-.6 mm. in diameter, the stipe scarcely longer but usually +shorter than the diameter of the sporangium rarely absent. It is +considered by Lister to be a variety of _D. farinaceum_; it differs from +this species in its smaller and less-depressed sporangium and in its +smaller nearly smooth spores. + +_B. Sporangia sessile._ + +6. DIDYMIUM EFFUSUM, Link. Sporangia gregarious or scattered, sessile on +a flattened base, convex above, various in shape, subrotund or by +confluence effused and venosely creeping; the wall very thin and +pellucid, invested with a thin flocculose layer of minute crystals of +lime. The columella hemispheric, rugulose, usually snow-white. +Capillitium of very slender colorless threads, furnished with numerous +minute protuberances, much branched and combined into a dense net. +Spores globose, very minutely warted, dark violaceous, 10-11 mic. in +diameter. + +Growing on old leaves, wood, etc. Sporangium about .5 mm. in diameter or +thickness, sometimes confluent and more or less elongated as a +plasmodiocarp. This species is reported from the United States, but I +have seen no specimens. + +7. DIDYMIUM PHYSAROIDES, Pers. Sporangia roundish or hemispheric, more +or less irregular and deformed, sessile or with a very short stipe, and +closely crowded together upon a strongly-developed common hypothallus; +the wall a dark colored membrane, with a thin layer of stellate crystals +of lime. The columella large and thick, divided into cells which are +filled with irregular lumps of lime, common to all the sporangia. +Capillitium of stout threads, usually simple, only rarely branched, +furnished with numerous fusiform swellings. Spores globose, minutely +warted, dark violaceous, 12-14 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, bark, moss, etc. Reported from Carolina by Curtis. +It is said superficially to resemble somewhat _Physarum didermoides_. + +§2. PLACENTIA. Columella basal, much depressed, very thin or quite +obsolete, connate with the base of the sporangium; the threads of the +capillitium ascending to the wall of the sporangium. + +_A. Sporangium stipitate._ + +8. DIDYMIUM FARINACEUM, Schrad. Sporangium hemispherical, more or less +depressed, the base profoundly umbilicate; the wall firm, rugulose, +dark-colored and nearly opaque, with a mealy coat of stellate crystals +of lime, rupturing irregularly. Stipe variable in length, rigid, erect, +black or sometimes rusty-brown, arising from a small hypothallus; the +columella broad, hemispherical or pulvinate, black, the lower side +connate with the wall of the sporangium. Capillitium of dark-colored +sinuous threads, simple or scarcely branched. Spores globose, dark +violaceous, minutely warted, 10-13 mic. in diameter. Plate XII, Fig. 40. + +Growing on old wood, leaves, mosses, etc. Sporangium .6-.9 mm. in +diameter, the stipe about as long as the diameter of the sporangium or +sometimes much longer, usually, however, much shorter than the diameter +and almost concealed within the umbilicus. My specimens are from +Pennsylvania and Alabama. It is readily distinguished from _Didymium +minus_ by the much larger and more distinctly warted spores. + +9. DIDYMIUM CLAVUS, A. & S. Sporangium pileate, very much depressed, +convex above and concave below, stipitate; the wall a dark-colored +membrane, thickly covered with minute white crystals of lime, except the +brown concavity underneath, the upper part breaking away, the lower +persistent. Stipe short, erect, rugulose, brown or blackish, expanding +at the base into a small hypothallus; the columella reduced to a thin +layer of minute brown scales upon the base of the sporangium. +Capillitium of simple or sparingly-branched threads, colorless at the +extremities and dark-colored between. Spores globose, even, violaceous, +6-8 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old leaves, sticks, herbaceous stems, etc. The sporangium +.6-.8 mm. in diameter, the stipe about the same length. Fries considered +this to be a mere variety of _D. farinaceum_, but it is readily +distinguished by its very small spores. + +_B. Sporangia sessile._ + +10. DIDYMIUM SERPULA, Fr. Plasmodium yellow. Plasmodiocarp much +depressed, subrotund or usually more or less elongated, bent, flexuous +and reticulate; the wall dark-colored, with a thin layer of stellate +crystals of lime. Columella entirely wanting. Capillitium of very +slender threads, extending from base to upper surface, much branched, +the branches combined into a dense network; to these threads adhere +numerous roundish vesicles, composed of a brownish membrane, inclosing a +yellow coloring matter, the vesicles 30-50 mic. in diameter. Spores +globose, very minutely warted, violaceous, 7-8 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old leaves, bark, etc. The plasmodiocarp .6-.8 mm. in +thickness and extending from one to several millimeters in length. This +species is reported from the United States by Massee. It ought to be +readily recognized by its yellow plasmodium and the peculiar vesicles +adherent to the capillitium. + +11. DIDYMIUM ANELLUS, Morgan, n. sp. Plasmodiocarp in small rings or +links, then confluent and elongated, irregularly connected together, +bent and flexuous, resting on a thin venulose hypothallus; the wall +firm, dark-colored, with a thin layer of stellate crystals of lime, +irregularly ruptured. Columella merely a thin layer of brown scales. +Capillitium of slender dark-colored threads, which extend from base to +wall, more or less branched, and combined into a loose net. Spores +globose, very minutely warted, violaceous, 8-9 mic. in diameter. Plate +XII, Fig. 41. + +Growing on old leaves in woods in Spring. Plasmodiocarp in rings .3-.5 +mm. in diameter, or often more or less elongated into links and chains, +which are bent and flexed in quite an irregular manner, the thread or +vein composing them about .2 mm. in thickness. A more minute species +than _Didymium serpula_, without characteristic thickenings upon the +threads of the capillitium, and wanting the peculiar large cells of this +species. + + +II. SPUMARIA, Pers. Æthalium composed of numerous elongated, +irregularly-branched sporangia, more or less closely compacted together +and confluent, seated upon a well-developed common hypothallus; the +walls of the sporangia a thin membrane with an outer layer of minute, +stellate crystals of lime. Each sporangium traversed by a central +subcylindric hollow columella, which extends also to the branches, but +does not reach to their apices. Capillitium of slender threads, more or +less branched, and combined into a network. Spores globose, violaceous. + +Spumaria is essentially related to Didymium by the crystals of lime upon +the walls of the sporangia. Rostafinski's figure 158 can only be +regarded as ideal or diagrammatic. I am disposed to question the +existence of the central columella altogether; if it does exist, it must +be extremely defective. + +1. SPUMARIA ALBA, Bull. Plasmodium white, amplectant. Æthalium variable +in form and size, resting upon a white, membranaceous hypothallus, and +usually covered by a white, friable, common cortex composed of minute +crystals of lime. The component sporangia elongated, irregular, more or +less branched, the branches rude, deformed, compressed, laterally +confluent, obtuse or pointed at the apex; the walls of the sporangia +thin and delicate, rugulose, pellucid, with a tinge of violet, +iridescent when divested of the crystals of lime. Capillitium of slender +threads, more or less branched and combined into a net; the threads dark +colored, with pellucid extremities, and furnished with occasional rings +or roundish swellings throughout their length. Spores globose, densely +spinulose, dark violaceous, 10-14 mic. in diameter. Plate XII, Fig. 43. + +Climbing up and surrounding the stems of small shrubs, herbaceous +plants, culms of grasses, etc., especially those of living plants, +rarely effused upon old wood, bark, leaves, etc. The æthalium from two +or three to several centimeters in length, and with a radial thickness +of two or three to several millimeters. The following forms or varieties +have been distinguished as species at different times: + +Var. 1. DIDYMIUM. Sporangia irregular, simple or lobed and branched, +lifted up on narrow, flat extensions of the hypothallus, as if furnished +with short white stipes; the common cortex wanting. This is _Didymium +spumarioides_, Fr.; it is probably a dwarf form of the next variety. +Plate XII, Fig. 42. + +Var. 2. CORNUTA. Æthalium large and rugged in outline, cinerous from the +scanty cortex; the sporangia loosely compacted, the branches running +out into numerous free-pointed extremities. Capillitium of rather thick +threads, forming a dense net, with broad expansions at the angles. +Spores 11-14 mic. in diameter. This is _Spumaria cornuta_, Schum. It is +evidently the form so elaborately figured by Rostafinski, and which +Fries says abounds in Northern Europe. + +Var. 3. MUCILAGO. Æthalium large, even and uniform in outline, covered +by a thick, white, common cortex; the sporangia laterally confluent and +densely compacted together throughout. Capillitium of rather slender +threads, forming a loose net, scarcely expanded at the angles. Spores +10-13 mic. in diameter. This is _Spumaria mucilago_, Nees, as figured by +Greville in the Scottish Cryptogamic Flora. The capillitium is figured +by McBride in The Myxomycetes of Iowa. This is the only form I have met +with in this country. + + +III. DIDERMA, Pers. Sporangia subglobose and stipitate or more often +sessile, sometimes plasmodiocarp; the wall a thin membrane, with an +outer layer composed of minute roundish granules of lime, which are +usually compacted into a smooth continuous crust. Stipe present or +mostly absent; the columella usually well developed. Capillitium of very +slender threads, stretching from the columella to the wall of the +sporangium, more or less branched, and combined into a loose net by +short lateral branchlets. Spores globose, violaceous. + +This genus is easily recognized by the smooth crustaceous layer of lime +on the outer surface of the sporangium; in many cases this easily shells +off or breaks away. Such a coating occurs in a few species of Physarum, +but here the vesicles of lime attached to the threads distinguish them. +This is Chondrioderma of Rostafinski's monograph; the reason for coining +a new name and entirely discarding the old one is not apparent. + +§1. LEANGIUM. Sporangium usually stipitate; the wall at maturity +separating from the inner mass of spores and capillitium and splitting +in a stellate manner, the segments becoming reflexed. + +1. DIDERMA RADIATUM, Linn. Sporangium depressed-globose, the base +flattened or umbilicate, stipitate or nearly sessile; the wall smooth, +whitish or pale brown, splitting from the apex downward into a few +reflexed irregular segments. Stipe short, thick, erect, tapering +downward, standing on a thin membranaceous hypothallus; the columella +large, convex, globose or obovoid, roughened. Capillitium of slender +dark-colored threads, radiating from the columella, simple or branching +outwardly. Spores globose, minutely warted, dark violaceous, 8-10 mic. +in diameter. + +Growing on old bark and wood. Sporangium .8-1.2 mm. in diameter, the +stipe shorter than the diameter, sometimes nearly obsolete. Apparently +rare in this country. + +2. DIDERMA FLORIFORME, Bull. Sporangium globose or obovoid, stipitate, +growing closely crowded together on a thin brown membranaceous +hypothallus; the wall smooth, varying in color from whitish or yellowish +to bright brown, splitting into irregular segments, which become +reflexed and revolute. Stipe long, erect, white or yellowish to brown; +the columella elongated, obovoid to clavate, roughened, colored as the +stipe. Capillitium of dark-colored threads, radiating from the columella +and sparingly branched. Spores globose, with minute scattered warts, +dark violaceous, 9-11 mic. in diameter. Plate XII, Fig. 44. + +Growing on old wood of oak, hickory, etc., late in Autumn. Sporangium +.7-1.0 mm. in diameter before dehiscence, the stipe usually longer than +the sporangium. The color of stipe, columella and sporangium varies from +white through yellowish to brown; the spores are quite peculiar by +reason of their prominent scattered warts. I do not think _Chondrioderma +Lyallii_, Massee, can be maintained as a separate species. + +§2. STROMNIDIUM. Sporangia growing closely crowded together upon a thick +highly-developed calcareous common hypothallus, either seated upon it or +partially imbedded in its substance; the wall rupturing irregularly. + +3. DIDERMA SPUMARIOIDES, Fr. Sporangia rather small, irregularly +subglobose, sessile, seated close together on a strongly-developed +whitish or yellowish common hypothallus; the wall white, rugulose, +covered by a dense farinaceous layer of lime. Columella convex, +roughened, white or yellowish, sometimes scarcely developed. Capillitium +rather scanty, of slender colorless threads, sparingly branched, +ascending from the columella. Spores globose, minutely warted, +violaceous, 8-10 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old leaves, bark, moss, etc. Sporangia .4-.6 mm. in diameter, +irregular and rugulose. On account of the pulverulent coat of lime on +the sporangium, Massee refers the species back to Didymium, where it was +placed by Fries. + +4. DIDERMA STROMATEUM, Link. Sporangia large, subglobose, depressed, +irregular and angular from mutual pressure, closely crowded together on +a thick yellowish or pinkish common hypothallus; the wall smooth and +even, grayish-white or cinereous, with a thin closely connate outer +layer of minute granules of lime. Columella considerably elevated or +much depressed, convex, subglobose or quite irregular, white or colored, +as the hypothallus, especially at the base. Capillitium of abundant +colored threads, more or less branched and combined into a loose net. +Spores globose, minutely warted, violaceous, 8-10 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on Hickory bark. The sporangia .5-.8 mm. in diameter, the +surface smooth. Rostafinski, in his Monograph, places this species as a +variety of _D. spumarioides_, but in the Appendix it is separated as a +species. The sporangia are quite different from those of _D. +spumarioides_, but I can see no difference in the spores. + +5. DIDERMA GLOBOSUM, Pers. Sporangia subglobose, more or less irregular +from mutual pressure, closely crowded together on a thick, white +hypothallus, seated upon it or usually sunk into its substance at the +base; the wall with a white, smooth, and polished crustaceous outer +layer of lime, distinct and separable from the inner membrane, easily +breaking into fragments, and falling away: the inner membrane very thin, +rugulose, cinereous with granules of lime or free from them and +iridescent. Columella white, small, irregular, subglobose or +ellipsoidal, rarely wanting. Capillitium of slender, dark colored +threads, more or less branched and combined into a loose net. Spores +globose, very minutely warted, violaceous, 8-10 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old leaves. Sporangia .5-.8 mm. in diameter, the surface +smooth and polished. + +6. DIDERMA CRUSTACEUM, Peck. Sporangia subglobose, irregular from mutual +pressure, closely crowded together on a thick, yellowish-white common +hypothallus, and at the base confluent with its substance; the wall with +a creamy white, smooth, crustaceous outer layer of lime, distinct and +separable from the inner membrane, and easily breaking up and falling +away; the inner membrane very thin, rugulose, cinereous and iridescent. +Columella whitish or cream colored, small, irregular, subglobose or +ellipsoidal, often wanting. Capillitium of slender, uneven, dark colored +threads, branched and combined into a loose net. Spores globose, +minutely warted, violet-black, opaque, 12-15 mic. in diameter. Plate +XII, Fig. 45. + +Growing on old leaves, sticks, etc. A common species in this country. +Sporangia .7-1.0 mm. in diameter, the surface even but finely +pulverulent rather than polished. _Chondrioderma affine_, Rost., is said +to be the same species. It is readily distinguished from _D. globosum_, +by the much larger spores. + +§3. ASTROTIUM. Sporangia gregarious, scattered, or sometimes crowded and +confluent, often much depressed, sessile, rarely stipitate; the +hypothallus none or very scanty. + +7. DIDERMA MICHELII, Lib. Sporangia orbicular, very much depressed, +often umbilicate above and concave underneath, stipitate or sessile, +gregarious, with the margins of the sporangia sometimes confluent. The +wall with a white crustaceous layer of lime, which soon ruptures around +the edges, allowing the upper part to break in pieces and fall away; the +inner membrane cinereous, rupturing irregularly. Stipe short, stout, +erect, arising from a small, circular hypothallus, whitish or +alutaceous, longitudinally rugulose, expanding at the apex, the wrinkles +running out as veins on the under side of the sporangium; the columella +much flattened, lenticular or discoid, alutaceous or pinkish. +Capillitium of very slender, colorless threads, simple or forking a time +or two, and connected by short branchlets at the extremities. Spores +globose, even, violaceous, 7-9 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on sticks, leaves, herbaceous stems, etc. Sporangium .8-1.2 mm. +in diameter, the stipe shorter than the diameter, sometimes very short +or quite obsolete. + +8. DIDERMA TESTACEUM, Schr. Sporangia circular or oval, much depressed, +sessile, without any hypothallus, gregarious, irregularly scattered, +sometimes close and even confluent. The outer calcareous layer of the +wall thick, smooth, crustaceous, separate and distinct from the inner +membrane, white or pinkish-white to rose-red in color, gradually +breaking up in pieces and falling away; the inner membrane thin, +pellucid, cinereous from the adherent granules of lime, irregularly +dehiscent from the apex downward. Columella hemispheric or depressed, +granulose-roughened, white, pinkish, or fleshy-red. Capillitium of very +slender, nearly colorless threads, more or less branched. Spores +globose, very minutely warted, 8-10 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old leaves, wood, mosses, etc. Very common in this country. +Sporangium .6-1.0 mm. in diameter, sometimes a little irregular, +especially the form growing on mosses, and occasionally confluent. + +9. DIDERMA CINEREUM, Morgan, n. sp. Sporangia subglobose, more or less +irregular, somewhat depressed, sessile, usually close or crowded, +sometimes confluent; the hypothallus a thin membrane, pellucid or with +occasional patches of lime granules, sometimes not apparent. The wall +very thin, even or rugulose, cinereous, the thin membrane covered by a +single layer of closely-adherent granules of lime, rupturing +irregularly. Columella white, hemispheric or depressed and irregular, +the surface granulose. Capillitium of very slender, colored threads, the +extremities pellucid, more or less branched. Spores globose, minutely +warted, violaceous, 9-11 mic. in diameter. Plate XII, Fig. 46. + +Growing on old wood, leaves, etc. The sporangium .3-.5 mm. in diameter, +thin and smooth or rugulose. The species superficially greatly resembles +_Physarum cinereum_. + +10. DIDERMA DIFFORME, Pers. Plasmodiocarp roundish, oblong, or more or +less elongated and flexuous, scattered or seriately disposed; the +hypothallus a thin brownish membrane, or commonly not apparent. The +outer calcareous layer of the wall snow-white, thin, smooth, distinct +from the inner membrane, breaking into pieces and falling away; the +inner membrane thin, opaque and bluish or pellucid and iridescent. +Columella reduced to a thin layer of scales and granules upon the +brownish basal membrane. Capillitium scanty, consisting of short nearly +colorless threads, which are simple, or fork a time or two. Spores +globose, even, dark violaceous, 10-13 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on bark, leaves, twigs, herbaceous stems, etc. Plasmodiocarp +.3-.5 mm. in thickness and variable in length, sometimes elongated +several millimeters. + +11. DIDERMA RETICULATUM, Rost. Plasmodiocarp very much depressed, +roundish, oblong, much elongated and flexuous, closely crowded together +and confluent; the hypothallus a thin white granulose layer of lime, +scarcely broader than the plasmodiocarp. The outer calcareous layer of +the wall white, distinct, very fragile and easily shelling off; the +inner membrane much shrunken and withdrawn from the outer coat, +rugulose, cinereous, with a dense closely-adherent layer of granules of +lime. The columella a thin alutaceous, granulose-roughened layer, +extending along the base of the plasmodiocarp. Capillitium of threads +short and very slender, colorless, somewhat branched. Spores globose, +even, pale violaceous, 6-8 mic. in diameter. Plate XII, Fig. 47. + +Growing on old wood, leaves, twigs, etc. Plasmodiocarp .5-.8 mm. in +width, much flattened and usually closely crowded. The rough calcareous +base of the plasmodiocarp might be considered as either all columella or +all hypothallus, with the upper surface leather-colored. I am indebted +to Arthur Lister, of London, for the determination of my specimens. + +12. DIDERMA EFFUSUM, Schw. Plasmodiocarp very much flattened, +longitudinally creeping and reticulate or altogether widely effused; +hypothallus none. The wall very thin, smooth, white or cinereous, the +thin membrane covered by a single layer of closely-adherent granules of +lime, rupturing irregularly. The columella reduced to a thin alutaceous +layer of granules of lime, forming the base of the plasmodiocarp. +Capillitium of short colorless threads, extending from base to wall, +the extremities branched and connected together. Spores globose, even, +pale violaceous, 8-10 mic. in diameter. Plate XII, Fig. 48. + +Growing on old leaves. The plasmodiocarp forms very much flattened +irregular patches from a few to several millimeters in length or extent. +I am indebted to Dr. Geo. A. Rex, of Philadelphia, for the +identification of my specimens, with those in the herbarium of +Schweinitz, under the name of _Physarum effusum_. + + +IV. LEPIDODERMA, DeB. Sporangium stipitate or sessile, sometimes +plasmodiocarp; the wall a thin, firm, colorless membrane, with an outer +layer of large scales consisting of bicarbonate of lime, the scales +either lying upon the wall or inclosed in lenticular cavities of the +membrane. Stipe present or absent; the columella usually conspicuous. +Capillitium of very slender threads, simple or outwardly branching at a +sharp angle, connected at the extremities. Spores globose, violaceous. + +"In the present genus the carbonate of lime is present in the form of +very minute amorphous lumps until near to maturity, when it is dissolved +and reappears as bicarbonate of lime deposited in comparatively large +flakes."--_Massee._ + +1. LEPIDODERMA TIGRINUM, Schr. Sporangium large, much depressed, +hemispheric or lenticular, the base umbilicate, stipitate; the wall a +firm, dark colored membrane, variegated with large and small irregular +shining scales, greenish-yellow or straw color, rupturing irregularly. +Stipe stout, thick, erect, rugulose, ochraceous or ferruginous, variable +in length, expanding at the base into a thin hypothallus; the columella +brown, convex or hemispheric. Capillitium of slender, dark colored +threads, simple or sparingly branched, radiating from the columella to +the wall. Spores globose, minutely warted, dark violaceous, 10-13 mic. +in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, moss, etc. Sporangium 1-1.5 mm. in diameter, the +stipe 1 mm. or less in length. This appears to be the only species of +the genus thus far discovered in this country. + + +EXPLANATION OF PLATE XII. + +Fig. 37.--Didymium proximum, B. & C. _a._ Sporangium and stipe × 33. +_b._ Section through the columella. + +Fig. 38.--Didymium eximium, Peck. _a._ Showing the rough columella of +one form. _b._ Section through the discoid columella of the very much +depressed form. Magnified by 33. + +Fig. 39.--Didymium minus, Lister. _a._ Sporangium and stipe × 33. _b._ +_c._ _d._ Sections through the columella showing different forms. + +Fig. 40.--Didymium farinaceum, Schr. Section through the columella. +After Rostafinski. + +Fig. 41.--Didymium anellus, Morgan, _a._ Growing upon a leaf × 3. _b._ +Plasmodiocarp × 17. + +Fig. 42.--Spumaria alba, Bull. Var. 1. didymium, sporangia × 3. Drawn +from a foreign specimen. + +Fig. 43.--Spumaria alba, Bull. _a._ Æthalium natural size. _b._ +Capillitium and spores as seen by a magnifying power of 500 diameters. + +Fig. 44.--Diderma floriforme, Bull. Stipe and columella × 20. + +Fig. 45.--Diderma crustaceum, Peck. _a._ Sporangia crowded on the thick +hypothallus, natural size. _b._ Sporangia × 11. _c._ Section through +outer coat, inner membrane, and columella. + +Fig. 46.--Diderma cinereum, Morgan, _a._ Sporangia growing on a leaf × +3. _b._ Sporangia × 23. _c._ Section through the wall and columella. + +Fig. 47.--Diderma reticulatum, Rost. Plasmodiocarp growing on leaf × 3. + +Fig. 48.--Diderma effusum, Schw. Plasmodiocarp effused on a leaf × 3. + +[Illustration: The Journal of the Cin. Soc. Natural History. + + VOL. XVI. PLATE XII.] + + * * * * * + +Reprint from THE JOURNAL OF THE CINCINNATI SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY, +August, 1896. + + +THE MYXOMYCETES OF THE MIAMI VALLEY, OHIO. + +BY A. P. MORGAN. + +Fourth Paper. + +(Read May 6, 1896.) + + + + +ORDER VIII. PHYSARACEÆ. + + +Sporangia simple and stipitate or sessile, sometimes plasmodiocarp, +rarely combined into an aethalium; the wall a thin membrane, usually +with an outer layer of minute roundish granules of lime. Stipe present +or often wanting, seldom prolonged within the sporangium as a columella. +Capillitium consisting of slender tubules, which branch repeatedly in +every direction and anastomose to form an intricate network, the +extremities attached on all sides to the wall of the sporangium; the +tubules more or less expanded at the angles of the network and inclosing +minute roundish granules of lime, these granules either aggregated into +nodules with intervening empty spaces or more rarely distributed +throughout their entire length. Spores globose, very rarely ellipsoidal, +violaceous. + +This order is at once distinguished from the Didymiaceæ by the presence +of the granules of lime in the capillitium. + +TABLE OF GENERA OF PHYSARACEÆ. + +I. Tubules of the capillitium having the granules of lime in them +aggregated into roundish or angular nodules, with intervening empty +spaces. + +_A. Outer surface of the sporangium destitute of lime._ + +1. ANGIORIDIUM. Plasmodiocarp laterally compressed, splitting regularly +into two valves. + +2. CIENKOWSKIA. Plasmodiocarp terete, elongated, irregularly dehiscent. + +3. LEOCARPUS. Sporangia subglobose or obovoid, stipitate or sessile. + +_B. Outer surface of the sporangium invested with granules of lime._ + +_a. Stipe prolonged within the sporangium as a columella._ + +4. PHYSARELLA. Sporangium oblong, stipitate, the apex re-entrant. + +5. CYTIDIUM. Sporangium globose, stipitate, the apex convex. + +_b. Stipe never entering the sporangium._ + +6. CRATERIUM. Sporangium obovoid to cylindric, stipitate. + +7. PHYSARUM. Sporangium globose, depressed globose or irregular, +stipitate or sessile. + +8. FULIGO. Aethalium a compound plasmodiocarp. + +II. Tubules of the capillitium with the granules of lime in them +distributed throughout their entire length. + +9. BADHAMIA. Stipe not prolonged within the sporangium as a columella. + +10. SCYPHIUM. Stipe entering the sporangium and prolonged within it as a +columella. + + +I. ANGIORIDIUM, Grev. Plasmodiocarp laterally compressed, more or less +elongated and flexuous, attached by the lower margin to the substratum, +and, at maturity, regularly dehiscent along the upper margin by a +longitudinal fissure; the wall a firm membrane, with the granules of +lime forming a reticulate layer on the inner surface. Capillitium a +loose, irregular net-work of tubules, extending from side to side, and +containing large, irregular nodules of lime. Spores globose, violaceous. + +A genus readily distinguished by its laterally compressed plasmodiocarp, +splitting lengthwise by a regular fissure. The wall is a single +membrane, and there is but a single reticulate layer of lime upon it, +which is plainly on the inner surface. + +1. ANGIORIDIUM SINUOSUM, Bull. Plasmodiocarp laterally compressed and +very much flattened, more or less elongated and flexuous, sometimes +confluent and branched or reticulate, without any hypothallus; the wall +a more or less thickened and brownish membrane, the inner surface coated +with a dense reticulately thickened white layer of lime, and often +studded with the white nodules. Capillitium of hyaline tubules, forming +a loose irregular net-work, with numerous broad vesicular expansions +filled with lime; the nodules white, very large, irregularly lobed, and +branched. Spores globose, very minutely warted, violaceous, 8-10 mic. in +diameter. + +Growing on old leaves, sticks, mosses, etc. Plasmodiocarp commonly about +1 mm. in height and 1-5 mm. in length, but the size is variable. The +color appears to depend upon the thickening of the membrane; when it is +thin and pellucid, the color is white or cinereous from the inner layer +of lime and the contained spores; with a more thickened membrane, the +color becomes ochraceous or brownish. _Physarum bivalve_ Pers. _Physarum +sinuosum_ of Rostafinski's monograph. + + +II. CIENKOWSKIA, Rost. Plasmodiocarp terete, elongated, flexuous, +creeping, and reticulate, irregularly dehiscent; the wall a more or less +thickened membrane, externally naked, with the granules of lime on the +inner surface. Capillitium of slender tubules, combined into an +irregular network, attached on all sides to the wall of the sporangium, +and bearing everywhere short pointed or uncinate free branchlets; the +lime in thin transverse plates and irregular nodules. Spores globose, +violaceous. + +The peculiar characteristic of this genus is the short free hooked and +pointed branchlets of the capillitium. + +1. CIENKOWSKIA RETICULATA, A. & S. Plasmodiocarp more or less elongated, +curved and flexuous, simple or branched, sometimes confluent and +reticulate, breaking away first along the upper surface, leaving an +irregular margin. The wall a firm yellow membrane, with thinner hyaline +areas and with thicker yellow-brown or red-brown spots; the outer +surface without any lime, smooth, and shining; the inner surface with a +dense layer of yellow granules raised at intervals into transverse +ridges, these are connected with broad thin flat plates of lime which +traverse the capillitium, forming imperfect septa to the sporangium. +Capillitium consisting of slender yellow tubules, forming a network of +irregular meshes, with slight expansions at the angles and bearing along +the sides short pointed or uncinate free branchlets; the tubules +containing a few scattered yellow nodules of lime various in size and +shape. Spores globose, very minutely warted, violaceous, 8-10 mic. in +diameter. + +Growing on old wood, bark, leaves, etc. Plasmodiocarp in veins .3-.5 mm. +in thickness, sometimes forming a net-work a centimeter or more in +extent. This curious Myxomyces seems very rare in America. I have met +with it but once. The specimen in the herbarium of Schweinitz, marked +_Physarum reticulatum_, is not this species, though it answers well +enough to the original description. + + +III. LEOCARPUS, Link. Sporangia subglobose or obovoid, stipitate or +sessile; the wall a more or less thickened membrane, the external +surface destitute of lime, polished and shining, irregularly dehiscent. +Stipe short, poorly developed or sometimes wanting. Capillitium of +slender tubules, forming an irregular net-work more or less expanded at +the angles; the tubules enlarging at intervals into vesicles, which +usually contain nodules of lime. Spores globose, violaceous. + +A genus characterized by the form of the sporangia and the smooth and +glossy surface of the wall. + +1. LEOCARPUS PSITTACINUS, Ditm. Sporangium small globose or somewhat +depressed, stipitate or subsessile; the wall a thin membrane, rugulose +and iridescent, with thicker red or yellow spots and patches, destitute +of lime. Stipe weak, erect or inclined, variable in length, the base +expanded, orange to red in color. Capillitium a dense net-work of +tubules, widely expanded at the angles and bearing numerous irregular +vesicles, various in size and form, yellow or orange to red in color. +Spores globose, even, dark violaceous, 7-9 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, leaves, etc. The sporangium .5-.6 mm. in diameter, +the stipe about the same length or sometimes very short. The sporangia +are dull brownish to the naked eye, but when magnified the green, +purple, and blue metallic tints of the wall become apparent. There does +not appear to be any granules of lime either on the wall or in the +capillitium. _Physarum psittacinum_ Ditm. + +2. LEOCARPUS CÆSPITOSUS, Schw. Sporangium small subglobose or obovoid to +turbinate, somewhat irregular, stipitate or subsessile; the wall a +reticulately thickened and fragile membrane, yellow-brown to +greenish-yellow or olivaceous in color, externally rugulose and glossy, +the inner surface with scales and patches of lime. Stipe short and +thick, sometimes nearly obsolete, yellowish or reddish brown, darker +below, the base expanded into a small hypothallus. Capillitium a loose +irregular net-work of tubules with wide expansions at the angles; the +nodules of lime large, numerous, white or yellowish, irregular, with +acute angles and pointed lobes. Spores globose, minutely warted, dark +violaceous, 9-11 mic. in diameter. + +Growing cæspitosely or scattered on old wood and mosses. Sporangium +.6-.8 mm. in diameter, variable in shape, the stipe usually very short. +_Physarum cæspitosum_ Schw., _North American Fungi_. My specimens, some +of them, have been referred to _Physarum citrinellum_ Peck; others to +_Physarum variabile_ Rex. + +3. LEOCARPUS BRUNNEOLUS, Phillips. Sporangium large, globose or somewhat +depressed, sessile; the wall a thick yellow-brown membrane, the outer +surface naked, smooth, and polished, with a dense white inner layer of +granules of lime, dehiscing in a stellate manner, the segments becoming +reflexed. Capillitium of tubules forming a dense net-work, with wide +expansions at the angles; the nodules of lime very large, numerous, +white, angular and irregular. Spores globose, minutely warted, dark +violaceous, 8-10 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on bark of oak, California (_Harkness._) Sporangium nearly 1 mm. +in diameter. _Diderma brunneolum_ Phillips. I have taken the description +from Massee's monograph. + +4. LEOCARPUS FRAGILIS, Dicks. Sporangium very large, obovoid-oblong, +stipitate or subsessile; the wall a greatly thickened membrane, polished +and shining within and without, from alutaceous or pale umber to +dark-brown in color, destitute of lime. Stipe short, weak, and slender, +arising from a thin hypothallus. Capillitium of slender tubules forming +a loose network of large irregular meshes, with slight expansions at the +angles; the lime white, variable in amount, sometimes quite scanty, then +again filling large portions of the net-work with long-branched and +reticulate masses. Spores subglobose, dark violaceous, opaque, 12-15 +mic. in diameter. + +Growing gregariously on old wood, leaves, mosses, etc. Sporangium 1.5-2 +mm. in length by 1 mm. in thickness, the stipe variable in length, but +usually much shorter than the sporangium. _Diderma vernicosum_ Pers. + + +IV. PHYSARELLA, Peck. Sporangium oblong, stipitate; the apex re-entrant +and confluent with the hollow columella; the wall a thin membrane +covered with small scales and minute granules of lime, at maturity torn +away at the apex and stellately splitting into a few segments. Stipe +elongated, tapering upward, entering the sporangium and prolonged to the +apex as a tubaeform columella. Capillitium distinguished by two distinct +sets of tubules; the first consisting of long, thick tubules filled with +lime, rising at regular intervals from the wall of the sporangium and +extending to the columella; the second, of very slender threads, +scarcely branched, and nearly destitute of lime, stretching between the +wall and the columella. Spores globose, violaceous. + +A genus founded upon the one remarkable species, and more distinct than +any other from the typical genus of the Physaraceae. In fact, the +structure of the sporangium is unique among the Myxomycetes. + +1. PHYSARELLA OBLONGA, B. & C. Sporangium oblong, the apex re-entrant +and confluent with the summit of the columella, the base obtuse or +slightly umbilicate, stipitate, cernuous. The wall of the sporangium a +firm, yellowish membrane, covered with minute granules and with +scattered, small, yellow scales of lime; after maturity the apex is torn +away more or less irregularly from the summit of the columella and the +wall splits into a few segments, which become reflexed and are +subpersistent about the base of the sporangium. Stipe long, erect or +flexuous, the apex bent or curved, red-brown, rising from a small +hypothallus, entering the sporangium and prolonged to the apex as a +hollow tubaeform columella. Capillitium of thick, spiniform tubules +filled with lime and slender, violet threads, extending between the wall +and the columella. The tubules elongated, terete, tapering gradually +from wall to columella, containing yellow granules of lime; the threads +very slender, outwardly branched a time or two, the further extremities +connected by short, lateral branches, often furnished with minute, free +branchlets, and containing a few small, fusiform nodules of lime. Spores +globose, nearly smooth, violaceous, 7-9 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, bark, leaves, etc. Sporangium commonly .8-1.0 mm. +in length by .5-.6 mm. in diameter, the stipe 1-2 mm. long; the +spiniform tubules measure 150-200 × 15-20 mic. + +The abnormal forms of this species which sometimes manifest themselves +are very singular; the sporangium has a tendency to dilate, becoming +funnel-form or even salver-shaped, the stipe shortening and even +disappearing. I have a large specimen which superficially resembles some +lichen, a _Physcia_, for example; the sporangia are pressed down, +flattened out, extremely irregular, and in many places confluent; the +rudimentary stipes are hidden beneath the leafy expansions. In all the +forms, however, may be uncovered the spiniform tubules mingled with the +slender threads. This is _Trichamphora oblonga_ B. & C. _Tilmadoche +oblonga_ of Rostafinski's monograph, and _Physarella mirabilis_ Peck. + + +V. CYTIDIUM, Morgan. Gen. nov. Sporangium globose or rarely ellipsoidal, +stipitate; the wall a thin membrane, with an external layer of minute +granules of lime, rupturing irregularly. Stipe more or less elongated, +tapering upward and entering the sporangium as a columella. Capillitium +of slender tubules, arising from the columella, repeatedly branching and +anastomosing to form a regular net-work, the extremities attached on all +sides to the wall of the sporangium, the tubules containing at intervals +nodules of lime. Spores globose, violaceous. + +This genus is readily distinguished from _Physarum_ by the columella, +which gives origin to the capillitium; this feature indicates a +relationship to _Didymium_ and to _Lamproderma_. + +§1. EUCYTIS. Sporangium globose, the columella not reaching its center. + +1. CYTIDIUM PULCHERRIMUM, B. & R. Sporangium globose, stipitate; the +wall a thin lilac-tinted membrane, with a dense closely adherent layer +of granules of lime, dark purple or wine-colored. Stipe long, erect, +dark purple to purplish black, tapering upward and entering the +sporangium as a slight obtuse columella. Capillitium of slender lilac +tinted threads, forming a dense net-work of very small meshes, with +slight expansion at the angles; the nodules of lime very small, +numerous, dark purplish or vinose in color, ellipsoidal or obtusely +angular. Spores globose, even, lilac, 7-9 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood. Sporangium .4-.5 mm. in diameter, the stipe two or +three times as long; the lime-nodules about the size of the spores. The +purple stain, which the sporangia leave on white paper, is made by the +granules of lime; the spores color the paper violet. _Physarum +pulcherrimum_ B. & Rav., and _P. atrorubrum_ Peck. + +2. CYTIDIUM CITRINUM, Schum. Sporangium globose, the base slightly +flattened or umbilicate, stipitate; the wall a thin membrane, covered +with small scales of lime, yellow or greenish-yellow, breaking up and +falling away at maturity. Stipe stout, erect, yellow, longitudinally +rugulose, expanded at the base, tapering upward and entering the +sporangium as a short obtusely conical columella. Capillitium of slender +tubules, forming a dense net-work, with slight expansions at the angles; +the lime-nodules numerous, roundish or ellipsoidal, variable in size, +yellow. Spores globose, nearly smooth, violaceous, 7-8 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on bark, leaves, mosses, etc. Sporangium .5-.6 mm. in diameter, +the stipe from once to twice this length. This, the typical species, I +have not seen in this country, but forms with the sporangium +lemon-yellow and grayish-yellow, with the stipe golden-yellow, connect +it with _C. rufipes_. It is _Physarum citrinum_ Schum. _Diderma +citrinum_ of Fries., S. M. + +3. CYTIDIUM RUFIPES, A. & S. Sporangium globose, sometimes a little +depressed and the base umbilicate, stipitate; the wall a thin membrane, +covered with small scales of lime, golden-yellow to orange in color, +breaking up at maturity and falling away. Stipe variable in length, +slender, from orange or orange-red to dark red in color, sometimes +blackish below, rising from a thin hypothallus, tapering upward and +entering the sporangium as a short obtuse columella. Capillitium of +slender tubules, forming a dense net-work of very small meshes, slightly +expanded at the angles; the nodules of lime small, numerous, ellipsoidal +or obtusely angular, orange to red in color. Spores globose, nearly +smooth, violaceous, 8-10 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, mosses, etc. A very abundant species. Sporangium +.5-.7 mm. in diameter, the stipe from once to twice as long. As here +defined, the species includes _Physarum aurantium_ var. _rufipes_ A. & +S., and _Physarum aureum_ var. _chrysopus_ Lev, which I am unable to +keep separate; the variation in size of the spores is not in +correspondence with the variations in color of the sporangia. _Physarum +pulchripes_ Peck, and _Physarum petersii_ B. & C., mostly belong here. +The bright orange colors become dull or tawny with age and exposure to +the weather. + +4. CYTIDIUM RAVENELII, B. & C. Sporangium globose, stipitate; the wall a +thin pellucid membrane, covered with small scales of lime, from gray or +drab to pale umber in color, breaking up at maturity and falling away. +Stipe variable in length, concolorous with the sporangium or darker +below, tapering upward and entering the sporangium as a short obtusely +conical columella. Capillitium of tubules, forming a dense net-work of +very small meshes, with slight expansions at the angles; the +lime-nodules small, numerous, ellipsoidal or obtusely angular, gray or +drab to pale umber in color. Spores globose, nearly even, pale +violaceous, 7-9 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, mosses, etc. Sporangium about .5 mm. in diameter, +the stipe once to twice this length. The species as here described +includes _Didymium ravenelii_ B. & C., _Physarum simile_ Rost., and +_Physarum murinum_ Lister. + +5. CYTIDIUM GLOBULIFERUM, Bull. Sporangium globose, the base sometimes +flattened or slightly umbilicate, stipitate; the wall a thin, pellucid +membrane, covered with small scales of lime, white, cream-colored, or +sometimes pinkish, breaking up and falling away at maturity. Stipe +variable in length, white or smoky-white, usually darker below, rising +from a thin hypothallus, tapering upward and entering the sporangium as +a short obtuse or conical columella. Capillitium of slender tubules, +forming a dense, persistent net-work of very small meshes, more or less +expanded at the angles; the nodules of lime variable in size, numerous, +white, roundish, ellipsoidal or obtusely angular. Spores globose, nearly +even, pale violaceous, 7-9 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, bark, mosses, etc. A very common and abundant +species. Sporangium .5-.6 mm. in diameter, the stipe from once to two or +three times this length. The lime nodules in the capillitium are +sometimes round and quite minute, then again they are large and obtusely +angular; the columella varies from very short and conical to longer and +more cylindric. _Diderma globuliferum_ of Fries S. M., _Physarum +albicans_ Peck. The specimens with the columella well nigh obsolete, may +be _Tilmadoche columbina_ Rost. + +6. CYTIDIUM MELLEUM, B. & Br. Sporangium globose, stipitate or +subsessile; the wall a thin yellowish membrane, rugulose, covered by +large irregular scales of lime, honey-color to golden-yellow, breaking +up irregularly. Stipe short, sometimes very short or nearly obsolete, +snow-white, expanding at the base into a small white hypothallus, +tapering upward and entering the sporangium as a short obtusely conical +columella. Capillitium a loose net-work of delicate tubules with broad +vesicular expansions containing much lime; the nodules numerous, white +or sometimes yellow, large, irregular, lobed, and branched. Spores +globose, nearly even, pale violaceous, 7-9 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old leaves, sticks, herbaceous stems, etc.; not uncommon in +this region. Sporangium .4-.5 mm. in diameter, the stipe about the same +length or much shorter. _Didymium melleum_ B. & Br. _Didymium +chrysopeplum_ B. & C. also belongs here and not with _C. citrinum_. + +§2. REXIELLA. Sporangium ellipsoidal or pyriform, the columella +prolonged nearly to the apex of the sporangium. + +7. CYTIDIUM PENETRALE, Rex. Sporangium ellipsoidal or pyriform, +stipitate; the wall a thin pellucid membrane, covered with small scales +of lime, yellow-gray to greenish-yellow, rupturing at maturity into two +to four segments. Stipe long, slender, translucent, pale red to dark red +in color, tapering upward, entering the sporangium and prolonged nearly +to the apex as a slender columella. Capillitium of very slender tubules, +radiating from numerous points of the columella, forming a delicate +net-work of very small meshes, scarcely expanded at the angles; the +nodules of lime small, not numerous, roundish or obtusely angled, white +or yellowish. Spores globose, very minutely warted, pale violaceous, +5.5-6.5 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood. A rare and singular species. Sporangium .5-.7 mm. +in height by .3-.5 mm. in diameter, the stipe two or three times the +height of the sporangium. There is an affinity between this species and +the _Physarella_. The obscure _Tilmadoche hians_ Rost., may be the same +as the present species. + + +EXPLANATION OF PLATE XIII. + +Fig. 49.--Angioridium sinuosum, Bull. _a._ Plasmodiocarp × 5 _b._ +Capillitium and spores × 500. + +Fig. 50.--Cienkowskia reticulata, A. & S. _a._ Plasmodiocarp × 5. _b._ +Piece of plasmodiocarp × 90. _c._ Capillitium and spores × 500. + +Fig. 51. Leocarpus fragilis, Dicks, _a._ Sporangia × 5. _b._ Capillitium +and spores × 500. + +Fig. 52.--Leocarpus caespitosus, Schw. _a._ Sporangia × 5. _b._ +Capillitium and spores × 500. + +Fig. 53.--Physarella oblonga, B. & C. _a._ Sporangia × 5. _b._ Sporangia +× 90. _c._ Capillitium and spores × 500. + +Fig 54--Cytidium penetrale, Rex. _a._ Sporangia × 5 _b._ Sporangia and +columella × 90. _c._ Capillitium and spores × 500. + +Fig. 55.--Cytidium globuliferum, Bull. _a._ Sporangia × 5. _b._ +Sporangia × 90. _c_. Columella × 90 _d._ Capillitium and spores × 500. + +[Illustration: The Journal of the Cin. Soc. Natural History. + + VOL. XIX. PLATE XIII. + +MORGAN ON MYXOMYCETES] + + +VI. CRATERIUM, Trent. Sporangium obovoid to cylindric, stipitate; the +upper and usually greater part of the wall covered with granules of +lime, the basal portion naked and more persistent. Stipe short or +sometimes elongated, arising from a small circular hypothallus, +longitudinally plicate, confluent above and similarly colored with the +base of the sporangium. Capillitium of tubules, forming a loose network, +bearing numerous large angular and irregular nodules of lime, which are +often confluent along the axis of the sporangium into a +pseudo-columella. Spores globose, minutely warted, violaceous. + +In this genus the sporangium is commonly obovoid, with a naked base +which is confluent with the stipe and similarly colored; after +dehiscence there is left behind the more persistent cyathiform portion +standing on the substratum. + +§1. EU-CRATERIUM. Sporangium at maturity dehiscent in a regular +circumscissile manner, the apex falling away as a lid, leaving behind +the more persistent cup-shaped portion. + +1. CRATERIUM MINUTUM, Leers. Sporangium cyathiform, stipitate; the lid +slightly convex, discrete from the first, usually depressed below the +rim of the cup, falling away at maturity, and leaving a smooth, circular +margin to the lower cyathiform portion. The wall a thick, firm, +yellow-brown membrane, the outer surface of the cup entirely naked, +smooth and shining, varying greatly in color from alutaceous or +ochraceous to various shades of brown; the lid usually whitened by a +thin layer of granules of lime. Stipe short, erect or bent, and slightly +curved at the apex, varying in color from rusty yellow to reddish brown, +longitudinally plicate, arising from a small, circular hypothallus. +Capillitium of tubules forming a loose net-work, bearing large, +irregular, white nodules of lime, which are sometimes confluent in the +axis of the sporangium. Spores globose, very minutely warted, +violaceous, 8-10 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, sticks, leaves, etc. Sporangium, together with the +stipe, .8-1.4 mm. in height and .3-.5 mm. in diameter, the stipe usually +shorter than the sporangium, sometimes equal to it in length, rarely +longer. The latest authorities include the three species _Craterium +vulgare_, _C. pyriforme_, and _C. minutum_ of Rostafinski's monograph +all in one species. + +2. CRATERIUM CONCINNUM, Rex. Sporangium usually minute, broadly +funnel-shaped, stipitate; operculum always more or less convex, rarely +approaching a hemispherical shape, dehiscent in a regular circumscissile +manner. The wall a thick, brownish membrane, externally smooth and +variously colored, sometimes uniformly light or dark umber, sometimes +dark brown below and brownish white above; the operculum brownish white, +darkest in the center. Stipe short, dark brown, longitudinally ridged. +Capillitium of tubules forming a close-meshed net-work, bearing small +rounded or slightly angular nodules of lime, ochre-brown in color. +Spores globose, very minutely warted, brown, 9-10 mic. in diameter. + +Growing usually upon chestnut-burs, and frequently associated with +_Lachnobulus globosus_. Sporangium .5-.8 mm. in height including the +stipe and .2-.5 mm. in diameter at the top, the stipe equaling the +sporangium in length. It is readily distinguished by its small nodules +in the capillitium, which are invariably of a dull, brownish-ochre +color. + +3. CRATERIUM RUBESCENS, Rex. Sporangium subcylindric or elongated +cyathiform, stipitate; the apex convex, at maturity separating by an +irregular line in a circumscissile manner. The wall dark violet-red, +smooth, except at the upper portion, which is slightly roughened by an +external deposit of scattered lime-granules of a pale, lilac color. +Stipe short, violet-black, wrinkled longitudinally. Capillitium of +tubules forming a loose, irregular net-work, bearing large, violet-red +nodules of lime which are often confluent in the axis of the sporangium. +Spores globose, minutely warted, dark violaceous, 7-9 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, leaves, etc. Sporangium .6-.8 mm. in height +including the stipe and .5-.6 mm. in diameter, the stipe one-half the +height of the sporangium. The species is distinguished by the color, +which exhibits some shade of red or violet-red in every part of its +structure. + +4. CRATERIUM MINIMUM, B. & C. Sporangium cylindric or turbinate +cylindric, stipitate; the apex convex, separating in a regular +circumscissile manner by a lid. The wall a thick, yellow-brown +membrane, most of the outer surface covered with minute, white granules +of lime, the basal portion naked. Stipe very short, plicate, red-brown, +arising from a small hypothallus. Capillitium of tubules forming a loose +net-work bearing large, irregular, white nodules of lime, sometimes +confluent in the axis of the sporangium. Spores globose, very minutely +warted, violaceous, 7-9 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old leaves, herbaceous stems, etc. Sporangium together with +the stipe 1-1.5 mm. in height and .25-.35 mm. in thickness, the stipe +.2-.4 mm. in length. This is a common species everywhere in the United +States, and perfectly distinct from _Craterium convivale_. It is +_Craterium cylindricum_ of Massee's monograph, according to Lister. + +§2. CUPULARIA, Link. Sporangium irregularly dehiscent, breaking up and +gradually falling away from the apex downward. + +_a. Stipe shorter than the sporangium._ + +5. CRATERIUM CONVIVALE, Batsch. Sporangium obovoid or oblong-obovoid, +stipitate; the wall hyaline, thin and fragile above, the lower portion a +thickened and brownish membrane, the surface, usually most of it, +covered with minute white granules of lime, the base naked and brown. +Stipe very short, erect, red-brown, plicate, arising from a small +hypothallus. Capillitium of tubules forming a dense net-work, bearing +numerous large irregular white nodules of lime, which are often +confluent in the axis of the sporangium. Spores globose, very minutely +warted, violaceous, 8-10 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old leaves, herbaceous stems, etc. Sporangium .6-1.0 mm. in +height including the stipe and .3-.5 mm. in diameter, the stipe much +shorter than the sporangium. The thin apex breaks up into pieces and +falls away, leaving sometimes a regular cyathiform portion, at other +times the margin is broken and irregular. This is _Craterium +leucocephalum_ of Rostafinski's monograph. The specimens of _Physarum +scyphoides_ C. & B. which I have seen appear to be a small form of this +species. + +6. CRATERIUM AUREUM, Schum. Sporangium obovoid to oblong obovoid, +stipitate, the wall a thin and delicate membrane above, thicker and +firmer below, hyaline or yellowish, almost entirely covered by a dense +layer of granules of lime, varying from lemon-yellow to orange in color. +Stipe short, erect, yellow to orange, brownish toward the base, +longitudinally plicate, rising from a small hypothallus. Capillitium of +slender tubules, forming a dense net-work, bearing numerous rather small +irregular nodules of lime, yellow or sometimes white in color, and often +confluent along the axis of the sporangium. Spores globose, very +minutely warted, dark violaceous, 8-10 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old leaves, sticks, herbaceous stems, etc. Sporangium and +stipe .7-1.0 mm. in height and .3-.5 mm. in diameter, the stipe .2-.4 +mm. long. The elongated form is the common one in this region. +_Craterium mutabile_ Fr. + +_b. Stipe longer than the sporangium._ + +7. CRATERIUM NODULOSUM, C. & B. Sporangium globose or obovoid, +stipitate; the greater part of the wall a thin hyaline membrane, easily +breaking away, covered externally with large white scales and nodules of +lime; the basal portion naked, thickened, and more persistent, red-brown +and plicate. Stipe long, erect or inclined, plicate, red-brown, rising +from a small hypothallus. Capillitium of tubules forming a loose +net-work, containing a variable quantity of lime in the shape of long +irregular white nodules, sometimes confluent, with pointed lobes and +branchlets. Spores globose, very minutely warted, dark violaceous, 10-12 +mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, bark, leaves, etc. Sporangium .5-.6 mm. in +diameter, the stipe two or three times as long. It is _Badhamia +nodulosa_ C. & B., _Journal of Mycology_, Vol. V, p. 186. Ravenel's +specimens are on _Acacia_ bark. Mr. Webber sent me elegant specimens +from Florida where, he says, it grows commonly on the leaves and bark of +the orange trees. + +8. CRATERIUM MAYDIS, Morgan, n. sp. Sporangium globose or obovoid, +stipitate; the upper part of the wall a yellowish membrane, thin and +fragile, covered with large thick scales and nodules of lime, +amber-colored to golden-yellow; the basal portion thicker and more +persistent, naked and plicate, red-brown. Stipe red-brown, long, +slender, plicate, rising from a small hypothallus. Capillitium of thick +tubules, forming a net-work with wide expansions at the angles; the +nodules of lime large, numerous, yellow, angularly lobed and branched. +Spores globose, very minutely warted, pale violaceous, 9-10 mic. in +diameter. + +Growing on old stalks of _Zea mays_. Sporangium with the stipe 1-1.5 mm. +in height and .4-.6 mm. in diameter, the stipe always longer than the +sporangium. I find it in abundance on old stalks of Indian corn, but +never on anything else. + + +VII. PHYSARUM, Pers. Sporangium globose, depressed globose or irregular, +stipitate or sessile; the wall a thin membrane, with an outer layer of +minute roundish granules of lime, irregularly dehiscent. Stipe present +or often wanting, never prolonged within the sporangium as a columella. +Capillitium of slender tubules, forming an intricate net-work, the +extremities attached on all sides to the wall of the sporangium; the +tubules more or less expanded at the angles of the net-work, and +containing at varying intervals nodules of lime. Spores globose, +violaceous. + +_Physarum_ is the central genus of the _Physaraceæ_ from which all the +others are detached by characters which for the most part are +unimportant. + +§1. LAPIDIUM. Lime in the Capillitium scanty; the nodules small, +roundish, ellipsoidal or fusiform. + +_A. Sporangium stipitate._ + +_a. Sporangia regular._ + +1. PHYSARUM NUTANS, Pers. Sporangium orbicular, very much depressed, the +base concave or umbilicate, stipitate, cernuous; the wall a thin +pellucid membrane, thickly covered with minute white or yellow roundish +scales of lime, breaking up into irregular fragments, which often remain +attached to the capillitium. Stipe long, slender, tapering upward, bent +or curved at the apex, longitudinally rugulose, brown or blackish at the +base, becoming paler upward and cinereous or whitish at the apex. +Capillitium of very slender threads, rising from the base of the +sporangium, forming a net-work with much elongated meshes, scarcely +expanded at the angles; the nodules of lime white or yellow, ellipsoidal +or fusiform, often very small and few in number, sometimes rather large +and numerous. Spores globose, very minutely warted, violaceous, 8-10 +mic. in diameter. + +Growing on wood, bark, mosses, etc. A very common species. Sporangium +.4-.5 mm. in diameter, the stipe 1-2 mm. in length, the lime-nodules +commonly not thicker than the spores, but sometimes from once to twice +their diameter. Under this name I have included all the lenticular +species of Persoon's Synopsis, _Physarum nutans_, _P. luteum_, _P. +viride_ and _P. aureum_. There is no difference in these species, except +in the color of the granules of lime; the form of the sporangium and the +shape and color of the stipe are the same in all of them. No two +authorities agree in the presentation of this species. + +2. PHYSARUM CUPRIPES, B. & R. Sporangium orbicular, much depressed, the +base umbilicate, stipitate, cernuous; the greater part of the wall thin +and delicate, with a scanty covering of yellow granules of lime, +becoming naked and then brassy and iridescent, after maturity soon +disappearing; the lower basal portion thicker and more persistent, with +a layer of small yellow scales of lime. Stipe long, flexuous, bent at +the apex, plicate, pale brown to yellow-brown, darker toward the base. +Capillitium of slender tubules, forming a dense persistent net-work, +more or less expanded at the angles; the lime-nodules small, numerous, +yellow, angular and fusiform, below often confluent. Spores globose, +very minutely warted, violaceous, 8-10 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood; rare. Sporangium .4-.5 mm. in diameter, the stipe +two or three times this length. The lime nodules are found both on the +sides and at the angles of the meshes, and are fusiform or angular +accordingly; the lime is scanty above, but in the lower part of the +capillitium the nodules sometimes run together into lobed and branched +forms. This is _Physarum berkeleyi_ of Rostafinski's monograph. + +3. PHYSARUM OBRUSSEUM, B. &. C. Sporangium globose, the base usually +slightly flattened or umbilicate, stipitate and cernuous; the wall a +thin, violaceous membrane, covered by small, roundish, white or yellow +scales of lime, or sometimes naked, splitting irregularly from the apex +downward. Stipe long, slender, tapering upward, flexuous, bent or curved +at the apex, yellow, yellow-brown, or pale brown. Capillitium of very +slender tubules, forming a loose net-work, scarcely expanded at the +angles; the nodules of lime small, white or yellow, roundish or obtusely +angular, few to numerous, rarely wanting. Spores globose, very minutely +warted, violaceous, 8-10 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, bark, mosses, etc Sporangium .2-.4 mm. in diameter, +the stipe 1-2 mm. in length, the lime nodules when abundant once to +twice the diameter of the spores, when scanty very small. This, as I +find it growing, is an extremely variable species; I think its various +forms and appearances cover such species as _Didymium obrusseum_ B. & +C.; _D. tenerrimum_ B. & C.; _Physarum tenerum_ Rex, etc., etc. + +4. PHYSARUM NUCLEATUM, Rex. Sporangium globose, stipitate, erect or +slightly nodding; the wall a thin, pellucid membrane, thickly covered +with minute, white, roundish scales of lime, which are exceptionally +sparse or absent, rupturing irregularly. Stipe long, slender, +yellowish-white, longitudinally rugulose, tapering upward, expanded at +the base into a small hypothallus. Capillitium of very slender tubules, +forming a delicate net-work of small meshes, scarcely expanded at the +angles; nodules of lime small, not numerous, roundish, white, usually +concentrated into a large lump in the center of the sporangium. Spores +globose, very minutely warted, violaceous, 6-7 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, bark, etc.; rare. Sporangium .4-.5 mm. in diameter, +the stipe two or three times as long, the lime-nodules about the size of +the spores. The species much resembles some of the forms of _P. +obrusseum_, but is to be distinguished by its central mass of lime and +the small spores. + +5. PHYSARUM COMPACTUM, Wingate. Sporangium depressed-globose, the base +slightly umbilicate, stipitate, cernuous; the wall a thin, violaceous +membrane, rugulose and iridescent, studded with large and thick, +snow-white, roundish or elliptic scales of lime, at maturity splitting +from the apex downward into several segments. Stipe long, rather weak, +bent and flexuous, tapering upward, longitudinally rugulose, from +snow-white to whitish-ochre and smoky-white, usually brownish at the +base, and arising from a thin hypothallus. Capillitium a delicate +net-work of very slender threads, with no expansions at the angles; the +lime mostly concentrated in one large, snow-white nodule at the center, +a few very small, roundish nodules scattered through the net-work. +Spores globose, very minutely warted, violaceous, 7-9 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, mosses, etc.; a common species. Sporangium .4-.5 +mm. in diameter, the stipe two or three times this length. _Tilmadoche +compacta_ Wingate. It is doubtful if _Tilmadoche columbina_ Rost. +belongs to this species. According to Lister, _Lepidoderma stellatum_ +Massee, is the same as this species, and if it be objected to the name +that there is already a _Physarum compactum_ Ehrenberg, it may have to +be called _Physarum stellatum_. + +_b. Sporangium more or less irregular_. + +6. PHYSARUM LEUCOPHÆUM, Fr. Sporangium globose or depressed-globose, +more or less irregular, the base never umbilicate, stipitate or +subsessile; the wall a thin violaceous membrane, rugulose and +iridescent, with a thin coat of small white scales and granules of lime, +or sometimes nearly naked. Stipe variable in length, sometimes very +short or quite obsolete, occasionally a few of them confluent, wrinkled, +and sulcate, brown below, paler or whitish above. Capillitium a dense +irregular net-work of slender tubules, more or less expanded at the +angles; the nodules of lime white, small, roundish, or angular, few and +scattered. Spores globose, very minutely warted, violaceous, 8-10 mic. +in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, bark, leaves, etc. The sporangium .5-.7 mm. in +diameter, the stipe about the same length, or shorter, and sometimes +wanting. The lime on the wall and in the capillitium is never abundant +and sometimes extremely scanty. Rostafinski's presentation of this +species applies well to our specimens. + +7. PHYSARUM CONNEXUM, Link. Sporangia subglobose, depressed, more or +less irregular, sometimes confluent, stipitate, or subsessile; the wall +a thin violaceous, or brownish membrane, rugulose, thickly covered with +small white roundish scales of lime, which sometimes accumulate so as to +make the surface rough and uneven. Stipe short, thick, rugulose, from +snow white to smoky or sooty, especially toward the base, sometimes with +a scanty calcareous hypothallus. Capillitium a loose net-work of +tubules, much expanded at the angles; the nodules of lime small, white, +rather numerous, ellipsoidal or fusiform, sometimes confluent and +elongated. Spores irregularly globose, minutely warted, dark violaceous, +9-11 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood and bark. Sporangium .6-1.0 mm. in diameter, the +stipe usually shorter than the diameter, sometimes very short; the +lime-nodules about the thickness of the spores. This is a larger and +rougher species than _P. leucophæum_, the sporangium is more often +irregular and the spores darker colored. _P. confluens_ and _P. +connexum_ of Link. + +8. PHYSARUM COMPRESSUM, A. & S. Sporangium laterally compressed and much +flattened, subreniform, stipitate or subsessile; the wall a thin +violaceous or brownish membrane, rugulose, thickly covered with small +white roundish nodules of lime, similar to those in the capillitium. +Stipe short, brown or blackish at least below, sometimes pallid or +grayish above, longitudinally rugulose. Capillitium of slender tubules, +forming a loose net-work; the nodules of lime small, white, very +numerous, roundish or ellipsoidal, often confluent end to end. Spores +irregularly globose or angular, minutely warted, dark violaceous, 11-14 +mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old stalks and leaves of _Zea mays_. Sporangium variable, +.6-1.0 mm. in breadth, the stipe 1 mm. or less in length; the lime +nodules about the thickness of the spores. According to Saccardo this +species is the same as _Physarum nephroedium_ Rost. + +9. PHYSARUM POLYCEPHALUM, Schw. Sporangia confluent into a subspheric +gyrose-complicate head, composed of several to many laterally +compressed, irregular, simple sporangia; the wall a thin, pellucid +membrane, covered by a thin layer of minute scales of lime, white to +yellow or greenish-yellow Stripes thin, flat, weak, and often prostrate, +pale yellow, more or less connate, arising from a thin hypothallus. +Capillitium of slender tubules forming a loose, irregular network, more +or less expanded at the angles: the lime-nodules white or yellow, small, +fusiform or by confluence elongated and sometimes branched. Spores +globose, very minutely warted, violaceous, 8-10 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old bark, wood, leaves, etc. The sporangia rarely simple, +usually confluent into a head of from four or five to fifteen or twenty, +and sometimes more, simple sporangia; the stipes variable in length, +long or short, rarely wanting. The gray form is _Didymium polymorphum_ +Mont., the yellow-green form _D. gyrocephalum_ Mont. Sprengel considered +this species the same as _Physarum compactum_ Ehr., and it appears under +this name in Schweinitz's _North American Fungi_; but Fries, who had +seen specimens of both, disposed of them differently. + +10. PHYSARUM DIDERMOIDES, Pers. Sporangia obovoid-oblong, stipitate, +growing close together on a white membranaceous common hypothallus; the +wall with a thick, white, outer layer of lime, easily crumbling and +falling away, leaving the sporangium dark gray; the inner membrane +rather thick and firm, violaceous, with a closely adherent layer of +granules of lime. Stipes very short, white, thin, and weak, each formed +by a bit of membrane arising from the hypothallus. Capillitium a loose +net-work of slender threads, bearing numerous roundish or irregular +white nodules of lime. Spores irregularly or angularly globose, minutely +warted, dark violaceous, 12-15 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on wood, leaves, grass, etc. Sporangia .6-1.2 mm. in length by +.4-.6 mm. in thickness, the stipe shorter than the sporangia. _Spumaria +licheniformis_ Schw., belongs here. This is a truly abnormal species of +_Physarum_, so much so that Fries, in the _Summa Veg. Scand._ placed it +by itself in a separate genus, _Claustria_. + +_B. Sporangia sessile._ + +11. PHYSARUM CONFLUENS, Pers. Plasmodiocarp roundish, oblong or +elongated, and by confluence branched and reticulate; the wall a thin, +violaceous membrane, rugulose, with a thin, closely adherent layer of +minute granules of lime, over which are scattered small, white, roundish +nodules, which sometimes accumulate into a thick, pulverulent coat. +Capillitium a loose net-work of tubules, widely expanded at the angles; +the nodules of lime small, white, very numerous, roundish or +ellipsoidal, by confluence elongated and irregular. Spores irregularly +globose, minutely warted, dark violaceous, 9-11 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, bark, leaves, etc. Plasmodiocarp .4-.5 mm. in +thickness, varying from roundish to much elongated, creeping and +reticulate. The sporangium before dehiscence is gray, whence Link's +name, _Physarum griseum_; the loose pulverulent coating of lime easily +falls away, leaving the sporangium dark colored, whence Rostafinski's +name, _Physarum lividum_. The amount of lime on the wall and in the +capillitium is variable. + +12. PHYSARUM LUTEOLUM, Peck. Sporangia small, subglobose, sessile, +closely gregarious; the wall a thin membrane, covered by a layer of +small scales of lime, yellowish, inclining to tawny, in color, rupturing +irregularly. Capillitium of slender tubules, forming a dense net-work of +small meshes, scarcely expanded at the angles; the nodules of lime +small, numerous, yellowish, roundish, or ellipsoidal. Spores globose, +nearly smooth, violaceous, about 10 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on living leaves of _Cornus canadensis_, Adirondack Mountains, +New York. I have not seen a specimen of this _Physarum_, but from +Professor Peck's description and figure it seems to be a unique species. + +13. PHYSARUM THEJOTEUM, Fr. Sporangia very small, sessile, on a thin +membranaceous hypothallus, closely crowded together and more or less +connate, subobovoid or oblong, irregular from mutual pressure; the wall +a thin violaceous membrane, closely covered with a thin layer of small +irregular scales of lime, tawny or yellowish tawny in color, breaking up +irregularly about the apex. Capillitium a loose irregular net-work of +slender threads, more or less expanded at the angles; the lime nodules +small, tawny or yellowish, not numerous, ellipsoidal or fusiform, by +confluence elongated and irregular. Spores globose, even, violaceous, +6-7 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, mosses, etc. Sporangia .2-.4 mm. in diameter at the +apex, densely packed and their walls grown together, approaching the +aethalioid structure; the lime-nodules from one to two or three times +the diameter of the spores in thickness. I have described my specimens, +which are abundant, very carefully, and judge them to be referable to +this species; if so, they show that the species should be kept apart +from _Physarum virescens_. _Didymium nectriæforme_ B. & C., is evidently +this same species. + +14. PHYSARUM LATERITIUM, B. & R. Sporangia sessile, irregularly globose +and gregarious, or by confluence more or less elongated and +plasmodiocarp; the wall a thin violaceous membrane, rugulose and +iridescent, closely covered with small irregular scales of lime, from +testaceous or brick-red to bright red in color. Capillitium a dense +irregular net-work of tubules, much expanded at the angles; the nodules +of lime small, very numerous, roundish or angular, whitish or yellowish, +sometimes tinged with red granules. Spores globose, very minutely +warted, violaceous, 8-10 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, sticks, leaves, etc. Sporangia .4-.6 mm. in +diameter, by confluence sometimes much elongated; the lime-nodules two +or three times the diameter of the spores in thickness. _Didymium +lateritium_ B. & R. _Physarum inequale_ Peck, is the same species. + +§2. SAXELLA. Lime in the capillitium abundant, the nodules large, +angular or irregular, with pointed lobes and branchlets. + +_A. Sporangia stipitate._ + +15. PHYSARUM IMITANS, Racib. Sporangium depressed-globose, the base +flattened or umbilicate, stipitate, erect or cernuous; the wall a thin +violaceous membrane, with a closely adherent layer of minute granules, +over which are scattered rather large, roundish or irregular white +scales of lime, splitting from the apex downward into a few irregular +segments. Stipe short, thick at the base and tapering upward, +longitudinally rugulose, from gray to brown or blackish, especially +below. Capillitium a loose irregular network of tubules, widely expanded +at the angles; the nodules of lime white, numerous, large, irregular, +with pointed angles and lobes. Spores globose, very minutely warted, +violaceous, 8-9 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, mosses, etc. Sporangium .4-.5 mm. in diameter, the +stipe about the same length or a little longer. The species +superficially resembles the gray form of _Physarum nutans_, and quite +likely is constantly overlooked on this account. Although I am not able +to verify my reference, yet my specimens answer so well to the +description of Raciborski that I am unwilling to invent a new name. + +16. PHYSARUM ORNATUM, Peck. Sporangium globose or depressed-globose, +stipitate; the wall a thin yellowish membrane, covered with minute +granules and small irregular scales of lime, yellow to orange in color. +Stipe short, erect, blackish-brown, black at the base, longitudinally +plicate, rising from a small hypothallus. Capillitium of tubules forming +a rather dense net-work, with wide expansions at the angles; the nodules +of lime large, numerous, yellow, irregular, sometimes confluently +branched and reticulate. Spores globose, minutely warted, dark +violaceous, 10-12 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, bark, mosses, etc. Sporangium about .5 mm. in +diameter, the stipe about the same length or shorter. _Physarum oblatum_ +McBride, can not be distinguished from this. Specimens of this species +in the herbarium of Schweinitz are labeled _Physarum sulphureum_; this +is without doubt a mistake. + +17. PHYSARUM GRAVIDUM, Morgan, n. sp. Sporangium depressed-globose, the +base umbilicate, stipitate; the wall a thin, violaceous membrane, +brownish at the base, with a thin coat of small, white scales and minute +granules of lime. Stipe long, erect, brown or reddish-brown, darker +below, tapering upward, expanding at the base into a small hypothallus. +Capillitium of slender tubules forming a loose net-work, more or less +expanded at the angles and for the most part filled with lime; the +nodules white, slender, much elongated and branched, with pointed lobes +and branchlets. Spores globose, very minutely warted, dark violaceous, +11-13 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old stalks of _Zea mays_. Sporangium .5-.6 mm. in diameter, +the stipe about twice this length. The lower part of the capillitium is +sometimes entirely filled with lime, so that the species approaches +Badhamia in the structure of its capillitium. + +18. PHYSARUM LEUCOPUS, Link. Sporangium globose, the base slightly +flattened, stipitate; the wall a thin, violaceous membrane, with a +white, pulverulent outer coat of minute granules of lime. Stipe short, +thick, erect, snow-white, longitudinally rugulose, tapering upward, +expanding at the base into small, white hypothallus. Capillitium a loose +net-work of tubules, with wide expansions at the angles; the nodules of +lime large, white, numerous, irregularly lobed and branched. Spores +globose, very minutely warted, violaceous, 8-10 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, leaves, etc. Sporangium .3-.4 mm. in diameter, the +stipe about the same length as the diameter. Our specimens are a smaller +form than the European, with smaller and smoother spores. Superficially +the species resembles _Didymium squamulosum_, and it is _Didymium +leucopus_ of Fries, S. M. + +19. PHYSARUM GLAUCUM, Phillips. Sporangium globose, or the base slightly +depressed, stipitate; the wall a thin, violaceous membrane, covered with +minute, white granules and small roundish or irregular scales of lime. +Stipe short, stout, erect, black, longitudinally wrinkled, expanding at +the base into a small hypothallus. Capillitium of much-flattened +tubules, forming a loose net-work, widely expanded at the angles; the +nodules of lime numerous, large, white, irregular, with pointed angles +and lobes. Spores globose, very minutely warted, dark violaceous, 12-14 +mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old leaves: California. Sporangium .5-.7 mm. in diameter, +the stipe not longer than the diameter. This is quite a robust species, +both externally and in the broad, flat tubules of the capillitium. + +20. PHYSARUM RELATUM, Morgan, n. sp. Sporangium globose, the base +umbilicate, stipitate, often cernuous; the wall a thin, violaceous +membrane, rugulose and iridescent, covered with small, roundish or +irregular white scales of lime. Stipe long, erect or inclined, rising +from a thin hypothallus, tapering upward, white or cream color to +ochraceous. Capillitium a dense net-work of tubules, more or less +expanded at the angles, and almost entirely filled with white granules +of lime, leaving only here and there short, slender empty spaces. Spores +globose, nearly smooth, violaceous, 8-9 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood. Sporangium .5-.6 mm. in diameter, the stipe about +twice this length. The capillitium is rigid, with the abundance of lime +almost as in the genus _Badhamia_. Superficially the species much +resembles _Cytidium globuliferum_ or _Physarum compactum_, but the +disposition of the lime on the wall and in the capillitium is altogether +different. + +21. PHYSARUM AURISCALPIUM, Cke. Sporangia subglobose, depressed, +substipitate; the wall a hyaline membrane with a thin, closely adherent +layer of minute granules of lime, over which are scattered large, +irregular, orange-red scales of lime. Stipe very short, sometimes almost +obsolete. Capillitium of tubules forming a loose net-work, with widely +expanded angles, and mostly filled with orange granules of lime, only +here and there short, slender, empty spaces. Spores globose, minutely +warted, dark violaceous, 11-13 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on rotten wood; South Carolina, Ravenel. Sporangia .6-.8 mm. in +diameter, the stipe very short. Described in _Annals of the Lyceum of +Natural History of New York_, June, 1877. So fine a species ought to be +found again. Cooke's specimen was examined by Lister, _Mycetozoa_, p. +61. + + +EXPLANATION OF PLATE XIV. + +Fig. 56.--Craterium minimum, B. & C. _a._ Sporangia × 5. _b._ Sporangium +with lid × 90. _c._ Capillitium and spores × 500. + +Fig. 57.--Craterium maydis, Morgan. _a._ Sporangia × 5. _b._ Sporangium +× 90. _c._ Capillitium and spores × 500. + +Fig. 58.--Physarum obrusseum, B. & C. _a._ Sporangia × 5. _b._ +Sporangium × 90. _c._ Capillitium and spores × 500. + +Fig. 59.--Physarum connexum, Link. _a._ Sporangia × 5. _b._ Sporangium × +90. _c._ Capillitium and spores × 500. + +Fig. 60.--Physarum polycephalum, Schw. _a._ Sporangia × 5. _b._ +Sporangia × 90. _c._ Capillitium and spores × 500. + +Fig. 61.--Physarum lateritium, B. & C. _a._ Sporangia × 5. _b._ +Sporangia × 90. _c._ Capillitium and spores × 500. + +Fig. 62.--Physarum imitans, Racib. _a._ Sporangia × 5. _b._ Sporangium × +90. _c._ Capillitium and spores × 500. + +Fig. 63.--Physarum relatum, Morgan. _a._ Sporangia × 5. _b._ Sporangia × +90. One divested of the wall and showing the rigid capillitium. _c._ +Capillitium and spores × 500. + +[Illustration: The Journal of the Cin. Soc. Natural History. + + VOL. XIX. PLATE XIV. + +MORGAN ON MYXOMYCETES.] + +_B. Sporangia sessile._ + +22. PHYSARUM PLUMBEUM, Fr. Sporangia small, globose or obovoid, sessile, +on a narrow base, gregarious, sometimes close but seldom confluent; the +wall a thin violaceous membrane, with a very thin layer of small white +scales and minute granules of lime, sometimes naked. Capillitium a loose +net-work of slender tubules, with slight expansions at the angles; the +nodules of lime white, numerous, more or less elongated, irregularly +lobed and branched. Spores globose, even, violaceous, 7-9 mic. in +diameter. + +Growing on old leaves, sticks, etc. Sporangia .3-.4 mm. in diameter, +quite regular in shape, attached by a narrow base, sometimes by a mere +point, rarely confluent. The lime on the wall of the sporangium is +rather scanty, sometimes altogether absent, and the nodules of lime in +the capillitium are rather small. The species is figured by Micheli N. +P. G. Tab. 96, Fig. 9. It is named by Fries S. M., III, p. 142. It is +figured again by De Bary, _Die Mycetozoen_, Tafel I. + +23. PHYSARUM ATRUM, Schw. Sporangia sessile, subglobose or oblong, by +confluence, more or less elongated, bent or flexuous and branched; the +wall a thin violaceous membrane, rugulose, covered by a wrinkled and +reticulate layer of white granules of lime, which sometimes become thin +or disappear. Capillitium a loose net-work of tubules, more or less +expanded at the angles; the nodules of lime white, numerous, large, +irregularly lobed and branched. Spores globose, very minutely warted, +violaceous, 8-10 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old leaves, bark, grasses, etc.; apparently the most common +of these three cinereous species. Sporangia .3-.5 mm. in thickness, some +of them roundish or oblong, others elongated to several millimeters. The +sporangium is often elegantly reticulate as observed by Schweinitz even +when the lime is quite scanty. In Saccardo's _Sylloge_ Berlese changed +the name to _Physarum reticulatum_, but this is unnecessary, as the +_Physarum atrum_ of Fries is not a Myxomyces. + +24. PHYSARUM CINEREUM, Batsch. Sporangia large, subglobose, sessile, +gregarious, sometimes close and confluent; the wall a thin violaceous +membrane, with a closely adherent layer of minute granules, over which +are scattered irregular white scales of lime. Capillitium of tubules +forming a loose net-work, with wide expansions at the angles; the +nodules of lime numerous, white, very large, with pointed angles and +lobes, by confluence often branched and reticulate, and occasionally +forming a pseudo-columella in the center of the sporangium. Spores +globose, minutely warted, dark violaceous, 10-13 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, leaves, etc. The sporangia .4-.6 mm. in diameter, +more or less irregular. The great abundance of lime in the capillitium +and the large distinctly warted spores distinguish this species. +_Physarum cinereum_ of Persoon's Synopsis, _Didymium cinereum_ of Fries' +_Systema_. The only American specimens I have of this species are from +Iowa (_McBride_) and from Nebraska (_Webber_). + +25. PHYSARUM VIRESCENS Ditm. Sporangia large, subglobose, irregular and +unequal, sessile, gregarious, sometimes crowded, but not often +confluent; the wall a thin membrane, violaceous, or in places yellowish, +with a dense layer of yellow or greenish-yellow scales and granules of +lime. Capillitium a loose net-work of tubules, with wide expansions at +the angles; the nodules of lime large, numerous, yellow or +greenish-yellow, more or less elongated, lobed, and branched. Spores +globose or somewhat irregular, very minutely warted, violaceous, 9-11 +mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old leaves, mosses, etc. Sporangia .5-.8 mm. in diameter, +occasionally by confluence more elongated. Though found in all parts of +the country, the species seems rare. This is not the _Physarum +virescens_ described by Rostafinski. + +26. PHYSARUM RUBIGINOSUM, Fr. Sporangia subglobose, sessile, gregarious; +the wall a thin hyaline membrane, thickly covered with large irregular +scales of lime, orange to red or dark red in color, breaking up +irregularly. Capillitium of hyaline tubules, forming a loose irregular +net-work, more or less expanded at the angles; the nodules of lime +large, angular, and irregular, sometimes confluent, orange to dark red +in color. Spores globose, very minutely warted, dark violaceous, 9-11 +mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, leaves, mosses, etc. Sporangia .6-.8 mm. in +diameter. _Physarum fulvum_ Fries S. M., III, p. 143. A rare species. It +should not be confounded with _Physarum lateritium_. + +27. PHYSARUM SERPULA Morgan, _n. nom._ Plasmodiocarp roundish or oblong +to much elongated, bent, annular and flexuous, sometimes by confluence +branched and reticulate; the wall a firm yellowish membrane, with a +thin, rough, closely adherent coat of granules of lime, dull ochre to +lemon-yellow and orange in color. Capillitium a dense net-work of +tubules, for the most part filled with lime, only here and there short, +slender, empty spaces; the nodules large, numerous, white or yellow, +angular and with pointed lobes and branchlets. Spores globose, minutely +warted, dark violaceous, 9-11 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on leaves, bark, lichens, etc. Plasmodiocarp .3-.4 mm. in +thickness and of varying length. This species is in the herbarium of +Schweinitz, at Philadelphia, with the name _Physarum reticulatum_; it is +described by George Massee as _Physarum gyrosum_; by Lister it is +incorporated with several other species under _Badhamia decipiens_. + +28. PHYSARUM CONTEXTUM, Pers. Sporangia sessile and closely crowded +together, roundish or more or less elongated, flexuous and complicate, +the apex plane or impressed; the wall a firm yellowish membrane, covered +by a thick pulveraceous layer of lime, white, ochraceous or yellow, +easily crumbling and breaking up. Capillitium a loose net-work of +tubules, much expanded at the angles; the nodules of lime very large, +white or yellow, numerous, angular, and irregular, by confluence lobed +and branched, sometimes massed together in the center of the sporangium. +Spores globose, minutely warted, dark violaceous, 10-13 mic. in +diameter. + +Growing on bark, leaves, mosses, etc. Sporangia with a width of .3-.5 +mm. and varying in length from .5 mm. to 1 or 2 mm. The sporangia are +often so much crowded as to appear to be grown together. _Diderma +ochroleucum_ B. & C. belongs to this species. _Physarum conglomeratum_ +Fr. is a closely related species, with smaller and smoother spores. I +have not met with this. + +29. PHYSARUM DIDERMA, Rost. Sporangia large, irregularly globose or +oblong, sessile, but without a hypothallus, closely crowded together and +sometimes confluent. The wall composed of two distinct and separate +layers; the outer a thick, uneven, crustaceous, snow-white layer of +lime; the inner a thin, violaceous membrane, cinereous from the adherent +granules of lime, or free from them, and iridescent. Capillitium of +tubules forming a loose net-work, with wide expansions at the angles; +the nodules of lime numerous, snow-white, large, irregular, with pointed +angles and lobes, sometimes confluent in the center of the sporangium. +Spores globose, minutely warted, dark violaceous, 9-10 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on wood, bark, and mosses. Sporangia .8-1.0 mm. in diameter, +more or less irregular. The wall of the sporangium is exactly like that +of certain species of _Diderma_. This species must be rare, as I have +met with it but twice in ten years, and I am not aware that it has ever +been found by any one else. + + +VIII. FULIGO, Haller. Aethalium a compound plasmodiocarp; the component +sporangia branching and anastomosing in every direction, complicate and +grown together; the walls of the sporangia a thin membrane, coated with +minute, roundish granules of lime. Capillitium of tubules forming a +net-work of irregular meshes, more or less expanded at the angles, the +tubules containing in greater or less abundance irregular nodules of +lime. Spores globose or sometimes ellipsoidal, violaceous. + +The genus is readily distinguished from _Spumaria_ by the round granules +of lime upon the walls of the sporangia. + +§1. AETHALIUM, Link. Aethalia large; the lime in the capillitium scanty, +the nodules small, ellipsoidal, or fusiform. + +_a. Aethalium with a thick fragile common cortex._ + +1. FULIGO RUFA, Pers. Plasmodium a large soft mass with a peculiar odor +and golden yellow in color. Aethalium very large, pulvinate, orbicular, +elongated, or quite irregular, extremely friable, the surface tawny or +ferruginous to ochraceous and whitish. The long narrow, sinuous +sporangia closely compacted, entirely grown together and inseparable, +covered by a thick common cortex, and seated on a much thickened +hypothallus; walls of the sporangia a thin pellucid membrane, coated by +a thin layer of white granules of lime. Capillitium of very slender +tubules, extending across from wall to wall, sparingly branched and +scarcely forming a network, not at all or only slightly expanded at the +angles; the tubules for the most part empty, here and there with slight +fusiform or elongated swellings containing granules of lime, +occasionally bearing roundish or ellipsoidal nodules of larger size. +Spores globose, nearly smooth, violaceous, 6-9 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old trunks in woods in great abundance from early Spring to +Winter. Aethalium 3-6 or sometimes many centimeters in extent and 1-2 +cm. in thickness. The common cortex and the hypothallus are a millimeter +or more in thickness; they are composed of successive layers of thin +plates of membrane coated with granules of lime. + +_b. Aethalium naked, i. e., without a common cortex._ + +2. FULIGO VIOLACEA, Pers. Plasmodium a soft effused mass, dark red or +wine-colored. Aethalium large, pulvinate or effused, orbicular or more +or less elongated and irregular, the surface minutely pitted and +perforate, furnished with a scanty layer of lime, whitish or yellowish +to brick-red in color, leaving naked purple and violet spots and +patches, seated on a thin membranaceous brick-red hypothallus. Sporangia +long, narrow, and sinuous, closely packed together; the walls a thin +violaceous membrane, rugulose and iridescent, with scattered granules, +or nearly destitute of lime. Capillitium of slender violet tubules, +forming a loose net-work, with slight expansions at the angles; the +tubules with numerous rather large vesicular expansions, ellipsoid or +fusiform in shape, and scantily furnished with lime. Spores globose, +nearly smooth, pale vinous, 6-8 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old trunks in woods; not uncommon in this region. Aethalium +1-3 or more centimeters in extent, and 5-10 mm. in thickness. The +vesicles of the capillitium vary from 15-30 or sometimes to 50 mic. in +diameter, their inner surface is usually coated by a single layer of +granules of lime, they are rarely filled with lime and sometimes are +naked entirely; when dry many of them are to be found collapsed. + +3. FULIGO FLAVA, Pers. Plasmodium effused lemon-yellow. Aethalium mostly +effused, irregular, the surface reticulate, pitted and perforate, +entirely naked, pale yellow to lemon-yellow and greenish-yellow, the +hypothallus thin or scarcely evident. Sporangia laterally much +compressed, flexuous, and gyrose, not everywhere grown together, but +forming a dense reticulum; the walls a thin, pellucid membrane, with a +dense layer of lemon-yellow granules of lime. Capillitium of short and +very slender tubules, sparingly branched and scarcely forming a +net-work, not expanded at the angles; the tubules very scantily +furnished with lime, in scattered, small, fusiform nodules, white or +lemon-yellow. Spores globose, very minutely warted, violaceous, 7-9 mic. +in diameter. + +Growing on mosses, old leaves, sticks, etc.; not common. Aethalia in +irregular patches 2-4 cm. or more in extent, sometimes almost reduced to +a simple plasmodiocarp. This species furnishes a clear notion of the +structure of the aethalium in the other species, on account of the +sporangia being but loosely compacted and not entirely grown together. +The _Fuligo vaporaria_ Pers., of the green-houses and gardens I have +never seen; the _Mucor septicus_ Linn., was thought to be the plasmodium +of this. Linnæus's description is simply "_Mucor unctuosus flavus._" + +§2. AETHALIOPSIS, Zopf. Aethalium small; lime abundant in the +capillitium, the nodules numerous and large, angular and irregular. + +4. FULIGO MUSCORUM, A. & S. Plasmodium effused, golden yellow. Aethalium +small, subpulvinate, irregular, the surface furnished with scattered, +irregular scales of lime, whitish or ochraceous to golden yellow in +color, arising from a thin, white, membranaceous hypothallus. Sporangia +closely packed and grown together; the walls a thin, violaceous +membrane, rugulose, with a thin, closely adherent layer of granules of +lime. Capillitium a loose net-work of tubules, widely expanded at the +angles; the tubules for the most part filled with lime, the nodules +white or yellowish, numerous, very large, angular and irregular, +sometimes confluent with pointed lobes and branchlets. Spores +irregularly globose, minutely warted, dark violaceous, 9-11 mic. in +diameter. + +Growing on leaves, twigs, mosses, etc. Aethalium from 2 or 3 mm. to a +centimeter or more in extent. I have a specimen of _Fuligo simulans_ +Karsten, from Karsten himself; it is identical with my specimens of +_Fuligo ochracea_ Peck. There could be no better representation of these +specimens made at that time than the description and figure of _Fuligo +muscorum_ A. & S., in the _Conspectus_. + +5. FULIGO CINEREA, Schw. Plasmodium milk-white, changing to cinereous. +Aethalium effused, variable in extent, the surface rugulose and +perforate, white, the hypothallus thin or scarcely evident. Sporangia +variously contracted and grown together, forming a dense reticulum; the +walls a thin pellucid membrane, with a thick white outer layer of +granules of lime. Capillitium a loose net-work of tubules, widely +expanded at the angles, the tubules for the most part filled, with lime, +the nodules white, numerous, very large, angular, and irregular, lobed +and branched. Spores globose or oval, minutely warted, dark violaceous, +10-15 × 10-12 mic. + +Growing on old leaves, herbaceous stems, etc. I find it most abundantly +about the horse barn, upon the old straw and manure, sometimes running +out onto the green herbage. Aethalium from a few millimeters to several +centimeters in extent. Upon the testimony of Dr. Geo. A. Rex this is +both _Enteridium cinereum_ and _Lachnobolus cinereus_ of Schweinitz's +_North American Fungi_ as represented in his herbarium. It is _Physarum +ellipsosporum_ of Rostafinski. It is no doubt also _Aethaliopsis +stercoriformis_ Zopf. + + +IX. BADHAMIA, Berk. Sporangia large, subglobose or obovoid, sometimes +depressed, substipitate or sessile; the wall a thin membrane, with an +outer layer of minute roundish granules of lime, irregularly dehiscent. +Stipe poorly developed, sometimes a mere strip of the hypothallus, often +wanting. Capillitium of thick tubules, attached on all sides to the wall +of the sporangium, combined into a net-work of large meshes, more or +less expanded at the angles; the tubules containing minute roundish +granules of lime throughout their whole extent. Spores large, +subglobose, dark violaceous. + +The peculiar character of this genus is that the granules of lime are +distributed along the whole interior of the tubules of the capillitium; +this makes the net-work rigid, and on this account a firmer support for +the wall of the sporangium. + +1. BADHAMIA CAPSULIFERA, Bull. Sporangia subglobose or obovoid, sessile, +on a thin pallid or yellowish hypothallus, which sometimes sends out +narrow bands or strings of membrane of variable length, bearing +sporangia singly or in clusters. Wall of the sporangium a thin pellucid +membrane, mostly even or somewhat rugulose and iridescent, coated by a +very thin layer of white granules of lime. Capillitium of rather slender +tubules, forming an open net-work of very large meshes, only slightly +expanded at the angles; the tubules coated within by a very thin layer +of white granules of lime. Spores subglobose or obovoid, adhering +together in clusters of six to twenty or more, distinctly warted on the +outer exposed surface, dark violaceous, 10-13 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old bark, leaves, etc. Sporangia .8-1.4 mm. in diameter. +_Badhamia hyalina_ and _B. capsulifera_ of Rostafinski's monograph are +here included together; he distinguished the former by the "sporangia in +clusters always exactly globose," a distinction first made by +Chevallier; otherwise the characters are the same in both. + +2. BADHAMIA UTRICULARIS, Bull. Sporangia subglobose or obovoid, sessile, +on a thin pallid or yellowish hypothallus, which often separates into +narrow strips and strings of membrane of variable length, bearing the +sporangia singly or in clusters. Wall of the sporangium a thin +violaceous membrane, rugulose and iridescent, shining with purple, blue, +and violet tints, with a thin layer of white granules of lime. +Capillitium of thick tubules, forming an open net-work of large meshes, +more or less expanded at the angles, the tubules coated within by a thin +layer of granules of lime. Spores subglobose, minutely warted, dark +violaceous, 10-13 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, bark, herbaceous stems, etc. Sporangia .5-1.0 mm. +in diameter, usually growing in clusters, sometimes suspended by the +strings of membrane. Rostafinski's distinction between this and the +preceding species in regard to the spores holds good so far as my +specimens are concerned. _Badhamia magna_ Peck, I have never seen. +George Massee includes all four of these species in one composite +species, which he names _Badhamia varia_. + +3. BADHAMIA PAPAVERACEA, B. & Rav. Sporangia subglobose or obovoid, +substipitate or sessile, growing close together; the wall a thin +violaceous membrane, rugulose and iridescent, with a very thin coat of +white granules of lime. Stipe very short, brown or blackish, sometimes +reduced to merely a thickened blackish base to the sporangium. +Capillitium of thick tubules, forming an open net-work of large meshes, +more or less expanded at the angles; the tubules with an inner lining of +very minute white granules of lime. Spores adhering together in clusters +of six to twenty, each spore subobovoid, the free portion more +distinctly warted, 10-12 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, bark, etc. Sporangia .6-1.0 mm. in diameter. +Readily distinguished by its black base or black stipe and the elegant +clusters of its spores, which stick together most persistently. + +4. BADHAMIA ORBICULATA, Rex. Sporangia much depressed, orbicular or +somewhat irregular, umbilicate often both above and below, gregarious, +sometimes growing close together and confluent, stipitate or sessile. +The wall a thin pellucid membrane, with a thin layer of minute granules +of lime, which are sometimes raised into small scales and fine ridges. +Stipe very short, black, sometimes reduced to merely a blackish base to +the sporangium. Capillitium of thick tubules, forming a scanty irregular +net-work, with wide expansions at the angles; the tubules filled with +white granules of lime. Spores subglobose, very minutely warted, dark +violaceous, 12-15 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old bark, herbaceous stems, etc. Sporangia .4-.8 mm. in +diameter, sometimes by confluence larger. This species seems near +_Badhamia verna_ Smfdt, but the latter everywhere is described as +sessile, while in the former the short black stipe is nearly always +distinguishable. + +5. BADHAMIA AFFINIS, Rost. Sporangium hemispherical, or much depressed, +the base flattened or umbilicate, stipitate, erect or often cernuous; +the wall a thin pellucid membrane, coated with minute white granules of +lime, which are frequently raised into scales and ridges. Stipe short, +erect or bent at the apex, black, expanding at the base into a small +hypothallus. Capillitium of thick tubules, forming an open net-work of +large meshes, more or less expanded at the angles; the tubules filled +with white granules of lime. Spores subglobose, minutely warted, dark +violaceous, 14-18 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on mosses and upon the bark of maple trunks. Sporangium .6-1.0 +mm. in diameter, the stipe about the same length. Rostafinski's +description is based upon a specimen found in Chili, South America, by +Bertero; it is recorded in this country by Peck. I find it in some +seasons quite abundant. The spores are very large, in some specimens +averaging 17 mic. + +6. BADHAMIA DECIPIENS, Curtis. Sporangia gregarious, sessile, globose, +oval or oblong, by confluence sometimes more elongated; the wall a +somewhat thickened and firm yellow or yellow-brown membrane, covered +with large, thick scales of lime, tawny to golden yellow or orange in +color. Capillitium of thick tubules, forming an open network, more or +less expanded at the angles; the tubules filled throughout with yellow +granules of lime. Spores globose, very minutely warted, lilac, 10-12 +mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood and bark. Sporangia .6-1.0 mm. in length by .6-.7 +mm. in thickness. My specimens were determined by Dr. George A. Rex by +comparison with a specimen from Curtis in the herbarium of the +Philadelphia Academy of Sciences. This species should not be confused +with what we have described as _Physarum serpula_. _Physarum +chrysotrichum_, B. & C., is no doubt the same thing. _Badhamia nitens_ +Berk., which is also golden yellow, has not yet been found in this +country; it will readily be distinguished from the present species by +its clustered spores. + +7. BADHAMIA PANICEA, Fr. Sporangia sessile, subglobose or oblong, more +or less irregular, gregarious; the wall a thin, pellucid membrane, +covered with large, irregular, very thick, white scales of lime. +Capillitium of thick tubules, forming a loose net-work of rather small +meshes, with wide expansions at the angles; the tubules filled with +white granules of lime, sometimes confluent toward the base of the +sporangium. Spores subglobose, very minutely warted, dark violaceous, +11-14 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, bark, leaves, etc. Sporangia .8-1.6 mm. in length, +with a thickness of .7-1.0 mm. This species appears to be rare; the only +specimens known to me in this country I have from Professor Thos. A. +Williams, of South Dakota; they are identical with European specimens +received from Lister. _Physarum paniceum_ Fries, S. M., III, p. 141; it +approaches _Physarum cinereum_ Batsch. + +8. BADHAMIA LILACINA, Fr. Sporangia globose or obovoid, sessile or +rarely substipitate, closely crowded together on a thin, brownish +hypothallus; the wall a firm, hyaline membrane, with a thick, smooth, +continuous outer-layer of lime, varying in color from gray-white or drab +to lilac and flesh color. Capillitium of very thick tubules, forming a +dense net-work of small meshes; the tubules stuffed with granules of +lime, which are white or colored somewhat as those in the wall, often +confluent in the center of the sporangium. Spores globose, minutely +warted, dark violaceous, 11-14 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on wood, leaves, mosses, etc. Sporangium .5-.7 mm. in diameter. +The outer crustaceous layer of lime on the wall crumbles and falls away, +as in some species of _Diderma_. The white form is _Diderma concinnum_ +B. & C.; the lilac or flesh-colored form is _Physarum lilacinum_ of +Fries, S. M., p. 141. I have seen it colored only white and drab. Under +a high magnifying power the sculpturing of the spores is seen to be +peculiar. + + +X. SCYPHIUM, Rost. Sporangium obovoid to oblong-obovoid, stipitate or +subsessile; the wall a thickened, brownish membrane, the surface +entirely naked or only the upper portion covered with granules of lime, +breaking up irregularly about the apex. Stipe variable in length, +arising from a common hypothallus and prolonged within the sporangium as +a columella. Capillitium of thick tubules, proceeding from numerous +points of the columella and forming a dense network; the tubules filled +with lime throughout their whole extent. Spores large, subglobose, dark +reddish-brown. + +This genus differs from _Badhamia_ by the columella which gives origin +to the capillitium. The sporangia in the species composing it, resemble +those of _Craterium_, and to this genus they are referred by Massee, but +the capillitium is that of _Badhamia_. + +1. SCYPHIUM RUBIGINOSUM, Chev. Sporangia gregarious, obovoid, stipitate; +the wall a thickened reddish-brown membrane, the upper part covered by a +thin layer of white granules of lime, the lower basal portion naked, +strongly venulose and more persistent. Stipe long, erect, reddish-brown, +expanding at the base into a brown hypothallus, prolonged within the +sporangium to more than half its height as a columella. Capillitium of +thick tubules, forming a dense net-work of small meshes; the tubules +stuffed with white granules of lime. Spores irregularly globose, +minutely warted, dark reddish-brown, 12-15 mic. in diameter. + +Growing on old wood, mosses, etc. Sporangia .6-.8 mm. in height by .5-.6 +mm. in diameter, the stipe from once to twice the height of the +sporangium. This is _Physarum rubiginosum_ Chevallier, _Flor de Paris_. +It is also _Craterium obovatum_ Peck. + +2. SCYPHIUM CURTISII, Berk. Sporangia oblong-obovoid, stipitate or +subsessile, usually growing in clusters; the wall a thick, firm, +reddish-brown membrane, venulose and reticulate, nearly destitute of +lime. Stipes variable, commonly very short, sometimes confluent, arising +from a brown hypothallus, prolonged within the sporangium to about half +its height. Capillitium of thick tubules, forming a dense network of +small meshes; the tubules stuffed with white granules of lime. Spores +irregularly globose, minutely warted, dark reddish-brown, 12-15 mic. in +diameter. + +Growing on old wood, leaves, grass, etc. Sporangium .4-.7 mm. in height +by .3-.4 mm. in diameter, the stipe often reduced to a mere point or +cushion on the hypothallus, and varying thence to nearly the length of +the sporangium. The sporangium is narrower than in the preceding +species, and the brown wall is usually without granules of lime. It is +_Didymium curtisii_, Berk. Rostafinski and Massee both preserve it +distinct from _S. rubiginosum_. See Plate XV. Fig. 73. + + +EXPLANATION OF PLATE XV. + +Fig. 64.--Physarum glaucum, Phillips, _a._ Sporangia × 5. _b._ +Sporangium × 90. _c._ Capillitium and spores × 500. + +Fig. 65.--Physarum serpula, Morgan, _a._ Plasmodiocarp × 5. _b._ Piece +of plasmodiocarp × 90. _c._ Capillitium and spores × 500. + +Fig. 66.--Fuligo violacea, Pers. _a._ Aethalium natural size. _b._ +Capillitium and spores × 500. + +Fig 67.--Fuligo flava, Pers. _a._ Portion of an aethalium × 5. _b._ +Capillitium and spores × 500. + +Fig. 68.--Fuligo cinerea, Schw. _a._ Portion of aethalium × 5. _b._ +Capillitium and spores × 500. + +Fig. 69.--Badhamia papaveracea, B. & Rav. _a._ Sporangia × 5. _b._ +Sporangium together with transverse section × 90. _c._ Capillitium and +spores × 90. _d._ Portion of capillitium with clustered spores × 500. + +Fig. 70.--Badhamia affinis, Rost. _a._ Sporangia × 5. _b._ Sporangia × +90, one with section showing capillitium. _c._ Capillitium and spores × +500. + +Fig. 71.--Badhamia decipiens, Curtis, _a._ Sporangia × 5. _b._ Sporangia +× 90. _c._ Section of sporangium showing capillitium. _d._ Capillitium +and spores × 500. + +Fig. 72.--Scyphium rubiginosum, Chev. _a._ Sporangia × 90. _b._ +Sporangia × 90, with section showing capillitium. _c._ Capillitium and +spores × 500. + +Fig. 73.--Scyphium curtisii, Berk. Sporangia × 5. + +[Illustration: The Journal of the Cin. Soc. Natural History. + + VOL. XIX. PLATE XV. + +MORGAN ON MYXOMYCETES.] + + + + +Transcriber's Notes + + +The Table of Contents and List of Illustrations was added; not part of +the original papers. + +Page 4 & Vol. XV, Plate III: 'Lycogola' changed to 'Lycogala'. + +Page 18: 'exigum' changed to 'exiguum'. + +Page 24: 'stiptiate' changed to 'stipitate'. + +Page 27: 'fasiculate' changed to 'fasciculate'. + +Page 35: 'A nactium' Unknown word. Unchanged. + +Vol. XVI, Plate I: 'Cookii' changed to 'Cookei'. + +Page 48: 'Stermonitis scintillans' changed to 'Stemonitis scintillans'. + +Page 84, 85(2): 'circumcissile' changed to 'circumscissile'. + +'Network' and 'net-work' are used interchangeably throughout. + +Use of accents is inconsistent, especially in illustrations. + +Links to Plates XIII, XIV and XV added in html version. + +Plates moved closer to referencing text. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Myxomycetes of the Miami Valley, +Ohio, by A. P. 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