A MONOGRAPH
OF
THE MYXOGASTKES.
BY
GEOKGE MASSEE.
jletfjuen & Co.,
18, BUKY STEEET, LONDON, E.G. 1892.
[All rights reserved.]
RICHARD CLAY & SONS, LIMITED, LONDON A BUN-HAY.
PEEFACE.
THE preparation of a monograph dealing with minute organ- isms, where the descriptions of the old authors are compara- tively or often absolutely valueless, depends on the facilities afforded for a critical examination of type or authentic speci- mens. In this respect I have enjoyed exceptional facilities. The splendid collection of Myxogastres in the Royal Herbarium, Kew, rich in types, and with numerous annotations by Rosta- finski, who examined the collection in detail, and which indeed served as the basis for his excellent monograph, also served me in like manner. To other workers in the same field in different countries I am also indebted for the loan or gift of valuable, and in some instances unique, specimens. To all who have in this or other ways assisted, I offer my sincere thanks.
Notwithstanding the excellent work initiated by the late Professor De Bary, and continued by Brefeld, Cienkowski, Woronin, Zopf, and others, the life-history of the majority of forms is still unknown ; hence all attempts at classification, as also the conception as to what constitutes a species, must be considered as tentative. When we are better aquainted with the main lines of development and lines of variation, also the conditions determining these variations, it is certain that the main factor in the discrimination of species will not be a one- twelfth oil-immersion objective.
GEO. MASSEE.
Kew, 1892.
A
MONOGRAPH OF THE MYXOGASTRES.
HISTORICAL.
NEGLECTING the allusions made to members of the present group by the pioneers of science, we find amongst the earliest of unmistakable accounts, an essay on the organism popularly known as "Flower of tan" — Fuligo varians, Host., by Marchand, a Frenchman.1 The account, as would be expected, savours of the mysterious; but it is evident from the name used, 'Eponge,' and from certain remarks made, that the author considered the organism as being most nearly allied to what are at present considered as members of the animal kingdom. From this period until within the last thirty years, the Myxo- gastres have almost universally been considered as fungi, and with but few exceptions regarded as belonging to the Gastromycetes.
Characteristic figures by early authors occur in the works of Micheli,2 Gleditsch,3 Schaeffer,4 Bulliard,5 Sowerby,6 and Schrader.7 Fries was the first to clearly grasp the leading features of the group to which he gave the name of Myxogastres, and defined as- follows, " Primitus mucilaginosi, fluxiles." 8 In
1 Sur une vegetation particuliere qui vient sur le tan, Hist, de Vacad. roy. des sciences, Paris (1727).
'2 Nov. Plant. Gen. (1729). 3 Meth. Fung. (1753).
4 Icon. Fung. (1762). 6 Hist. Champ, France (1791—1798).
6 Engl. Fung. (1797—1809). 7 Schrad., Nov. Gen. (1797).
8 Syst. Myc., iii. p. 67 (1829).
2 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
the Friesian arrangement of fungi, the Myxogastres constitute one of the two sub-orders of the Gastromycctes, a position that was perfectly justifiable when we remember that at the period in question, external resemblances were accepted as proofs of affinity ; and considering the advances made in almost every other group of minute organisms due to microscopic research, it is somewhat remarkable to find that until the year 1864 the classification of the Myxogastres was based almost entirely on naked eye, or at most, pocket-lens characters. At the date last named, the appearance of Professor De Bary's splendid work on the present group l completely revolutionized all the pre-exist- ing ideas as to structure and affinity, and has served as the basis upon which all subsequent writers have endeavoured to demon- strate kinship amongst the various sections comprising the group.
Affinities.
Respecting the nature and affinities of the Myxogastres, we find the following in Professor De Bary's last work on the subject — "I have, since the year 1858, placed the Myxomycetes under the name of Mycetozoa outside the limits of the vegetable kingdom, and I still consider this to be their true position." 2 This statement has been generally interpreted, and probably correctly, as signifying that De Bary looked upon his Mycetozoa as animals ; but it would perhaps have been wiser to have stated this belief point-blank, and to have chosen some other word than Mycetozoa to designate the group, thereby dispelling any lingering of doubt as to his meaning. The difficulty is not lessened by De Bary's introductory paragraph on the Mycetozoa, which is as follows — " The name Mycetozoa is here applied to a group of fungus-like organisms amounting at the present time to nearly three hundred species, the larger number of which are contained in the division Myxomycetes or Slime-Fungi (the Myxogastres of Fries), together with the smaller one distin- guished by Van Tieghem under the name of Acrasieae.
1 Die Mycetozoen (Sclileimpilze), (1864).
2 funyi Mycctozua and Bacteria; Engl. ed., p. 444,
A Monograph of the Myxogastres. 3
" t'he resemblance of the Mycetozoa to the Fungi is due partly to their mode of life and nutrition, partly to the close agree- ment in structure and biological characters between their organs of reproduction and the spores of Fungi. A spore-terminology corresponding to that of the Fungi will therefore be applied to the present group." l In the Myxogastres, the life of an indi- vidual consists, under normal conditions, of two very sharply defined stages; first, the vegetative phase, concerned with functions tending towards the well-being of the individual; second, the reproductive phase, concerned entirely with the continuation of the species. The above quotation not only shows that De Bary's reasons for placing the Myxogastres in the animal kingdom are derived entirely from the vegetative phase, but what is equally important to note, that the disparity between the reproductive phase in the Myxogastres and that exhibited by any of the lower groups of animals is so great, while "the close agreement in structure and biological cha- racters between their organs of reproduction and the spores of fungi " are so pronounced, that De Bary was compelled to adopt the terminology used by fungologists in describing all the parts belonging to the reproductive phase, and not only the spores ; such terms as sporangium, capillitium, columclla, &c., are used by fungologists for structures in fungi that are identical in function with the structures designated by the same names by De Bary in the Myxogastres.
Passing to the evidences of affinity afforded by the vegetative phase, we find De Bary's idea on this point expressed in the following quotation —
"The group of the Mycetozoa differs distinctly from the Fungi which have been the subject of the first part of this book in all such characteristics as do not belong to all organisms alike, and the descriptions already given of both kinds of plants render any further explanation of the point unnecessary ; their connection also with other known plants is still more remote. The difference would not be less decided if the Mycetozoa were without their remarkable movements, for such movements are
1 Tom. cit. p. 421.
4 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
observed in other vegetable cells which have not a "firm membrane. The characteristic mark of separation lies in the formation of plasmodia or aggregation of swarm-cells." l
We find in the above paragraph the reasons why the Myxo- gastres are placed outside the vegetable kingdom ; these reasons we further find to be two in number — one general, the other specific. Commencing with the general reason, " The group of the Mycetozoa differs distinctly from the Fungi ... in all such characteristics as do not belong to all organisms alike." In estimating the value of the above reason, it will be most satisfactory to accept De Bary's own idea as to what constitutes a standpoint for comparison, which is as follows — " We find it impossible to establish any strict homologies, and we are limited to the observation of resemblances in form, structure, and mode of life." 2 As stated above, the Myxogastres are so far differ- entiated as to have the vegetative and reproductive phases sharply defined, and it is customary, I believe, to take the sum of characters presented by loth phases, in determining affinities ; hence while admitting that reproduction is common to all organisms alike, I maintain that differences of degree in connection with reproduction, are also of value in determining affinities, and consequently cannot reconcile "the resemblance of the Mycetozoa to the Fungi is due partly to their mode of life and nutrition, partly to the close agreement in structure and biological characters between their organs of reproduction and the spores of Fungi " — (the italics are ours) — with " the group of the Mycetozoa differs distinctly from the Fungi . . . in all such characteristics as do not belong to all organisms alike" — (italics ours) — especially as De Bary admits that in such simple groups, our proofs of affinity are "limited to the observation of resemblances in forms, structure, and mode of life."
Second, or specific reason. — " The characteristic mark of separation lies in the formation of plasmodia or aggregation of swarm- cells."
To realize the true value of the two points, both presented by the vegetative phase, and considered by De Bary as of sufficient
1 Tom. cit. p. 443. 2 Tom. cit. p. 443.
A Monograph of the Myxogastres. 5
importance to place the Mycetozoa outside the vegetable kingdom, the formation of a plasmodium in the Myxomycetes, or the aggregation of swarm-cells in the Acrasieae, the two primary divisions of the Mycetozoa, it is necessary to commence with the germination of the spore. In the Myxomycetes, the spores on germination give origin to one, two, or more naked cells, which possess the power of movement due to the protrusion of pseudopodia or the presence of a cilium ; these cells are known as swarm-cells. The swarm-cells possess a nucleus, multiply by bipartition, and eventually coalesce to form a plasmodium in the following manner. After the production of numerous swarm-spores by repeated bipartition, little groups are formed by the close approach of two or more of these bodies; these groups often disperse again, but eventually the components of a group coalesce, and lose their individuality ; this coalescence and loss of individuality results in the formation of a small plasmodium, which, in some unknown way, possesses the power of attracting surrounding free swarm-cells ; these at once coalesce and add to the bulk of the plasmodium. The nuclei of the component swarm-cells retain their individuality in the plas- modium, the latter retaining the power of motion originally possessed by its components, and represents the vegetative phase of a Myxogaster. • The above is De Bary's conception of the formation of a plasmodium, to which may be added, in his own words — " Nuclei were not at first observed in the plasmodia. Cienkowski even stated expressly that the nuclei present in the swarm-cells disappear when they coalesce. But Schmitz and Strasburger have recently established the presence of numerous nuclei in the plasmodium, and it may be presumed that they are the persistent nuclei of the swarm-cells and products of their division." * The presence of a thick, colourless membrane surrounding the plasmodia in Lycogala, Arcyria punicea, and Stemonitis fusca has been noted by De Bary, who also found that in the last-named species, the inner and thicker portion of the envelope became blue with iodine. Under certain conditions unfavourable for active vegetative work>
1 Tom. cit. p. 425.
6 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
plasrnodia possess the power of passing into a temporary sclerotioid or resting stage ; the preliminaries for this condition are the breaking up of the protoplasm into innumerable roundish or polyhedric cells with an average diameter of from 25 — 40 /u.. In some species, as Fuligo and Didymium serpula, the cells become surrounded by a distinct, colourless membrane, which shows the reaction of cellulose with iodine and sulphuric acid or with Schulze's solution.
In the Acrasieae, the spores on germination give origin to ameboid swarm-cells, ciliated cells never being produced ; after undergoing repeated bi partitions, the swarm-cells form dense masses, but although crowded together, do not coalesce ; this crowding together without loss of individuality constitutes what De Bary terms, aggregation of swarm-cells.
From the above account we learn that the coalescence of naked, motile cells, or even the aggregation of naked motile cells without loss of individuality, is, from De Bary's standpoint, the proof that the Myxogastres are not plants.
Naked or primordial cells are as a rule motile ; in fact a considerable amount of motility is usually exhibited by proto- plasm when imprisoned in a cell-wall ; hence we may presume that motility, being so general, is not an important factor in the character that proves Myxogastres to be animals; in fact De Bary admits that the differences between the Mycetozoa and the Fungi " would not be less decided if the Mycetozoa were without their remarkable movements, for such movements are observed in other vegetable cells which have not a firm membrane." The Acrasieae show that the coalescence, with loss of individuality of the component cells, may be omitted from the character that separates the Myxogastres from plants; hence we find that the only point not neutralized by De Bary's own statements is that of naked cells; conse- quently we may, by following De Bary's reasoning, formulate the character that excludes the Myxogastres from the vege- table kingdom as follows — Cells naked during the entire vege- tative, period.
Notwithstanding the fact that the above definition covers
A Monograph of the Myocogastres. 7
the crucial point in De Bary's characteristic work of separation, which "lies in the formation of plasmodia or aggregation of swarm-cells," it will be well to treat individually, all the points embodied in the original, commencing with the coalescence of cells. This coalescence, and consequent loss of individuality of cells to form a common mass of protoplasm capable of spontaneous movement, is the leading characteristic of a plasmodium ; but it is an undoubted fact that motility is to a very considerable extent influenced by the presence or absence of a cell- wall, or to the relative plasticity of the cell-wall when present; and coalescence of protoplasm, even when cell- walls intervene, is highly characteristic of fungi, and has received differ- ent names depending on its supposed morphological or physio- logical functions ; it is sufficient to name " clamp-connections " characteristic of the vegetative hyphae of the Basidiomycetes ; and the complex irregular network formed by the vegetative hyphae of many of the forms included in the Hyphomycetes as being due to the fusion of portions of protoplasm originally distinct. In the above examples the component hyphae are septate ; but in the Mucorini, where the hyphae are entirely without septa, there is a still nearer approach to a plasmodium.
In the last-named group, the spore on germination gives origin to an intricately branched mycelium, the component branches of which eventually form a dense, irregular network, due to the numerous points at which coalescence of originally distinct branches has taken place. If single spores, picked up under a low magnifying power, on the point of a needle touched with glycerine, are sown on glass slips in a thin smearing of sterilized decoction of raisins, covered with large squares of thin glass sterilized by passing through the flame of a spirit-lamp, raised at one end by a strip of tracing-paper to prevent crushing the spore, and at once sealed up with cement, it will be found that in most cases, spores of the Hyphomycetes or Phycomycetes will germinate at once, and continue to grow until a considerable mass of mycelium is formed ; such preparations can be examined at any moment under high powers without loss of time, and the behaviour of the mycelium followed. A noteworthy feature
8 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
presented during the growth of the primary mycelium is the gradual tapering of the hyphae ; this tapering is of a two-fold nature; the main trunk, or first portion emitted by the spore produces secondary thinner branches, these in turn bear still thinner branches, and this production of successively thinner hyphae results in a complex structure, which may be compared to the branching of a tree, commencing with the trunk and ending with the youngest and thinnest ramifications. The second type of tapering is seen in the gradual attenuation of the component hyphae ; this is most conspicuous in the case of elongated, unbranched hyphae, which from a basal width of 8 — 10 IJL taper gradually towards the apex, which may not exceed 2 PL in width. If a spore of Mucor lateritius, a species met with on semi-putrid potatoes, be sown on a glass slip in a drop of sterilized decoction of decayed potato, and kept in a damp atmosphere under a small bell-jar, growth proceeds somewhat as described above ; a dense mycelium showing the two aspects of attenuation is developed ; and as growth proceeds an irregular reticulation is formed, due to the coalescence of originally distinct lateral branches. This coalescence is not confined to cases where two hyphae happen to meet in the ordinary course of growth, but in many instances, as described in detail by Professor Marshall Ward in the instance of a species of Botrytis,1 the hyphae attract each other, and may be deflected from their previous course through a right angle or even more. The peripheral hyphae usually elongate for some distance in straight lines, the unknown factor in connection with coalescence being apparently absent from the youngest portions, and only manifests itself at some distance behind the tips of the hyphae, where it possibly determines first the origin of lateral branches, and subsequently their direction. This yearning for coalescence is not common to all lateral branches. The hyphae possess a cell-wall but no transverse septa, hence the protoplasm is continuous throughout the intricate mycelium, and, as would be expected, the cell-wall is exceedingly thin and yielding, and becomes very pale blue with iodine, and very pale brownish-
1 A lily-diseuse. Antuds of Botany, vol. ii. pp. 319 — 378, 5 plates.
A Monograph of the Myxogastres. 9
purple with cellulose reagents. After the vegetative mycelium has acquired a certain amount of reserve material, one or more of the thickest portions give origin to yet thicker branches which grow erect ; each erect branch at length becomes dilated into a large sphere at its apex ; into this sphere a considerable amount of protoplasm, obtained from the vegetative mycelium, becomes concentrated, and retained by the development of a transverse septum at the base of the sphere where it passes into its support. After these preliminaries, the reproductive phase may be said to commence, the protoplasm undergoes differenti- ation, resulting in the separation of lime which appears in the form of a thin frosting outside the wall of the sphere or sporangium ; another portion of the protoplasm becomes differen- tiated into the broadly elliptical conidia or spores ; while a third portion of the protoplasm, which may be considered as of no value in the process of spore-making, remains in the form of very thin, irregular strands in what may be termed the intercellular spaces between the spores. Most species of the Phycomycetes and Mucorini pass through the above phases during their development, differing in minor points, as form of conidia, presence or absence of lime on sporangia, &c. The above description covers many points in the development of a typical member of the Myxogastres. The latter differ at the starting-point in the first product of germination, being more motile than in Mucor, after coalescence of the cells to form a plasmodinm; the latter usually behaves somewhat similar to the mycelium of Mucor, advance of the mass being effected by the protrusion of long tapering strands which at some distance behind the tips coalesce to form a dense, irregular network; every portion of a plasmodium, even the thinnest outlying strands, are furnished with a distinct, thin, yielding membrane, analogous at least to the membrane called the cell- wall, protect- ing the protoplasm in the Mucor mycelium ; the two membranes agree in origin, being secreted by the protoplasm ; both become blue with iodine, and pale dirty brownish-violet with " chlor-zinc iodide." The reproductive phase consists in the conversion of certain portions of the protoplasm into erect sporangia with the
10 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
apical portion usually more or less globose ; the membrane of the plasmodium is continued upwards to form the wall of the stem and sporangium, the protoplasm of the plasmodium passes into the newly formed sporangia, undergoes differentiation frequently resulting in the separation of lime which may form a crust outside the sporangial wall ; spores are differentiated, and generally a surplus portion of the protoplasm takes the form of a more or less complicated network mixed with the spores, and homologous with the strands described as being present in the sporangium of Mucor, inasmuch as both structures are made from a substance separated from protoplasm during spore- formation ; finally, the cell-wall of the spores of the Myxomycctes agrees with that of the spores of fungi in giving a cellulose reaction when young ; as differentiation of the wall proceeds, in common with the spores of fungi, mosses, and ferns, the cellulose reaction is no longer obtained, except perhaps in the inner layers. The above comparison between Mucor and the Myxoniycetes is not introduced with the view of showing close homologies, but to draw attention to what I consider may, at least, be accepted as a series of analogies, which, accepting De Bary's opinion, would, in the present connection, indicate affinities, as we find it formulated that in searching for affinities, "we find it impossible to establish any strict homologies, and we are limited to the observation of resemblances in form, structure, and mode of life."
I regret to say that I am not sufficiently familiar with the lower forms of animal life to indicate any group presenting an equal number of analogous points with the Myxomycetcs, as have been described above in the fungi belonging to the Mucorini, otherwise I should be too pleased to do so ; it is not my desire to endeavour to force the Myxogastres into filling a preconceived gap in the vegetable kingdom, but simply to analyze the reasons advanced in favour of their exclusion from the plant world ; personally it is not a matter of prime importance whether it be eventually shown that I have been a botanist or a zoologist. It is admitted by De Bary that the wall or membrane of plasmodia, the cell-walls of spores, and various other structures
A Monograph of the Myxogastres. 11
belonging to different orders of the Myxogastres, give a charac- teristic cellulose reaction, and more extended experiments were only required to show that the presence of cellulose during some or other phase of development is general in the Myxomycetes ; cellulose as a protective substance cannot be said to be so generally present as in phanerogams, neither is it so general in the fungi, hence the term fungus-cellulose. In the Acrasieae the stipes in many species consists of one or more rows of superposed cells having the walls composed of cellulose.
The presence of cellulose, according to De Bary, is the only character showing that the Myxogastres are in touch with the vegetable kingdom — " The Mycetozoa show only a slight agree- ment, either in the general course of their development or in the characteristic features of its separate stages, with organisms that are of undoubted vegetable origin ; whether they be fungi or plants other than fungi ; the agreement, with the exception of a few cases in which cellulose makes its appearance, is confined to phenomena which are common to all organized bodies."1
I cannot reconcile the above sweeping statement with the two following, first — in connection with affinities, "we are limited to the observation of resemblances in form, structure, and mode of life " ; second, " the resemblance of the Mycetozoa to the Fungi is due partly to their mode of life and nutrition, partly to the close agreement in structure and biological characters between their organs of reproduction and the spores of Fungi." One more point given by De Bary in support of the animal nature of the Myxogastres requires to be noticed. " It is obvious moreover according to our present knowledge that the Mycetozoa are the superior terminal member or the two terminal members of a series of forms or developments which commence elsewhere. The most highly differentiated sections of the group, the Calcareae, Trichiae, Lycogala, and others, give evidence of no close affinity with any more highly differentiated group ; in other words, like the Gastromycetes with which they were classed by earlier botanists, they do not connect with any group above
1 Torn. cit. p. 444.
12 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
them. Hence in inquiring after their affinities we must be content with searching for a possible connection with an in- ferior group, and for the simpler forms from which they have proceeded.
" When we seek for such a connection among the forms with which we are acquainted, we find it impossible to establish any strict homologies, and we are limited to the observation of resemblances in form, structure, and mode of life. Such a course of unprejudiced comparison leads us by a very short step to the naked ' Amoebae ' of the zoologists, especially in Biitschli's sense, as the starting-point, organisms with bodies having the amoeboid movements of the swarm-cells of the Myxomycetes, which multiply, as far we at present know, by successive biparti- tious without forming plasmodia, and which may pass singly and without aggregation or coalescence into states of rest not essen- tially different in their characteristics from those of the spores of the Myxomycetes." l
Undoubtedly the Myxogastres must be considered as a terminal group, and the very fact of this admission implies a certain amount of differentiation, in fact sufficient to give individuality to the group. I accept De Bary's reasoning as to the origin of the Myxogastres, and as an evolutionist am ready to extend the same reasoning to other groups, as having had a common origin from the lowest forms of life, where, owing to absence of differentiation, the ideas implied in the terms animal and vegetable respectively are not evolved, and I consider that the entire evidence as to the animal or plant tendency of any departure from this neutral starting-point consists of the aggre- gate tendency of the evolved features which collectively consti- tute the characteristics of the group under consideration ; and this tendency as manifested by the Myxogastres I consider to be in the direction of the vegetable kingdom, and more especially in the direction of the Fungi, for the following reasons, which, keeping in view the fact that we are dealing with a terminal group, and consequently can draw no comparisons from higher forms of the same type, " we find it impossible to establish any
1 Tom. cit. p. 443.
A Monograph of the Myxogastres. 13
strict homologies, and we are limited to the observation of resemblances in form, structure, and mode of life."
1. Frequent presence of cellulose in the general membrane protecting plasmodia, cell-walls of spores, sporangia, and walls enclosing the protoplasm in the sclerotioid or resting stage of plasmodia.
2. Presence of germ-pores in the cell-walls of the spores, of some species.
3. The frequent separation of lime from the protoplasm at the commencement of the reproductive phase.
4. In the frequent separation of a substance from the pro- toplasm during the period of spore formation, homologous with the substance separated during the same period in the Ascomy- cctes, Mucorini, &c. This substance in the Myxogastres forms the capillitium.
5. The agreement with many fungi in the contrivances for spore dissemination.
6. The production by free cell-formation of spores protected in the early stage with a wall of cellulose, which eventually becomes differentiated, and as stated by De Bary, "behaves towards reagents in a similar manner to cuticularized plant- cell-membranes and to spore-membranes as in the Fungi." l
7. Presenting analogy with undoubted members of the vegetable kingdom, as Hyclrodictyon, where the naked, motile swarm-cells coalesce to form a coenobium which eventually becomes invested with a membrane.
8. In the close affinity with the genus Ceratium, where we trace the sequence which leads to what is morphologically a mycelium furnished with transverse septa. In Ceratium the spores do not originate by free-cell-formation within a sporan- gium, but are produced after the manner of the spores of the Basidiomycetes or the conidia of the Hyphomycetes. The general course of development in all the species, so far as can be deter- mined from herbarium specimens, agrees with that of Ceratium hydnoides as described by Famintzin and Woronin,2 the specific
1 Tom. cit. p. 441.
2 Mem. Acad. Petersburg, XX, No. 3 (1873).
14 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
distinctions depending more especially on the mode of branching and colour. The point of interest in the present connection is the mode of spore formation. Without entering into details, the proto- plasm, immediately preceding spore formation, becomes arranged on the branches as a peripheral layer of cells enclosed in cell- walls, which, in the case of Ceratium hydnoides, give a cellulose reaction when young. Owing to local growth, the central por- tion of the free side of each cell grows outwards in the form of a slender elongated cylinder until it measures about 10 /tx in length by about 3 jx in diameter ; the next change consists in the expansion of the free end of this outgrowth which con- tinues until it assumes in C. hydnoides, a broadly elliptical form, about 10x6 — 7 /* in size; into this swollen apical portion the whole of the protoplasm then passes through the stalk from the parent cell, after which a transverse septum is formed in the stalk-like portion close up to its swollen apex, which eventually breaks away at the septum as a mature spore. In C. hydnoides the stalks persist after the spores have fallen away, each closed at the apex by the septum which formed the line of dehiscence, and the homology with the formation of conidia or spores in the Basidiomycetes is perfect. In each case we find a cell richly supplied with protoplasm giving origin by local growth to one or more thin spine-like processes, each of which becomes much enlarged at its apex ; into these enlarged portions all the proto- plasm from the mother-cell becomes concentrated and retained by the formation of a septum across the stalk close to the swollen apex, which eventually falls away at the septum as a ripe spore. The first appearance of a transverse septum being for the purpose of isolating a mass of protoplasm concentrated for purposes directly concerned with reproduction suggests the idea, if nothing more, that the Myxogastres are in touch with other acknowledged members of the vegetable kingdom. The remaining species of Ceratium show the same mode of spore formation, but in C. arbuscula, B. and Br., a very fine much- branched species, the thin outgrowth bearing the spore at its apex is much larger than in C. hydnoides, and the transverse septum is even more distinct, while in C.filiforme, B. and Br., the
A Monograph of the Myocogastres. 15
slender stalk-like outgrowth measures from 18 — 20 ft in length, and after having become inflated at the apex and absorbing the protoplasm from the parent cell, is cut off from the latter, first by a septum close to the parent cell ; this is followed by the formation of a second septum close to the base of the swollen apical portion or spore.
9. In the coalescence of the naked cells to form a plasmodium being the result of conjugation between the component cells, thus presenting features in common with the primitive forms included in the group Zygosporeae. The reasons for the above statement are as follows — The frequent occurrence of forms intermediate between well-marked, but closely allied species, suggested the idea of hybridity, especially as the supposed hybrids varied in their degree of morphological agreement with one or other of the two species between which they were intermediate. With the object of ascertaining whether hybrids were formed in nature, the young plasmodia of Physarum leucopus and Physarum leucophaeum were so placed that the plasmodia of the two became blended together at the point of contact; this experiment resulted in the formation of sporangia intermediate between the two species from the blended portion of plasmodium, whereas sporangia typical of the two rspecies respectively were produced from those portions of plasmodia farthest removed from the point of contact of the two plasmodia. Without entering into minute specific details, it will be suf- ficient to state that Physarum leucophaeum has a dark-brown stem and a thin capillitium with few knots of lime, whereas Physarum leucopus has a white stem and stout capillitium with numerous large knots of lime. The hybrid has a white stem and a slender capillitium with few knots of lime. In the Kew herbarium there is a specimen collected at Highgate by Dr. Cooke, which agrees exactly with the hybrid described above, and which appears to have specially attracted the attention of Mr. Arthur Lister, who in going over the collection of Myxo- gastres, made a careful drawing of the specimen, adding, " Physarum leujcopbaeum with a pale stalk." I have also pro- duced a hybrid from two species of Trichia. Mr. Harold
16 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Wingate, of Philadelphia, sent along with other Myxogastres, a specimen with the following comment —
" No. 25. Is the teratological result of an amour between the piasmodium of Arci/ria punicea and that of Arcyria cinerea. It gives a point as to the absolute autonomy of plasmodia."
In reply to further inquiry respecting the supposed hybrid, Mr. Wingate writes, "The Arcyria hybrid is not doubtful. Two patches of Arcyria, punicea and cinerea, grew on the same log, side by side ; where the two came together the plasmodia fused and produced the result I sent." The specimen is extremely interesting, different individuals varying to a con- siderable extent in the relative resemblance to one or other of the parent forms. For the production of a hybrid, it is assumed that conjugation — or its physiological equivalent — had taken place between the cells of the two parent forms. The significance of the possibility of hybrid forms occurring in nature may eventually qualify to some extent present ideas as to " species."
•
Zopf * has recently investigated the Myxogastres, more especi- ally from the biological side, but so far as I can ascertain, does not express himself definitely as to their animal or vegetable nature.
Mr. Saville Kent 2 espoused De Bary's view as to the animal nature of the Myxogastres, and suggested their affinity with the sponges. The two principal reasons given as favouring their exclusion from the vegetable kingdom are — (1) first product of spore germination, bodies capable of spontaneous movement; (2) presence of crystals of lime in substance of cell-walls. The first objection proves nothing at all, and the second, if any- thing, how little Mr. Kent knew about plant morphology.
Dr. R. Hesse has recently announced 3 that the members of
1 Die Pilzthiere oder Schleimpilze. Schenck's Haudb, der £ot., vol. iii.
8 A Manual of the Infiworia.
3 Bot. Centralbl, xxxviii. (1889), pp. 518-20, 553-7.
A Monograph of the Myxogastres. 17
the Tuleraceae and the Elaphomycetae originate as masses of swarm-cells, which after passing through various phases, assume the well-known ascigerous form, and that these groups, if kept in the fungi at all, must be placed with the Mycetozoa. He further considers that the typical members of the Hymenoyastreae and the Lycoperdeaccae present similar characteristics in the earliest condition. If corroborated, the above statement will show how imperfect and superficial has been all previous work on these groups.
The following remarks by Mr. A. Lister are considered by the author as favouring the animal nature of the Myxogastres ; but as usual, the evidence is afforded entirely by the vegetative phase, and consequently still much in -touch with their aquatic progenitors, the Flagellatae, whereas the individuality of the Myxogastres, as it appears to me, is to be found in the repro- ductive phase, and further, the individuality is obviously due in main to the change from an aquatic to an aerial habitat. In all probability the sexual method by conjugation was the one followed by the aquatic primitive forms, and if so, we find an agreement more or less pronounced with the ferns, where the prothallus, the sexual organ of reproduction, is structurally in touch with the aquatic forms from which this group is supposed to have evolved, whereas the truly aerial spore-pro- ducing form is the portion that gives most individuality to the ferns.
"At a meeting of the Linnean Society in April 1889, I described the mode of feeding which I had observed in the swarm-cells of Stemonitis fusca. I have since been able to watch the same process in the swarm-cells of several other species. Those of Pcrichaena corticalis afforded an interesting instance, because of the great activity of the bacilli which abounded in the preparation, and as showing the voracity of a few individual swarm-cells.' One was noticed which already contained four vacuoles stuffed with bacilli, probably six to eight in each. It was observed to throw out several long pseudopodia from the posterior region, to which active bacilli
became attached. In the course of twelve minutes four were
c
18 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
seen, under a Beck's y^th immersion lens, to be drawn in and conveyed into freshly formed vacuoles.
"I have repeatedly seen bacteria taken by swarm-cells of Chondrioderma diffbrme in the manner above described, and it would appear that bacteria form their principal food. On one occasion I had a favourable opportunity for observing the digestion of bacilli on account of the quiescent state assumed by a swarm-cell, which remained with little active movement for an hour and a half. On the previous evening I had placed some spores of CJumtlriodcrma difforme in water under a thin cover-slip ; on the following morning swarm-cells were in great abundance in the pure water. I introduced a drop containing multitudes of bacilli from a glass in which a piece of Stcreum hirsntiim had been soaking for several days. In a short time a number of the swarm-cells were seen, attended by bacilli, some of which were attached to their pseudopodia, and some were already enclosed in vacuoles. 'I'he swarm-cell in question had taken an amoeboid form, occasionally producing and again withdrawing the cilium, while from time to time thin pseudo- podia were extended from the opposite end, but more frequently the posterior region expanded into a somewhat funnel-shaped mouth. Into such an expansion a stout bacillus, about 2 /u long, was seen to enter; in the course of a few seconds it was enclosed with a noticeable amount of water, by the folding over of the lips of the funnel, and conveyed into the body-substance ; a few minutes after, another bacillus was taken in, much in the same manner, but no globule of water was introduced. Ten minutes later a large bacillus, 4 p. x 0'75 n, was caught by a prolongation of one side of the funnel, and in the course of half a minute a tube-like extension of protoplasmic substance invested the bacillus, and it was drawn in. It remained for a short time in direct contact with the granular matter of the body, but was soon surrounded by an oval vacuole. The swarm-cell continued inactive for nearly an hour, when it assumed an extended form, and shortly after swam away with rapid jogging movement. Constant observation was maintained during this hour, and the bacilli were seen gradually to dissolve
A Monograph of the Myxogastres. 19
in the vacuoles in which they lay, until at length all trace of them had disappeared together with their containing vacuoles, and only the contracting vacuole remained in the homogeneous granular substance of the swarm-cell.
"At the commencement of the observation this granular protoplasm was much more turbid than at the close, when it was remarkably hyaline ; the swarm-cell appeared also to have increased in size, though it was difficult to determine by measurement in consequence of its changing form. No rejec- tion of refuse matter took place while the observation lasted.
" In the same preparation I watched a swarm-cell creeping in a straight line with the strange snail-like movement, so difficult to understand. In its course it came to a small group of motion- less bacilli lying against the glass; immediately it changed its linear form and spread itself out, covering four of the bacilli. In about two minutes it resumed its former shape and movement and crept away, carrying off two of the bacilli in vacuoles.
" These observations seem to confirm the opinion of De Bary, that the organisms under consideration should be classed among the animal rather than the vegetable kingdom, which led him in 1858 to adopt the term Mycetozoa in place of that of Myxomycetes for the group. When a creeping swarm-cell is watched, with the projecting cilium placed immediately in advance of the nucleus, which never shifts its position, and when, as in the last-mentioned case, we note the manner in which the vibrating extremity of the cilium appeared to detect the presence of the bacilli before the swarm-cell spread itself over them ;. again, when we observe the creeping action suddenly change, and raising itself from the decumbent attitude, with a few lashing strokes of the cilium the swarm-cell releases its foot-hold and swims away; and when to these remarkable movements is added the process of ingestion which has been described; we cannot but feel the force of the conclusion at which De Bary arrived, if indeed a distinct line of demarcation between the two kingdoms can be said to exist." x
The brilliant and pure colours presented by the plasmodia of
1 Notes on Clwndrioderma difforme and other Mycetozoa; Ann. Bot., Vol. IV. No. xiv. (May 1890), pp. 281—298, 1 pi.
20
A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
the Myxogastres are very remarkable; their significance is at present unknown.
The following list of colours observed is taken from Mr. A. Lister's paper, " Notes on Chondrioderma difforme and other Mycetozoa" l
Species.
Amaurochaete atra Arcyria cinerea ...
„ ferntginea
„ incarnata
„ nutans (buff variety)
)> nutans (red variety,)
„ punicea ... Badhamia piimcea
„ utricidaris Brefeldia maxima Chondrioderma difforme
„ Michelii
„ spuinarioides Clathroptychium mujulosum Comatriclia Friesiana ...
„ typhina ... Cornuma mttallica Craterium aureum
„ leiicocephahnn ...
„ vulgare ......
Cribraria argillacea
„ aurantiaca Diachaea leiwopoda Dictydium cernutim Uidymiiim claims
„ dubium ... ( = D. Listeriy Mass.)
„ microcarpoit,
„ squamidositm ... Enteridium olivacewn ... Ftdigo varians ... HemUircyi-ia mibiformis Lamproderma iridea (Cke.) Lycogala epidendmm Phyaarum compression ...
„ leucopluieum
„ leucojnts Reticularia lycoperdon ... Si>umaria alba ... Stemonitis femtginea . . .
.
Tilmadoclie mutabilis 7V/ liia ajfinis „ fallax oario
Colour of Plasmodium. yellowish white, greyish white, rose, white, white, white, white.
greyish white, orange yellow, pure white.
white to orange yellow. opaque white, watery white, rose.
watery white, watery white, colourless, lemon yellow, yellow, yellow.
lead-coloured in rising sporangia, sap green, white.
purple in rising sporangia, grey, colourless.
brownish grey.
watery white.
rose.
yellow.
purple in rising sporangia.
colourless.
rose.
greyish whit-\
watery white to greenish.
opaque white.
white.
white.
lemon yellow.
white.
yellow.
pure white.
white and rose.
white.
1 Ann. Bot, Vol. IV. No. xiv. (1890).
A Monograph of the Myxogastres. 21
The plasmodiutn of most species inhabiting dead leaves is discoloured by foreign matter before the change to sporangia takes place.
The foregoing remarks may be summarized as follows —
1. The Myxogastres, as stated by De Bary, appear to have originated from a primitive group of aquatic organisms, the Flaydlatae.
2. The sequence of differentiation which gives individuality to the group, is almost entirely confined to the reproductive phase, and follows in many important points, the lines of development observable in the Fungi.
3. The subordinate position occupied by the Fungi and the Myxogastres in the general evolution of the vegetable kingdom may be traced to the absence of chromatophores. The lichen- forming fungi have succeeded in correcting this fundamental omission in an indirect manner.
4. There is no evidence in favour of the supposition that the Myxogastres are degenerated members of the vegetable kingdom, whereas the idea that fungi originated by differentiation from chlorophyll-bearing plant ancestors is generally admitted.
5. The Myxogastres with allied forms included by Zopf differ from all known members of the vegetable kingdom in having the component cells naked, or without a cell-wall, during the entire vegetative phase.
CLASSIFICATION.
In addition to the Myxogastres as defined in the present work, other smaller groups, as the Acrasieae of Van Tieghem ; the Monadineae of Cienkowski, &c., are supposed to possess certain important characters in common with the Myxogastres, and have been by some authors united into one group.
The following outlines of the various schemes of classification will indicate the views of affinity as proposed from time to time.
The term Mycetozoa as already explained, was first used by De Bary,1 and in his latest work on the subject this name is retained as follows : —
1 Die Mycetozocn, Zeitschriftf, wiss. Zoologie, Bd. x. 1859.
22 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
MYCETOZOA.
I i
Swarm-cells coalescing to Swarm-cells becoming
form a plasmodium. aggregated, but not
= MYXOMYCETES. coalescing to form a
plasmodium. — ACRASIEAB.
Cienkowski's Nuclcariae and Vampyrellae along with such genera as Bursella, Protomyxa, Myxastrum, Manas, Monadop.us, Pseudospora, Colpodella, and Plasmodiophora are considered by De Bary as " doubtful Mycetozoa " for the following reasons. " I here exclude from the ranks of the true Mycetozoa a few forms or groups of forms, some of which have been occasionally mentioned in the preceding sections. Those forms, so far as they are known, have many points of resemblance with the Mycetozoa, but either our knowledge of them is imperfect, or else they depart so far in certain points from the typical Myxomycetes and Acrasieae, that it is better to leave their position in the system for the present undetermined." l
Although De Bary clearly indicated that the existing classifi- cation of the Mycetozoa was very imperfect, being the outcome of pocket-lens observations on mature forms, and as above indicated, pointed out a scheme in accordance with the modern system of research, yet, lacking time, he never completed all the details necessary for a thorough revision of the group. This was done however by Dr. Rostafinski, a student of De Bary's, and as at least some of Rostafinski's important work on this subject was done by Rostafinski in De Bary's laboratory at Strassburg, we may presume that the general scheme was more or less inspired by De Bary.
Rostafinski confined his attention to the group Myxomycetes as defined by De Bary, and this group he calls Mycetozoa, thus using the same name in a narrower sense than De Bary, who included the Acrasieae that do not form a plasmodium, and in his Monograph 2 recognized two primary divisions — EXOSPOIIEAH,
1 fiiinji Mycetozoa u>ul Bacteria, Engl. ed., p. 446.
2 Monyrajia tilvzoivce, Paris, 1875 (in PolUh).
A Monograph of the Myxogastres. 23
having the spores produced externally on slender sporophores, a feature met with only in the genus Ceratium ; and ENDOSPCtoEAE, having the spores produced in sporangia. In the second " Appendix " to the Monograph, amongst other changes in the classification, the EXOSPOREAE division is omitted altogether, and the Endosporous division alone retained. In Rostafinski's classification the two primary divisions are founded on the colour of the spores as seen under the microscope by transmitted light ; each primary division is further divided into two sections determined by the presence or absence of a capillitium as shown in the following arrangement —
MYCETOZOA.
ENDOSPOREAE.
AMAUROSPOREAE. LAMPROSPOREAE.
Spores violet or brownish- Spores yellow or brownish,
violet. never violet.
ATRICHAE. TRICHOPHORAE. ATRICHAE. TRICHOPHORAE.
Von Tieghen uses the name Myxow^cetes in a broader sense than De Bary's Mycetozoa, and arranges the groups as follows: — l
MYXOMYCETES. THALLUS.
Unicellular. Plnricellular.
without a plasmodium.
= PLASMODIOPHOREAE.
J
Cells fusing to form a plasmodium.
cells aggregated but not fusing
to form a plasmodium.
= ACRASIEAE.
Spores produced in Spores produced externally.
a sporangium. =CERATIEAE.
= ENDOMYXEAE.
1 Traite de Botanique, p. 992 (1884).
24 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Zopf s Mycetozoa include many forms that do not corne within De Bary's conception of the Mycetozoa as already defined. The following illustrates the primary divisions as adopted in his latest work.1
A. MONADINEAE.
Mostly aquatic, partly parasites ; resting cysts are usually formed.
I. Monadineac azoosporcae. Vampyrelleae ; Bursellineae ; Monocystaccae.
II. Monadincae zoosporeae. Pseudosporeae ; Gymnococcaceae ; Plasmodiophoreae.
B. EUMYCETOZOA.
Aerial. Never parasites ; plasmodia always present, generally well developed ; fructification generally well developed.
I. SOROPHOREAE.
Guttulincae ; Didyosteliaceae.
II. ENDOSPOREAE.
a. Peritricheae.
Clathroptychidccac ; Cribrariaccae.
/3. Endotricheae. * Stcreonemcae. Calcariaceae ; AmaurocJiaetaceae.
* * Caloncmeae.
Trichiaccae ; Arcyriaceae ; Rcticidariaccac ; Liccaceae ; Pcri- chaenaccae.
III. EXOSPOREAE.
In Raunkier's Myxomycdes Daniae2 the following classification is proposed—
1 Die Pilzthiere oder Sclileinipike (Schenk's Haiulbiich der BotanUt, ill Encyld. der Natunvissciusc}Mftcn\ 1884.
2 Botanisk Tiddskript, 17 Bind. (1888).
A Monograph of the Myxogastres. 25
A. Capillitiura absent.
I. HOMODERMEAE.
Liceaceae. (Tululina, Lindlladia.) II. HETERODERMEAE.
Clathroptychaceae. (Enteridium, ClathroptycMum^ Gribrariaceae. (Cribraria, Dictydium.)
B. Capillitium present.
III. CCELONEMEAE.
Arcyriaceae. (Perichaena, Laclmobolus, Arcyria, Cor-
nuvia, Lycogala.} Trichiaceae. (Hemiarcyna, Trichia.")
IV. STEREONEMEAE.
Physaraceae. (Badhamia, Physarum, Tilmadoche, Fuligo,
Leocarpus, Craterium.} Didymiaceae. (Chondrioderma, Lepidoderma, Didynmim,
Spumaria.}
Stemonitaceae. (I/amproderma, Enerthenema, Ancyro- phorus, Comatricha, Stemonitis, Brefeldia, Reticularia.') The Myxomycetes are divided by Scliroter1 into three prin- cipal groups as follows —
A. Mature fructification consisting of a mass of free spores. * Saprophytes; the amoeboid bodies unite in masses, but
do not coalesce = ACRASIEAE.
* * Parasitic in the interior of living cells, forming in the known instances, a true plasmodium = PHYTO-
MYXINEAE.
B. Spores formed in the interior of sporangia, or on the
outside of discoid or columnar fructifications = MYXO- GASTRES.
At the close of the vegetable period, the passage of the motile plasmodium into the stationary reproductive condition is abrupt, anc1 takes place as follows; the surface of the plasmodium becomes elevated into one or usually many protuberances, the original investment of the plasmodium is continuous over these
1 Englor u. Prantls' Naturl. Pflanzenfam., 36 Leif., von Y. Schroter, 1889.
26 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
protuberances into which the whole of the protoplasm passes, leaving behind the remainder of its pellicle attached to the substratum, and known as the hypotliallus. When these protuberances, which may be sessile or stipitate, are symmetrical and individually distinct, they are called sporangia; when sporangia are irregular in form, usually veinlike and creeping, the term plasmodiocarp is used ; finally, when the sporangia are densely aggregated, so that their individuality disappears to a greater or less extent, an aethlium is produced. The three conditions are connected by intermediate links. Aethalia are most frequently sessile on a broad base, as in Tiibulina cylindrica and Enteridivm olivaccum, but stipitate aethalia are not un- common, especially in the Trichiaceae, where the transition from typical sporangia to aethalioid forms in many species is very instructive.
As previously stated, the late Professor De Bary was the first to show, by his admirable researches on the morphology and physiology of the Myxogastres, that the systematic arrange- ment then in vogue was no longer tenable, owing to the fact that it was founded on analogies rather than affinities; and although at the present day it must be admitted that, within the group, affinities are far from being settled, yet, the appear- ance of Dr. Rostafinski's Monograph based on De Bary's re- searches, gave a fresh impetus to the study, and showed in a masterly manner, that well-marked morphological features, far beyond the ken of pocket-lens revelation, could be utilized in connection with the systematic disposition of the members of the group. Among the essentials still lacking for an approxi- mately correct classification are more especially — amount of variability, as also its direction in the various sections ; the relative value of such structures as the columella, capillitium, sporangial, aethalioid and plasmodiocarp forms; the presence or absence of lime, as also its amorphous and crystalline condition as presented in different sections ; and finally, what is undoubt- edly of primary importance, a complete knowledge of the life- history of at least the representative species of each section ; and although complete life-histories might not in all cases be
A Monograph of the Myxogastres. 27
possible, yet in so difficult a subject, the modus operandi alone would enable others to follow along the same lines. In the present state of knowledge, the markings usually present on the epispore appear to be constant within narrow limits, are often very characteristic, and of value as one factor in the discrimina- tion of what we at present consider to be species, nevertheless I wish to express the strongest dissent to species founded on spore characters alone, or indeed on any one, character. Rostafinski was the first to use spore characters in a specific sense. It is important to bear in mind, that the apparent nature of spore ornamentation depends entirely on the amount of magnifying power used; the complex epispore of Trichia affinis appears only as a confused series of minute irregular projections under a quarter-inch objective, consequently there is no absolute char- acter in the spore unless a uniform magnifying power is agreed upon. The objective used in determining the nature of the epispore as described in the present work is a TV oil immersion, which gives a magnifying power of 1200 diameters. So far as the synonymy is concerned, I can only repeat in substance what I have written on a previous occasion in connection with the same subject. I have not included the synonymy further back than Rostafinski' s Monograph, unless justified by the presence of type or authentic specimens. Rostafinski has given syno- nyms dating from the time of Micheli (1729), but on referring to the earlier descriptions, I realize my weakness, in not being able to reconcile the wonderfully brief descriptions, and equally crude drawings, with modern species, which in many instances require a magnifying power of 1000 diameters for their deter- mination, hence I wish to be clearly understood that the synonyms headed " Rostafinski's Synonyms," are copied from Rostafinski's Monograph without any attempt at corroboration. I feel certain that nearly one-third of Rostafinski's work would not have been sacrificed to synonyms unless they mean some- thing more than I have been able to discover, hence I have not felt justified in ignoring them altogether.
28 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
MYXOGASTRES (FRIES).
MYXOGASTRES, Fries, Syst. Myc., iii. p. 67 (1829) ; Schroeter, Kr. Fl. Schles., Vol. iii. p. 98.
MYXOMYCETES, Wallr., Fl. Crypt., ii. p. 333 (1833) ; Cooke, Brit. Myx., p. 1 ; Raunk, Myx. Dau., p. 20 ; Sacc., Syll., Vol. vii. pt. i. p. 323.
MYCETOZOA, De Bary (Die Mycetozocn, 1864); Rost. (Mon. Sluzowce) (in part).
PILZTHIERE, Zopf, in Schenk's Handb. der Hot., Vol. iii. (1884) (in part).
Consisting during the entire vegetative period of an accumula- tion of naked cells forming a plasmodiiim possessed of the power of movement, and invested with an imperfectly differentiated, yielding membrane. This plasmodium at length becomes trans- formed into sporangia containing numerous spores which form a powdery mass at maturity. First product of spores on germination either ciliated zoosporcs or amoeboid cells, which after repeated bipartition and conjugation, combine to form a plasmodium.
The species are usually aerial, the plasmodium stage being passed in rotten wood or amongst decaying vegetable matter, and coming to the surface only to form the sporangia ; never- theless several species have been observed to pass the whole of their existence under water. The sequence from the aquatic to the aerial condition may frequently be seen in the same batch when developing on logs that are partly submerged.
The most pronounced feature in the evolution of the Myxo- gastres is in connection with spore dissemination, and the following arrangement is based on the relative development of the capillitium, which is seen in its most perfect form in the genera Trichia and Arcyria. In the Gastromycetes I have shown else- where J that the sequence of evolution all tends towards securing in the most efficient manner, the dissemination of the spores ; commencing with the subterranean genera Rhizopogon and
1 A Monograph of the British Gastromycetes. Ann Bot., Vol. iv. pp. 1—103 (4 plates).
A Monograph of the Myxogastres. 29
Hymcnogaster, where the spores are liberated only by the decay of the plant without any apparent morphological pro vision's, for their dispersion, we trace, as the above ground genera appear, the gradual evolution of the capillitium through such genera as Diploderma and Sderoderma, until in Lycoperdon we find the highly specialized hyphae forming the capillitium effecting at maturity the rupture of the peridium, and consequent disper- sion of the spores. This phase is the most perfect, so long as dispersion is effected by mechanical methods, but in the Phal- loideae we find the mechanical method superseded by a totally different idea ; brilliant colours, usually combined with a strong odour, and the presence of a sweet substance, bid for the visits of insects, which in return disperse the spores.- In the Myxo- gastres the mechanical method of spore dispersion is the most perfect condition attained, as illustrated by the rough, elastic capillitium of many species of Arcyria. The above allusion must not be interpreted as implying relationship between the Gastromycetes and the Myxogastres ; in fact I see in this point of agreement no more proof of affinity than exists between the Phalloideae and those flowering plants that make use of the same announcements to insects, in the form of colour, scent, and honey in connection with pollination. I consider the Myxogas- tres as illustrating one of the earliest known attempts at differentiation in the direction that has eventually resulted in the mass of organisms constituting the vegetable kingdom, but having originated from the Flagellatae, a group more in touch with the animal side of life, the work of developing individuality has been slow, as illustrated by the tardy appearance of cellu- lose cell-walls, which, as would be expected, is most complete in the newly evolved reproductive phase, itself to a great extent the outcome of a gradual change of environment from aquatic to aerial — but the radical mistake, after having adopted the plant line of development, consisted in the non-development of chro- matophores, and retention of the animal mode of nutrition, which in the plant world means parasite or saprophyte. The fungi, a later group, differentiated from ancestors that had already evolved the leading plant characteristics, including cell-
30 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
walls, chlorophyll, starch, hence in this respect are more typical plants than the Myxogastres ; but in the fungi the check to pro- gress was due to the degeneration of chromatophores, already evolved by their ancestors, whereas in the Myxogastres the check was due to their inability to differentiate these essentials.
MYXOGASTRES.
Order. PERITRICHEAE.
Wall of sporangium not incrusted with lime; capillitium absent or formed from wall of sporangium.
Sub-Order. Tulmlinae. Wall of sporangium not perforated. Sub-Order. Cribrariae. Wall of sporangium perforated.
Order. COLUMELLIFEUAE.
Wall of sporangium without lime ; capillitium originating from a central, usually elongated columella.
Sub-Order. Stcmonitac. Capillitium springing from every part of an elongated columella.
Sub-Order. Lamprodemnae,. Capillitium springing from the apical portion of a short or elongated columella.
Order. LITHODERMEAE.
Wall of sporangium with an external deposit of lime; capillitium present. »
Sub-Order. Didymeae. Threads of capillitium without lime. Sub-Order. Physarae. Capillitium containing lime.
Order. CALOTRICHEAE.
Wall of sporangium without an external deposit of lime ; capillitium present, not springing from a columella.
Sub-Order. Ti'ickcac. Threads of capillitium free, simple or branched, not anastomosing to form a network.
Sub-Order. Arcyriae. Threads of capillitium either attached by one end with the free tips more or less branched, or combined to form an irregular network.
The following diagrammatic arrangement is an attempt to illustrate my ideas of relationship between the several orders.
The bracketed generic names represent the points of contact
A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
31
between respective orders, and the names in italics to the right and left indicate those genera that illustrate the maximum of development characteristic of the orders to which they are respectively attached.
Chondrioderma.
Badhamia.
. .LlTHODERMEAE
Stcnumitis. I
/ Diachaea. \ \ Lamproderma. /
COLUMELLIFERAE
JZnerthonema.
Cribraria.
;Siphotyehium.\ Tubulina. )
.PERITRICHEAE._.
Dictydium.
Trichia.
/ Clathroptychium. ' \ Perichaena.
CALOTKICHEAE _
Arcyria.
In each order we find the special characteristic idea evolving through a sequence of genera, the terminal one not connecting with any higher order, hence the special feature terminates abruptly within the order where it originated, and it is invari- ably in some comparatively undifferentiated genus near the initial point of each order that we meet with the suggestion of a new line of evolution, which at its maximum of development, constitutes the characteristic feature of the order immediately
32 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
in advance of the one from which it emanated in an incipient condition; hence in the Peritricheae, starting with the genus Tubulina, the marked characteristic of the order — a perforated sporangial wall — evolves gradually through Protodermium to Dictydium, where it attains its highest phase of development, and then terminates abruptly ; whereas in Enteridium, a com- paratively primitive genus, we get a transition from slightly perforated walls to a complete breaking up of their substance into an irregular network, which leads by degrees to the central columella and capillitium characteristic of the Columclliferae.
PERITRICHEAE.
The present order includes the most primitive types met with in the Myxogastres, illustrated by such genera as Tubulina, of which the plasmodiocarp condition, representing a plasmodium covered by a common cortex, is the lowest phase ; when the substance of the plasmodiocarp becomes broken up into smaller portions by special walls, an aethalium is produced, and finally, by the gradual isolation of the components of an aethalium we get the sporangium or most highly specialized form of repro- ductive organ, characteristic of the higher sections; but we everywhere meet with plasmodiocarp and aethalioid conditions, proving the comparative instability of the acquired sporangial phase. In the present order we learn that the primitive idea in connection with spore dissemination was that of modifying, or rather differentiating, the sporangial wall. The original function of the wall was protective, as illustrated in the genus Tulnlina, where we find this to be its only function, there being no provision for spore diffusion other than that brought about by the decay of the wall, which does not take place readily, and the subsequent dispersion of the spores by wind or rain. Passing on to such genera as Enteridium and Clathroptychium, we find the sporangial wall yet performing, as it continues to do in every section, the function of protection, and remaining intact until the spores are fully differentiated; but in these genera certain portions of the wall have become specially
A Monograph of the Myxogastres. 33
thickened, and at the period of maturity, the thickened portions are persistent, while the remaining portions of the wall dis- appear, and as tins thickening is usually of. a determinate nature, and utilized as a generic factor, we meet with the small, fairly regular openings in the lateral walls presented by one of the members of the genus Enteridium, or the still larger openings of Clathroptychium ; but, although the modification is a step in the right direction, owing to the fact that the species constituting the two genera named retain the aethalioid con- dition, the new idea is of but little practical value ; and it is only when we come to Cribraria, the components of Avhich for the most part have reached the condition of forming small detached plasmodia, each only sufficiently large to form a single spor- angium, that we realize the value of the perforated sporangial wall, which, other things being equal, is better than the sealed up, entire sporangium, inasmuch as at the moment the spores are mature, there is a chance of being removed from the sporangium by wind or rain ; but in Cribraria the stem, although usually elongated, is rigid, and it is in the genus Didydium that arrangements for spore diffusion from a perforated sporangium is most perfect. .In this genus the thickened, permanent portions of the sporangium are arranged in the form of ribs radiating from the base and converging again at the apex, being connected by very thin, transverse bars, forming a hollow sphere of lattice- work ; this globe is pendulous from a long stem curved at the apex, and while the stem is rigid during the young condition, towards maturity the upper portion above the curve becomes shrivelled and flaccid, and the sporangium hangs in a condition ready to be dangled by the wind or the movements of minute insects ; how effectual this method of spore diffusion is in its way is proved by the specimens being generally found destitute of spores. In Enteridium, as already mentioned, we find in one species the wall symmetrically perforated, whereas another species has the walls of the component sporangia forming the aethalium so irregularly perforated, and forming a variable network, that at first sight the aethalioid nature of the mass is masked, and this species may be considered as forming
34 'A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
a connecting link with another order, the Columellifeme, where the capillitium originates in a totally different manner. The following arrangement illustrates the evolution of the genera included in the Peritricheae, and the points of affinity with other orders—
DICTYDIOM.
o CRIBRARIA. >•
~
CLATHROPTYCHIUM. - w <-*
t> o
ENTERIDIW— TUBULINA.— Protodermium.
PERITRICHEAE. (British genera are printed in SMALL CAPITALS, exotic genera in italics.)
ANALYSIS OF THE GENERA. PERITRICHEAE.
Sub-sect. TUBULINAE.
TUBULINA. Sporangia crowded to form an aethalium. Protodermium. Sporangia scattered.
Sub-sect. CRIBRARIAE.
Orcadella. _ Sporangia perforated at the apex.
ENTERIDIUM. Sporangia with small lateral perforations, or broken up into an irregular network.
CLATHROPTYCHIUM. Sporangia with large symmetrical open- ings in side walls, apices of sporangia permanent.
CRIBRARIA. Permanent portions of upper part, or whole of sporangium forming an irregular network.
DlCTYDlUM. Permanent ribs of sporangium radiating from the calyculus and converging towards the apex, joined by thinner transverse bars.
Tubidina. 35
Sub-sect. TUBULINAE.
TUBULINA, Pers. (emended).
Sporangia scattered and regular, or irregular and forming a plasmodiocarp, or compacted together to form a naked or corti- cated aethalium ; walls very thin, single, often iridescent, not perforated; columella and-capillitium absent.
Tululina, Persoon, Syn. Fung., p. 197 ; Host., Mon., p. 219 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 54 ; Sacc., Syll., Vol. vii. p. 406 ; Schroeter, p. 102; Zopf, p. 172 f. Licea, Schrader, Nov. PL gen., p. 17 ; Rost., Mon., p. 218; Schroeter, p. 102 ; Zopf, p. 171 ; Sacc., Syll., Vol. vii. p. 404 ; Cooke, Brit. Myx., p. 54. LindUadia, Fries, Summ. Veg. Scand., p. 449; Rost., Mon., p. 223 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 55 ; Sacc., Syll., Vol. vii. p. 408 ; Zopf, 172.
A careful examination of ample material has convinced me that the three genera given above constitute but one natural genus, and Tulmlina, having priority, has been adopted. The structure and origin of an aethalium being unknown to the old mycologists, explains the origin of these genera; but it is remarkable that Rostafinski, who so lucidly explains the origin and value of aethalia, did not notice the sequence so clearly stated in his own diagnoses of the three genera, which he retains. In all three the sporangial walls agree in being membranaceous and not. perforated; Licea has the sporangia regular, as in L. minima, Fr., or irregular and forming a plasmodiocarp, as in L. flexuosa, Pers. ; in Tubidina the sporangia are cylindrical or prismatic from mutual pressure, and combined to form a naked aethalium ; while in Lindbladia, the sporangia also form a naked aethalium, but although prismatic, as in T'ubulina, are not quite so much elongated ; finally, the species described as Licea spumarioides, Cke. and Mass., belongs to one of the trio, but differs from all in having the sporangia flexuous, and in the aethalium being covered with a common cortex. If Rostafinski's view as to the autonomy of the three genera in question is correct, it follows that the aethalioid condition of such species as Hemiarcyria ruMformis, Rost., must not only be separated from the form with simple, normal sporangia,
36 A Monograph of the Myocogastres.
but must constitute a new genus, which exactly illustrates the difference between Licea and Lindbladia or Tubulina respectively ; whereas the only distinction given by Rostafinski between Tubulina and Lindbladia amounts to saying that in the former the sporangia are elongated ; in the latter, shorter.
A well-defined hypothallus is often present, and in some species, as T. stipitata, B. and C., forms an elongated, stem-like structure which possibly consists of sterile, modified sporangia.
Dr. Geo. A. Rex has kindly furnished me with a sequence of specimens, all belonging to Tubulina cylindrica as defi ried in the present work, which to my mind show clearly the transition from Tululina to Siphoptychium, and thus furnishing a connect- ing link between the Peritricheae and the Columelliferae.
Distrib. Europe; North America; India; Ceylon; Australia; Bonin Island: species, 11.
A. Sporangia, regular or plasmodlocarp. Tubulina minima, Mass.
Sporangia scattered, sessile on a broad base, hemispherical or variously elongated, little depressed ; wall thin, smooth ; from clear to obscure brown ; torn above into several persistent, irregular teeth ; mass of spores umber, spores globose, minutely warted, 10 — 12 /x diameter.
Licea minima, Fr., Syst. Myc., iii. p. 199 ; Karst., Myc. Fenn., iv. p. 125 ; Sacc., Syll., 1385.
Licea varialilis, Schrad., Nov. pi. gen., p. 15, t. vi., ff. 5, 6.
Hxsicc. — Karst., Fung. Fenn., 798.
(Specimen from Fries in Herb. Berk.)
Britain (Bulmer, Yorks).
On pine wood and sawdust. Germany ; Sweden ; Finland.
An obscure species, which, from its scattered habit, is easily overlooked; when circular from '5 — 1 mm. across; frequently 2 — 3 mm. when elongated. The colour varies from almost chest- nut to blackish brown ; ruptured above in an irregularly stellate manner.
The inner surface of wall of sporangium has numerous coloured cells or masses arranged in groups.
Tubulina. 37
Rostafinski's gratuitous suggestion that the present species is a Phelonitis is altogether wrong.
Tubulina flexuosa, Mass.
Sporangia scattered, sessile on a broad base, circular or variously elongated and flexuous, wall thin, single, shining; deep olive or tinged loith broivn ; mass of spores olive ; spores globose, pale olive-brown, minutely warted, the warts showing a tendency to form very short ridges, 12 — .15 p, diameter.
Licea flexuosa, Pers., Syn. fung., p. 197, t. 1, f. 5, 6 ; Host., Mon., p. 218; Schroet, p. 102; Sacc., 1382.
(Specimen named by Rostafinski in Herb. Berk.)
On decaying wood, especially pine. Britain (Aboyne, N. B.) ; Finland ; Sweden ; Germany.
From 1 — 1'5 mm. when circular, often 2 — 3 mm. when elongated. The wall of the sporangium is furnished inside with a layer of fine granules of organic matter.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Licea flexuosa, Pers., Syn. p. 197, t. 1, f. 5, 6 (1801). Tubulina flexuosa, Poir., Enc., I.e. viii. no. 8 (1808). L. serpula, Fr., Sym. Gast., p. 12 (1817). f
L. spadicea, Fr., cfr., I.e. iii. p. 197 (1829). Lycogala consortium, Lk., Herb, non Ditm. Aethalium minimum, Wallr., in litt. Aethalium microscopicum, Wallr., Herb. Licea alutacea, Wallr., Fl. Ger. cr. n. 2106 (1833).
Tubulina spermoides, Mass.
Sporangia cylindrical, shorter than broad, crowded, rarely scattered towards the circumference of the clusters, apex slightly rounded, wall very thin, dull, breaking up into whitish fragments, seated on a well-developed, thin hypothallus; mass of spores olive ; spores globose, 6, 7 /x diameter, equally covered all over with minute warts.
Licea spermoides, B. and C., Grev. v. 2, p. 68.
Cribraria argillacca, Sacc., Syll., 7, n. 1415 (in part). (Type in Herb. Berk. n. 10854.)
On wood, leaves, &c. Alabama. Sporangia in a single stratum,
38 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
often forming patches 6 — 9 cm. long and broad ; the hypothallus although thin, is tough, and can be peeled off the matrix. Sporangia about 5 mm. diameter and not quite so high ; before dehiscence yellowish olive and resembling a crowded Pcrickaena.
Tubulina speciosa, Speg.
Sporangia densely gregarious, fasiculate, fascicles subcircular, 1 — 2 cm. long and broad, 1 — 1 mm. high, seated on a slightly convex hypothallus ; sporangia cylindrical, apices rounded, dehiscing irregularly, at first flcsli-colmir then cinnabar, shining ; spores warted, rusty-ochre ; depressed, dry concavo-convex, with a thickish margin.
Spegazzini, Nov. Add. ad Myc.Ven. n.123; Sacc.,Syll.,7,n. 1393.
On rotten wood of Pinus silvcstris. N. Italy.
I have had no opportunity of examining the present species, the spores of which are described as concavo-convex when dry, but in all probability become spherical when moist.
Tubulina stipitata, Rost.
Hypothallus stem-like, often sulcate, spongy within; spo- rangia crowded in a sub-globose head, cylindrical, apices rounded ; walls very thin, evanescent ; mass of spores brownish- umber ; spores globose, 4 — 5 /x diameter, about three-fourths of the surface, with a regular small network, the 'remainder with much larger meshes. Host., Mon., p. 223, f. 2 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., f. 2; Sacc., Syll., 7, n. 1392.
Licca stipitata, B. and C., Grev. v. 2, p. 68.
(Type in Herb. Berk. n. 10851.) Exsicc. Fung. Cub. Wrightiani, 551.
On dead wood, bark, &c. Stem 2 — 4 mm. thick and high, urnber, porous within ; sporangia 1'5 — 2 mm. long. The spores are globose when thoroughly soaked.
Dr. G. A. Rex of Philadelphia has recently sent specimens of the present species having the hypothallus very much reduced, and also informs me that sessile forms are not un- common, hence the specific distinction between T. cylindrica and the present species turns mostly on spore differences.
Cuba; Java; Bonin Islands; United States.
Tululina. 39
Tubulina guaranitica, Koumeg.
Gregarious ; sporangia globose, sometimes slightly attenuated below on passing into the stem ; wall single, thin ; dingy ochraceous with a tinge of olive, sometimes greyish below, about 1 mm. diameter; stem rather thick, slightly incrassated doivmvards, and passing into a hypothallus, 1'5 — 2 mm. long, ochraceous-brown ; mass of spores umber ; spores globose, smooth, 7 — 8 fj. diameter.
Tubulina guaranitica, Roumeguere, Fung. Sel. exsicc., no. 5196.
Licea ? guaranitica, Speg., Fung, guaran., Pug. I, no. 322.
On decayed bark. Guarapi ; Argentine Republic.
With the general appearance of a small specimen of Tubulina stipitata, differing in having only a single sporangium, or aethalium surrounded by a thin, friable cortex. The dimorphic capillitium described by Spegazzini as consisting of septate threads is clearly nothing more than the mycelium of some minute fungus spreading in the mass of spores. The tail-like appendages to the spores mentioned by the author are to be explained in the same way. The above description is drawn up from the specimens in Roumeguere' s exsicc. These speci- mens were supplied by Balansa, and may therefore be con- sidered as authentic, inasmuch as Spegazzini's Fungi guaranitica is an account of the Fungi collected by Balansa.
B. Aethalium naked. Tubulina cylindrica, Rost. (f. 1 — 6).
Sporangia usually crowded and forming a naked cake-like brown aethalium, rarely scattered, seated on a well-developed flat or slightly convex hypothallus, cylindrical or subangular from mutual pressure, more or less elongated, apex rounded ; wall single, thin, often iridescent; mass of spores brownish- umber; spores globose, about three-foiwtlis of the surface with a regular, Jine-meshed network, the remainder with scattered ridges and warts, 7 — 9 /u, diameter. Rost., Mon., p. 220 ; Cke., Myx. Brit,, p. 54; Sacc., Syll., 1391; Schroeter, p. 102.
40 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Tubulina nitidissima, Berk., Journ. Linn. Soc., v. 18, p. 387 (from examination of type) ; Licea rubiformis, B. and Curt, (from exam, of type).
Licea microsperma, B. and C. (from exam, of type).
Eocsicc. — Syd., Myc. March., 1498; Cke., Brit. Fung., ed. ii., 528; Karst., Myc. Fenn., 697; Fekl., F. Rhen., 1470; Roum, Fung. Gall., 3066 ; Ellis and Everh., N. A. Fung, ser. II. 2096.
On wood. Forming compact cakes varying from half an inch to a foot or more in diameter, varying from umber-brown to chestnut, the surface granular with the convex apices of the sporangia. When immature and pulpy, of a beautiful straw- berry colour. Hypothallus spongy, resembling when thick the sterile base 'of a Lycopcrdon. Dr. Rex considers that two distinct species are confounded under the above name.
Britain (Apethorpe, Powerscourt, Brandon, Scarboro', Car- lisle, Glamis, N. B.); Germany; France; Sweden; Finland; Hungary; Belgium; United States; India; Ceylon; Australia.
(Rostafmski's Synonyms.)
Tubulifera ceratum, Fl. Dan., t. 659, f. 2 (1777).
Tubulifera arachnoidea, Jacq., Misc., t. 15 (1778).
Mucor tubulosus, Retz.
Stemonitisferruginea, Batsch, f. 175 (1786).
Spliaerocarpus cylindricus, Bull., t. 470, f. 3 (1791).
Spha&rocarpus fragiformis, Bull, t. 384 ? (1791).
Tubifera fcrruginosa, Gmel, Syst. 1472 (1791).
Tubifera cylindrica, Gmel., Syst. 1472 (1791).
Tubifera fragiformis, Gmel, Syst. 1472 (1791).
Trichia fragiformis, With., Arr, iii. 480 (1792).
Tubulifera coccinea, Trent, p. 243 (1797).
Licea tubulina, Schrad, N. G, 16 (1797).
Licea clavata, Schrad, N. G, 18 (1797).
Tubulina fragiformis, Pers, Disp, p. 11 (1797); Pers, Syn,
t. 4, f. 3, 4.
Tubulina fallax^ers., Obs., ii. 28 (1799). Tubulina fragiformis, a. papillata, ft. clavata, y. conica, o.
coccinea, e. operculata : P.ers, Obs, ii. 29.
Tubulina. 4 1
Eeticularia multicapsula, Sow., t. 179 (1799).
Tubulina cylindrica, D. C., FJ. F., 674 (1805).
Tubulina fragif era, Poir., Ency., viii. No. 3 (1808).
Licca fragiformis, Nees, f. 102 (1816); Eng. Fl., v. p. 321;
Cooke, Hdbk., 1194; Fung. Brit., ii. 528. Dermodium fallax, Nees, f. 103 (1816). Licca cylindrica, Fr., S. Myc., iii. 195 (1829) ; Eng. FL, v. 391 ;
Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1193. Licea iricolor, Zoll., in Flora (1847), p. 300. Tubulina conglobata, Preuss., Linnaea, 140 (1851).
Tubulina effusa, Mass.
Aethalium naked, sporangia seated on a firm, common hypo- thallus, irregular from mutual pressure, in a single stratum or superposed, walls very thin, lustrous, grown together ; free apices of sporangia slightly convex, giving the surface of the aethalium a granular appearance ; mass of spores ochraceous-umber ; spores globose, yellowish-brown, very indistinctly verruculose, 6 — 8 /x diameter.
Lindbladia effusa, Host., Mon., p. 223 ; Schroet., p. 103 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 55 ; Sacc., Syll., no. 1395.
On the ground and on wood. Britain (Leicester, Epping, Scarboro', Aboyne, Forres, Linlithgow); Germany; Sweden; France ; Bohemia.
Often forming compact, flattened cakes extending for three or four inches, sometimes much smaller ; superficially closely resembling Tubulina cylindrica, but the mass of spores with a yellower tinge, and the present species also differs in the shorter sporangia, which are not so uniform in their arrange- ment as in T. cylindrica.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Licca effusa, Ehr., Sylv., p. 26, f. i. (1818). . Aethalium melacnum, Chev. Byss., iii. (1837). Lindbladia tululina, Fr., S. V. S., 449 (1849). Aethalium atrum, Preuss., Linnaea, 141 (1851).
42 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Eeticularia maxima, Corda, Ic. vi. 35 (1852). Reticularia granulosa, (Erstd. MSS.
C. Aethalium covered with a common cortex. Tubulina spumarioidea, Cke. and Mass.
Aethalium large, irregular, cortex membranaceous, blight grey, with anastomosing veins inside ; walls of sporangia almost colourless, veiy thin and soon disappearing; mass of spores orange with a tinge of olive ; spores globose, with rather large, oltuse ivarts, 16 — 18 p. diameter.
Licea spumarioidea, Cke. and Mass., Grev., vol. xvi. p. 74 (1888).
Running over twigs and on the ground. Near Melbourne, Australia.
Aethalia subglobose or irregular, varying from | to 1 inch across, creeping up grass and twigs like Spinnaria alba ; common cortex bright grey, thin, subpersistent, with numerous anasto- mosing vein-like thickenings in the inside of the wall. Spor- angia densely crowded, flexuous, wall thin, at first imperforate, soon disappearing.
Imperfectly known species. Tubulina brunnea (Preuss.).
Closely gregarious; sporangia ochraceous-brown, rotuncl, sub- depressed, wall papyraceous, irregularly torn, upper portion disappearing in a subcircumscissile manner; spores globose, minute, ochraceous, threads none.
Licea Irunnca, Preuss., Hoyersw., n. 275 ; Schroet., p. 102 ; Sacc., Syll., 1387.
On semi-putrid trunks of pines. Germany ; Silesia.
Tubulina Lindheimeri, Mass.
Broadly effused, externally blackish, mass of spores ferru- ginous-orange ; spores globose, smooth, 6 — 7 p. diameter.
Licea Lindlicimeri, Berk., Grev. v. 2, p. G5 ; Sacc., Syll., v. 7, n. 1388.
Tubulina. Protodermium. 43
(Type in Herb. Berk. n. 10848.)
On dead bark. Texas.
The type specimen is so thoroughly crushed that it is im- possible to say whether the plant is a Licea or a Tubulina, but in all probability the latter, as there appear to be indications of the bases of crowded sporangia.
Tubulina caespitosa, Mass.
Peridia aggregated in tufts or clusters, crowded, sessile, smooth, brown or blackish-brown ; spores dingy ochre, smooth, globose, .00025 in. in diameter (=5.5 /x).
Physarum caespitosum, Peck, 26th Report, State Mus. N. York, p. 75.
Rotten wood. Greenbush ; U. States.
PROTODERMIUM, Rost.
Sporangia simple, solitary, regular in form ; mass of spores blackish violet ; capillitium entirely absent.
Protoderma, Rost., Mon., p. 90; Schroeter, p. 103; Cooke, Myx. Brit, p. 10.
Protodermium, Sacc., Syll., Vol. vii., pt. I., p. 325.
Rostafinski's name Protoderma was altered by Berlese in Saccardo's Sylloge to Protodermium, as the former had been already used for a genus of algae.
The present genus is identical with Tubulina except in the colour of the spores, a character which I look upon with doubt. Colour as presented by spores is undoubtedly of some signifi- cance, but being altogether in ignorance as to its relative physiological value, I cannot accept colour in Rostafinski's sense as being of such supreme importance as to constitute the basis for the primary divisions of the Myxogastres, even if the divisions indicated had really existed in nature, which however is far from being the case.
Distrib. Europe; United States: species 1.
Protodermium pusillum, Rost.
Sporangia gregarious, distinct, hemispherico-subdepressed, about 1 mm. broad, chestnut-brown, shining ; mass of spores
44 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
black ; spores globose, 16 — 18 p. diameter ; epispore blackish violet, smooth.
Protoderma pusilla, Host., Mon., p. 90.
Protodermium pusillum, Sacc., Syll., Vol. vii., pt. I, n. 1139.
On rotten wood. Germany ; Russia ; United States.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Licea pusilla, Sclirad., Nov. Gen., p. 19, t. vi., f. 4 (1797). Physarum licea, Fr., S. M., iii., p. 143 (1829).
Sub-sect. ' CRIBRARIAE.
ENTERIDIUM, Rost. (emended).
Aethalium covered with a general, irregularly perforated, membranaceous cortex ; walls of component sporangia with symmetrical perforations, or irregularly broken up to form a capillitium-like structure.
Rost., Mon., p. 226; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 56; Schroeter, p. 103 ; Sacc., Syll., Vol. vii., pt. I., p. 409.
Very closely allied to the Clathroptychium, which differs chiefly in the more complete absorption of the walls of the sporangia.
In E. olivaceum, which most nearly approaches Clathropty- chium in structure, the side walls of the sporangia are not so completely absorbed as in the last-named genus, hence the thickened angles formed by the walls of contiguous cells have broader and more irregular wings.
Distrib. Europe ; United States ; W. Australia : species 3.
A. Spores Reticulated. Enteridium olivaceum, Rost. (f. 14 — 18).
Aethalium very variable in form, flattened or pulvinate, olive ; general cortex papery, pellucid ; walls of the crowded sporangia pellucid, yellowish-brown, perforated; mass of spores olive; spores in clusters of from 5 — 20, single ^orcs truncate, the free portion convex and warted, remaining portion smooth, 11 — 15 p diameter.
Enteridium. 45
Rost., Hon., p. 227, fig. 5 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 56, fig. 5 ; Schroeter, p. 103; Sacc., Syll., n. 1399.
Reticularia applanata, B. and Br., Ann. Nat. Hist. (1886), t. ii., f. 3.
(Specimen in Herb. Berk., named by Rostafinski.)
On wood. Britain (Kew, Scarborough, Appin, N. B.) ; Germany ; Denmark ; France ; United States ; W. Australia.
Irregularly effused for 1 — 2 inches, or sometimes in the cracks of wood and then elongated ; colour dark greenish olive, the minute sporangia showing through the thin general cortex, and giving the surface a slightly papillose appearance. The side walls of the sporangia are more or less regularly perforated, the angles where adjacent sporangia meet being permanent and winged with the side portions of the walls that are not absorbed.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Lycoperdon undulinum, Schum.- Saell., 1404 (1803). Enteridium olivaceum, Ehr., f. 1, 5 A.E. (1818). Reticularia versicolor, Fr., Obs., ii., 147 (1818). * Licogala olivacea, Link, Hb. Reticularia olivacea, Fr., Syst. Myc., iii., 89 (1829). Reticularia ungulina, Fr., in Fl. Dan., t. 1977, f. 2 (1823). Enteridium atrum, Preuss., Linnaea, 142 (1851). Reticularia applanata, B. and Br., Ann. Nat. Hist. (1866),
t. ii., f. 3 ; Cke. Hdbk., No. 1098. Licea olivacea, Fckl. Symb., 338 (1869). Licea glomulifera, De Bary and Rost., in Alex. (1872). Licaetlialium olivaceum, Rost. Vers.;p. 4 (1873). Lindbladia versicolor, Rost., in Fckl., 68 (1873).
Enteridium Rostrupii, Raunk.
Aethalia irregular, lengthened, the greatest length is 4 cm., consisting but of one stratum of sporangia, which is 1 mm. thick. Wall of sporangium olive; the lateral wall towards ripening of the spores perforated by large, oval openings. Mass of spores olive; the single spore rather colourless. Spores in
46 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
oval ball-shaped clusters of from 5 — 25. Only the convex surface warted, 11 — 12 /u, diameter.
Enteridium Rostrupii, Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 1 06 (in English).
On fir-stumps and rotten oak branches — autumn.
Denmark.
From the above description alone it is difficult to indicate the points of difference between the present species and E. olivaccum.
Enteridium macrosporum, Raunk.
Aethalia hemispherical, 2 mm. diameter, at first reddish, later olive. Spores in oval ball-shaped clusters of from 5 — 25. Only the convex surface spinulose, 12 — 14 /x diameter.
Entcridiuin macrosporum, Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 106, t. 2, f. 1.
On rotten fir branches. Autumn. Near Copenhagen.
This species I have only found once, and then but very few specimens. It seems to be especially different from the other species of Enteridiitm in the size of the spores and the par- ticularly developed sculpture of their convex surface. (Raunk.)
Enteridium Rozeanuni, Wing. (f. 108).
Aethalium of irregular shape, globose, ovoid, or rounded- pyramidal, attached to the substratum by a wide base. Vari- able in size, from 5 — 30 mm. in diameter. Cortex and mass of spores ferruginous brown; occasionally the cortex shining; sometimes membranaceous, pellucid. Interior structure very variable, the walls of the individual sporangia (which form a capillitium) membranaceous, pellucid, band-like, combined into an all-sided network attached uniformly to all sides of the cortex. The bands have triangular or polygonal expansions at the angles where they join each other. Spores globose, about two-thirds of the surface covered with a delicate, regular, fine-meshed network, the remainder with simple warts or elongated ridges. The warted portion has the outline of a wide spindle lying at the poles of the little sphere. Spores measure 7'5 — 9 /x.
Enteridiwn. 47
Enteridmm Rozeanum, Wing., Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil., 1889, p. 156.
Reticularia (?) Rozeana, Host., Mon., Suppl., no. 179 ; Sacc., Syll., no. 1425.
Licea fallax, Pers., in Herb. Schwein.
On wood, bark, &c. Britain (Scarboro') ; France; United States.
The spaces in the capillitium, which represent the individual sporangia of the aethalium, have about the same dimensions in the same plant, but vary considerably, comparing one speci- men with another. The extremes of variation may be ex- pressed by the proportion 1 to 10. Sometimes the bands of the capillitium are very much lacerated longitudinally, and form a filamentous mass, when the characteristic structure of the genus is entirely lost after the dispersal of the spores. Capillitium yellowish under the microscope.
The whole of the above is from Mr. Wingate's article, which also contains an interesting historical sketch of the species.
The present species appears to be generally distributed in the United States, judging from the specimens in the Kew herbarium sent by various American correspondents; one specimen communicated by Ravenel from Lower Carolina is irregularly circular 'in outline, three and a half inches in diameter and half an inch thick. The European form, judging from the specimens I have seen, has the sporangial walls very much reduced, and will probably be found in herbaria under Reticularia, where I was at first disposed to place it until con- vinced by Mr. Wirigate of its nearer affinity with Enteridmm.
B. Spores ivartcd. Enteridium simulans, Host.
Very similar to E. olivaceum, but the spores are free or loosely aggregated, irregularly spherical, and minutely warted all over, 10 — 12 fj. diameter.
Host., Monogr., Appendix, p. 31 ; Karst., Myc. Fran., iv. p. 126; Sacc., Syll., n. 1400.
48 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
On decorticated branches of Alnus incana. Finland.
Aethalium variable in form, suborbicular or elongated, convex, pulvinate or depressed, 2 — 5 mm. broad.
I have had no opportunity of examining the present species. If the spores are minutely warted all over, the species may be distinct, but clustered spores with warts all over are not common ; and remembering the numerous inaccurate descrip- tions in the works of Karsten and Rostafinski in connection with epispore marking, I am inclined to suspect the autonomy of the present species.
ORCADELLA, Wing.
Sporangia with coarse stipes; sporangium wall likewise coarse, but at the top of the sporangium replaced by a delicate membrane which forms a more or less flattened deciduous lid.
Orcadella, Wingate, in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philada., 1889, p. 280.
The present genus is considered as the type of a new family of the Myxogastres, described as follows by Mr. Harold Wingate in the article quoted above —
"This curious minute plant presents anatomical character- istics which lead me to propose a new family of the Myxo- mycetes, and which, in Dr. Rostafinski's classification, would come under Order IV., Anemeae, and after Family 13, Clathro- ptychiaccae.
" Orcadellaccae, fam. nov.
" Sporangia without columella or capillitium, and the upper part of the coarse sporangium wall replaced by a delicate membrane having a defined outline.
" This family seems to bridge, to a certain extent, the gap between Rostafinski's orders Anemeae and Heterodeiineae, as we here have a stage between the uniform wall of Licea, Tubulina, &c., and the lacerate upper wall of some species of Cribraria, where the receptacle is strongly developed and covered with minute granulations. The epispore seems to be absolutely without thickenings even under very high magnification."
Orcadella. 49
I am indebted to the kindness of the author for an oppor- tunity of examining authentic specimens, and quite agree as to the validity of the generic characters, and also admit that the new family founded is quite as good as most others at present admitted in the Myxomycdes, but I am afraid that if such trivial characters are admitted as sufficient for family characteristics, those left for generic distinctions will be reduced to inappreciable quantities.
Compared with allied genera, as Claihroptycliium and Enteridium, we find that in the genus under consideration, the apical portion of the sporangium is differentiated and event- ually disappears, whereas in the two last-named genera the differentiation and disappearance of the sporangium is confined to certain portions of the lateral wall ; or finally, it may be looked upon as a scattered, stipitate Tiibulina with a dehiscent apex to the sporangium.
Distrib. United States: species 1.
Orcadella operculata, Wing. (f. 201).
Sporangia stipitate, without columella or capillitium, very variable in form, barrel-shaped, urn-shaped, vase-shaped, jar- shaped, ovoid or nearly globose, or all varieties appearing in one small group ; stipe slightly tapering, erect or bent, blackish, rough and coarse from deposits of plasmodic refuse; very variable in height. Sporangium wall likewise coarse, blackish, containing deposits of plasmodic refuse, but at the top part of the sporangium replaced by a delicate, yellowish, iridescent, lustrous or vernicose membrane which forms a flat or slightly convex circular deciduous lid, sometimes smooth, sometimes reticulately wrinkled. Mass of spores yellowish. Individual spores almost colourless, globose or irregularly roundish, smooth, 8 — 11 n in diameter.
Orcadella operculata, Wing., Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil, 1889, p. 280, with fig.
(Type in Herb. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philada.)
On trunks of living red-oak trees (Ouercus ruber). United States.
50 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
I have given the author's own diagnosis of the species. Scattered in cracks of the bark, from *5 — 1 mm. high, some- times a little more, stem suberect, sometimes rather flexuous, sporangium very small.
CLATHROPTYCHIUM, Host.
Aethalium naked ; sporangia sessile, prismatic or cylindrical, densely crowded on a hypothallus, walls of sporangia persistent at the apex, lateral walls reduced to 5 — 6 slender threads which extend from the hypothallus and support the apical portion.
Rost., Mon., p. 225 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 55 ; Schroeter, p. 164; Sacc., SylL, p. 405; Zopf, p. 137.
Rostafinski was the first to point out the true aethalioid nature of Clathroptychium rugulosum, and in his diagrammatic arrangement, Hon., fig. 30, represents the sporangia as circular in outline, packed close together, and consequently leaving triangular interspaces; each sporangium is represented as having six triangular thickened portions of its wall projecting into the interior of the sporangium. A careful examination of several specimens in various stages of development show that Rostafinski's interpretation is not correct. The sporangia, when young, are cylindrical, with both ends slightly convex, and the walls entire; towards maturity the lateral walls, due to mutual pressure, become flattened, and the sporangia are then hexagonal or rarely pentagonal in transverse section ; at the angles where three contiguous cells meet the walls of the sporangia become thickened, agglutinated together, and persist as the upright threads that support the slightly convex, persistent, cap-like portions of the sporangia. From the above description it will be seen that the triangular upright threads correspond in position to the triangular interspaces in Rostafinski's diagram, and further, that the black triangular thickenings shown in the diagram have no existence in nature. During the period between the formation and maturing of the spores, the flat lateral walls of the sporangia are dissolved, with the exception of a narrow jagged wing projecting from each angle of the upright permanent portions. In C. rugulosum these wings are
Clathroptychium. 51
very rudimentary, but in C. Berkeleyi are often broader than the triangular portion, and recalling to mind the similar struc- ture in Enteridium olivaceum. The triangular upright threads almost invariably show traces of a central cavity, which cor- responds to the intercellular space between the originally cylindrical sporangia. The persistent apices of the sporangia, when viewed from above under a low power, are seen to consist of very slightly convex hexagons, rarely pentagons, so firmly agglutinated together that the whole can be removed as a continuous membrane ; if this is done, and the membrane then viewed from the under side, after the spores have been cleared away, the stumps of the triangular threads will be seen to originate from the angles where the permanent apices of three sporangia meet ; if this membrane is treated with potassie hydrate, the apices separate from each other as do also the triangular threads; this separation sometimes takes place in water alone, when the apices with their threads appear as represented in Rostafinski's figures 28 and 29.
The above account applies to the typical structure, but both species appear to be very variable. Zopf has figured an aberrent form of C. rugulosum, having the threads supporting the apical persistent portion of the sporangium varying in number, irregu- larly branched and anastomosing. I have met with a similar form, also another variety where the threads are branched and anastomosing and not confined to the margin of the apical portion, but originating from any portion of its under surface, and approximating so closely in structure to certain forms of the genus Perichaena as to be almost indistinguishable.
Distrib. Europe; Africa; India; Ceylon; Australia; United States : species 3.
Clathroptychium rugulosum, Host. (f. 25 — 28).
Hypothallus well developed, often extending as a whitish membrane for some distance ; sporangia prismatic, apex slightly rounded, and supported by five or six slender triangular per- sistent threads, the fiat face pointing to the interior of the sporan- gium rugulose ; colour of mass of sporangia reddish, bright
52 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
brown, or umber; mass of spores clear yellow, ochraceous, or tinged with brown, spores globose, very minutely verruculose, 8 — 11 /A diameter.
Host, Mon., p. 225, figs. 25, 28, 29, 30; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 55, figs. 25, 28, 29, 30; Schroeter, p. 104.
Licea tenuissima, B. and Br., Fungi of Ceylon, in Journ. Linn. Soc., Vol. xiv., p. 86 (Hb. B., n. 10858).
Licea cinnabarina, B. and Br., Ceylon Fungi, in Journ. Linn. Soc., Vol. xiv., p. 86 (Herb. Berk., 10854).
Ostracoderma spadiccum, Schwein. (specimen so named by Schweinitz in Herb. Berk., 10864).
Comuvia Schweinitzii, Berk, in Herb.
Exsicc. — Ellis, N. Amer. Fung., 335.
On dead wood. Britain (Oxford, Leicester, Eltham Park, Scarborough, Glamis, N. B.) ; France ; Germany ; Italy ; Bel- gium ; Hungary ; Algeria ; United States ; Ceylon ; Australia.
The crowded sporangia form compact cakes of irregular form, varying from a £ to 1^ in. across, and about 1 mm. thick. The surface is generally chestnut-brown, often with olive shade, and minutely rugulose. The hypothallus often extends con- siderably beyond the sporangia. Differs from C. cinnaba- rinum in the verruculose spores, and from C. Bcrkeleyi in the absence of wings to the triangular supports of the apex of the sporangium.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Fuligo plumbea, Fl. Dan., 1976, f. 1 (1803).
Reticularia plumbca, Fr., S. M., iii. 88 (1829).
Licea rugulosa, Wallr., Fl. Germ., 2107 (1833).
Licea applanata, Berk., Hook Journ. (1845) ; B. and Br.,
Ann. Nat. Hist., n. 313; Cke, Hdbk., n. 1195. Lycogala lenticulare, D. R. and M., Fl. Alg., 401 (1846). Reticularia lenticularis, Mort., Herb. Diciydiaethalium applanatiim, Host., in Fckl., Symb., 2 Nach.
69 (1873).
Clathroptychium. 53
Clathroptychium Berkeley!, Mass. (n. sp.).
Hypothallus stout, not extending beyond the sporangia, which are densely crowded, forming cakes 1 — 3 cm. across, and 1*5 — 2 mm. thick, very minutely and indistinctly rugulose, brownish-olive ; apices of sporangia almost plane, supported by 5 — 6 triangular, hollow threads, which are strongly winged at the angles, free edges of wings eroded ; mass of spores dirty olive ; spores globose, warted, warts with a tendency to become elon- gated, 10 — 13 /* diameter.
Licca cylindrica, Fr., Berk, and Br., Fungi of Ceylon, Journ. Linn. Soc., Vol. xiv., p. 86.
(Type in Herb. Berk., n. 10857 a.)
On wood. Ceylon.
The large spores with the • warts showing a tendency to become elongated and form ridges, and the strongly- winged threads supporting the apices of the sporangia characterize the present species.
Clathroptychium cinnabarinum, Sacc.
Sporangia prismatic, broadly diffused, closely crowded, \ — | mm. high, vivid vermilion, above (operculum) blackish - purple, rather shining, sessile, rising erect from a hypothallus ; spores globose, smooth, 9 — 12 p diameter, vermilion, guttulate ; threads descending from the operculum, filiform, thickish, fuliginous.
& Sacc., in Michelia, I., p. 545 ; Sacc., Syll., Vol. vii., pt. I., n. 1397.
On decayed oak wood. North Italy. Forming flattened heaps, 4 — 6 cm. long. Differs from Clathroptychium rugulosum in the different colour of the mature plant, the narrow, prismatic sporangia, and smooth, vermilion spores.
The vermilion colour and smooth spores suggest the possi- bility of the present being an immature condition of some species.
Clathroptychium dissiliens, Hazl. Sporangia forming a rotund or oval cushion, 2 — 5 mm.
54 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
diameter, chestnut-brown, pruinose ; mass of spores and sup- porting threads yellowish brown.
Dictydiathalium dissilicm, Hazl., Just." Bot. Jahresb., 1877, p. 156 ; Sacc., Syll, Vol. vii., pt. I, n. 1398.
Hazlinsky states the present species, when ripe, dehisces in an elastic manner on the slightest touch, brought about by the sudden expansion of the elaters (= threads supporting apical portion of sporangium) which increase to three times their previous length.
CRIBRARIA. Pers. (emended).
Wall of sporangium single, with thickened permanent portions arranged in the form of more or less parallel ribs at the base, branching and anastomosing above to form an irregular net- work, angles of network sometimes dilated and enclosing granules; thin portions of wall entirely disappearing at ma- turity, or the basal portions between the radiating ribs per- sistent and forming an imperforate calyculus; columella and capillitium absent.
Cribraria, Pers. Syn., p. 192; Host., Mon., p. 57; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 57; Schroeter, p. 104; Zopf, p. 141 ; Sacc., Syll., Vol. vii., pt. I., p. 412.
Heterodictyon, Host., Mon., p. 231 ; Cooke, Brit. Myx., p. 57 ; Sacc., Syll., p. 411.
After a careful comparison of specimens or figures of all the species, with two exceptions, I find it impossible to retain Rostafinski's genus Heterodictyon. In Cribraria we find, as a rule, a calyculus at the base of the sporangium, composed of more or less parallel ribs, with the thinner intermediate portions persistent ; from the irregular margin of the calyculus, the upper network commences, or rather, may be looked upon as a continuation of the ribs of the calyculus; if the upper portion starts from the margin of the calyculus, as an irregular net-work consisting of well-defined nodes united by thin strands, it represents Rostafinski's conception of Cribraria,; but if the lower portion of the network consists of more or less parallel, broad ribs, joined laterally by thin strands, and
Cribraria. 55
passing into the Cribraria type of network towards the apex, then, according to Rostafinski, it is Heterodictyon. There is, in reality, every shade of transition between the two extremes, and C. Bicniaszii closely connects the genus Cribraria in the wider sense, with Dictydium.
Distrib. Europe; United States; Ceylon: species 19.
Sub-Gen. Heteroderma. Calyculus present.
Network thickened, and forming nodes at the angles.
Cribraria elegans, B. and C.
Sporangia globose, stipitate, more or less cernuous, purple, calyculus occupying nearly lower half of sporangial wall, with numerous radiating ribs, and studded with organic purple granules inside ; nodes of network numerous, large, angular or irregularly stellate, containing purple granules, connected by thin bands; stem elongated, expanding downwards, and pass- ing into a small hypothallus, curved near the apex, purple ; spores — mass purple ; spores globose ; minutely warted, 5 — 7 /* diameter.
Cribraria elegans, B. and C., Grev., Vol. ii., p. 67 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1412 ; Host., Mon., App., p. 32.
(Type in Herb. Berk., n. 10873.)
On decayed wood. Lower Carolina.
Scattered or gregarious, stem variable in length, 2 — 3 mm., sometimes flexuous. There are no free ends in the network of the sporangium.
Cribraria piriformis, Schrad.
Sporangia pyriform, stipitate, erect, purple-brown before de- hisccnce, then yellowish-brown above, calyculus funnel-shaped, occupying the lower third of sporangium, with radiating ribs, margin eroded, nodes of network large, angular, coloured, with prominent, acute processes, containing granules, united by very slender threads ; stem about equal in length to sporangium, sub- equal, purple-brown, expanding at the base into a hypothallus of the same colour; spores very pale salmon-colour, globose, smooth, 5 — 7 n diameter.
56 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Crilraria piriformis, Schrad., Nov. PL Gen., p. 4, pi. 3., f. 4—5 ; Host., Hon., p. 237, fig. 14; Cooke, Brit. Myx., fig. 14; Sacc., Syll, n. 1416.
On rotten pine wood. Scotland ; Sweden ; Germany.
Gregarious, several often springing from a common hypo- thallus; 2 — 3 mm. high, resembling superficially some forms of C. macrocarpa, but at once distinguished by the large, irregularly stellate, distinct nodes of the network, connected by slender strands.
Cribraria macrocarpa, Schrad. (f. 110).
Sporangia broactty obovate, stipitate, erect, upper portion ycllmoish-brcrtvn, calyculus brownish-purple, funnel-shaped, occu- pying one-third or more of the sporangium; sometimes per- forated towards the very irregular margin, the projections of which are prolonged as flattened, granulose, coloured, irregularly curved bands of varying width, and anastomosing at various points, with numerous lateral projections which are continuous with the projections of adjoining ribs as thin strands bridging the irregular meshes formed by the larger ribs; stem stout, erect, simple, or 2 — 3 more or less grown together, purplc- brown, rugulose, expanded at the base into a spreading hypo- thallus; spores pale yellow, globose, smooth, 7 — 10 p. diameter.
Cribraria macrocarpa, Schrad., Nov. P,}. Gen., p. 8, t. ii., f. 3—4 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 59 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1417 ; Rost., Mon., p. 238.
On decayed wood. Britain (Glamis, N. B.) ; France ; Switzer- land ; Germany ; Sweden.
Crowded or scattered, sometimes 2 — 3 more or less combined to form an aethalium. The obovate sporangia and peculiar structure of reticulation characterize the present species, the broad, flattened, primary ribs by irregular bifurcation, combine to form a network of irregularly elongated meshes, which are bridged over by lateral thin strands from the sides of the larger ribs. Well-defined distinct nodes connected by thin strands are absent.
Cribraria. 57
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Cribraria macrocarpa, Schrad., Nov. Gen., p. 8, t. ii., f. 3 — 4
(1797). Trichia macrocarpa, Poir., Ency., 1. c. viii., no. 30 (1808).
Cribraria purpurea, Schrad. (f. 109).
Sporangia globose, stipitate, dark purple, calyculus well- developed, with thickened ribs, sometimes irregularly perforated near the dentate margin ; nodes of network containing purple granules, small, usually elongated, but very irregular in form, with numerous processes, connecting threads thin, some of the processes are prolonged into simple or branched irregularly bent threads that remain free at the tips, and not connected with other nodes or threads ; stem elongated, flexuous, purple ; spore- mass dark purple, spores almost colourless, or with faint tinge of rose, globose, smooth, 5 — 7 ju, diameter.
Cribraria purpurea, Schrad., Nov. PI. Gen., p. 8 ; Host., Mon., p. 233 ; Sacc., Syll., 1408.
On decayed pine trunks. Germany; Britain (specimen in Herb. Kew marked, " Herb. Dawson Turner, British ") ; Sweden (specimen collected by Lindblad, and communicated to Berkeley by Fries).
Gregarious or scattered, about 1'5 mm. high, stem 3 — 4 times as long as sporangium, usually more or less flexuous. Agrees in colour with C. elegans, but readily distinguished by the smooth spores and numerous free ends in the permanent network of the sporangium. Distinct from C. macrocarpa in the globose sporangium and long, slender, flexuous stem.
Cribraria aurantiaca, Schrad. (f. 104).
Sporangia globose, usually more or less cernuous, orange brown, calyculus occupying one-third or more of the sporangial wall, furnished with ribs which pass upwards to form the net- work, nodes coloured, containing granules, large, irregular, united by thin, colourless bands ; stem elongated, attenuated upwards, where it is curved, bright brown, expanding at the base into a
58 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
small hypothallus ; mass of spores dark orange ; spores globose, smooth, 5 — 7 p. diameter.
Cribraria aurantiaca, Schrad., t. i., f. 3 — 4 ; Rost., Mon., 223, f. 21; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 58, fig. 21; Schroet., p. 105; Raunk., p. 50 ; Sacc., Syll., 1409.
On decaying wood, especially pine. Britain (Carlisle, Aboyne, Linlithgow); Sweden; Germany; Belgium; Hungary.
Gregarious or scattered, 2 — 2'5 mm. high ; the nodes of the network of the sporangial wall are numerous, large, and very irregular, usually irregularly stellate, the rays tapering gradu- ally and without much smooth internode, again expanding as a ray of an adjoining node. Spores sometimes minutely verruculose under a high power.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.) Cribraria aurantiaca, Schrad., t. i., f. 3 — 4 (1797) ; Fr., S. M.,
iii. 174; Cke., Hdbk., 1169 ; B. and Br., Ann. Nat. Hist., 1037. Cribraria vulgaris, ft aurantiaca, Pers., Syn., 194 (1801). Trichia mfepcens, ft aurantiaca, Poir, Ency., viii. 31. Cribraria aurantiaca y sulphured, Wallr., Fl. Gerrn. (1833). Cribraria intermedia, Berk., Eng. Fl. v., 318 (1836); Cooke,
Hdbk., 1166. Cribraria variabilis, Ficinus Dresd., JT1. 269 (1838).
Cribraria tenella, Schrad.
Sporangia spherical, generally more or less cernuous, stipi- tate, calyculus occupying about half the sporangium, broum, shining, often perforated above, margin irregularly eroded, nodes numerous, coloured, containing granules, small, more or less circular in outline, connected by very delicate strands; stem elongated, slender, subequal, often flexuous, brown, with a tinge of purple ; spores globose, almost colourless, smooth, 5 — 7 n diameter.
Cribraria tenella, Schrad., Nov. PI. Gen., p. 6, t. iii., f. 2—3 ; Rost., Mon., p. 235, f. 23 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., fig. 23 ; Schrocter, p. 105; Sacc., Syll., no. 1411.
On rotten wood. Germany ; Sweden ; Italy.
Cribraria. 59
Gregarious, 1'5 — 2 mm. high, resembling superficially G. intricata, but distinguished by the nodes of the network being almost circular in outline, and without the prominent angles from which the delicate strands spring in the last-named species.
Cribraria intricata, Schrad. (f. 11 — 13).
Sporangia globose, erect, stipitate, ochraceous brown, calyculus occupying half the sporangium, margin dentate, nodes of network numerous, containing granules, coloured, irregularly angular, witli several large, pointed, marginal projections, connected by very delicate strands, often arranged in more or less parallel series; stem erect, attenuated upwards, brown, with usually a purple tinge ; spores pale, globose, wall thick, smooth, 5 — 7 /x diameter.
Cribraria intricata, Schrad., Nov. PI. Gen., p. 7, t. iii., f. 1 ; Rost., Hon., p. 237, fig. 27 ; Cooke, Brit. Myx., p. 59, f. 27 ; Raunk., p. 50, t. ii., f. 7; Sacc., SylL, n. 1415.
On rotten wood, especially pine. Britain (Lyndhurst, Wey- bridge, Carlisle, Glamis, N. B.) ; Germany ; Sweden ; United States.
Gregarious or crowded, 2'5 — 3 mm. high; distinguished amongst species with a large, hemispherical calyculus, by the large, angular, irregularly stellate nodes of the network being connected by slender bands, which are often arranged in parallel pairs.
(Rostafinski's Synonym.)
Cribraria intricata, Schrad., Nov. PI. Gen., p. 7, t. iii., f. 1 (1797).
Cribraria minima, B. and C.
Sporangia globose, cernuous, stipitate, dusky ochraceous, calyculus hemispherical, margin irregularly toothed, thickened ribs rudimentary; nodes of network numerous, irregularly stellate, coloured, not containing granules; stem elongated, attenuated upwards, brownish; spores globose, almost colour- less, smooth, 5 — 7 > diameter.
60 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Cribraria ininima, B. and C., Grev., Vol. ii., p. 67.
Cribraria minutissima, Rost., Mon., App., p. 31 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1405 (in part).
(Type in Herb. Berk., n. 10874.)
On pine planks. Lower Carolina.
Scattered, about f mm. high, stem erect, or usually curved above. Perfectly distinct from C. minutissima in the presence of a well-developed calyculus occupying the basal half of the sporangium. Most nearly allied to C. intricata, which is distinct in its larger size, presence of granules in nodes of network and minutely warted spores. Rostafinski has evidently not seen the type specimen of the present species, otherwise he could not possibly have given it as a synonym of C. minutissima.
Cribraria mirabilis, Mass.
Sporangium spherical with a small, irregular calyculus; persistent thickened portions of watt continuing for some distance from the lose as more or less parallel, irregular, flattened ribs, joined laterally by thin threads, towards the apex forming an irregular network with large, irregular nodes; mass of spores obscure fulvous, spores smooth, 7 ju. diameter.
Hctcrodictyon mirabile, Rost., Mon., p. 231, fig. 16 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., fig. 16 ; Sacc., Syll., no. 1403.
Germany.
The characteristics of the present species are — the small, irregular calyculus, and the great length of the more or less parallel flattened ribs, which only break up to form a reticu- lation towards the apex of the sporangium.
Cribraria Bieniaszii, Mass.
Sporangia globose, stipitate, "brown, calyculus occupying the lower third of the sporangium, on the inside furnished with a thickened network, margin dentate, teeth 30 — 40, continuing upwards as long, linear, parallel ribs united by very thin hori- zontal strands, ^tossing above into a Cribr aria-like network, nodes small with from 3 — 6 angles and concave sides ; stem elongated, becoming attenuated upwards, brown, expanding into a small
Cribmria. 61
hypothallus; spores clear yellow, wall smooth, thin, 5—7 M. diameter.
Heterodictyon Bieniaszii, Racib., Hedw. 1889, p. 121.
On rotten trunks. Poland.
Stem 1'5 — 2'5 mm. high, sporangium 0'8 — 1 mm. diameter.
Distinguished from C. mirabilis by the larger sporangium and the greater number of ribs forming the lower part of the network.
Cribraria vulgar is, Schrad.
Sporangia globose or slightly flattened below, stipitate, caly- culus shallow, ribs very thin, parallel, crowded, margin regularly dentate, the very thin threads of the network springing from the teeth of the calyculus, and combining to form a dense net, nodes distinct, but very small, rarely containing a few granules ; stem slender, elongated, often rather flexuous, brown, with tinge of purple, becoming thicker downwards and expanding into a small hypothallus; spores very pale, globose, smooth, 5 — 7 n diameter.
Cribraria vulgaris, Schrad., Nov. PI. Gen., p. 6, t. i., f. 5 ; Host,, Hon., p. 234, f. 26 ; Cke., Brit. Myx., fig. 26 ; Schroeter, p. 105 ; Karst., Myc. Fenn. iv., p. 85 ; Sacc., Syll., no. 1410.
Exsicc. Rab., Fung. Eur., 676 ; Fckl., Fung. Rhen., 2100.
On decayed wood, especially pine. Germany ; Sweden ; Fin- land.
Gregarious, about 1'5 — 2 mm. high. Stem straight or curved above. The features of the present species are — the shallow calyculus with thin, crowded, parallel, or more accurately, radiating ribs, and the very small knots of the network.
Cribraria elata, Mass.
Sporangia globose, erect or sub-cernuous, stipitate, calyculus small, funnel-shaped, radiating ribs well-developed, margin regu- larly dentate, teeth elongated, acute, nodes of network numerous, coloured, irregularly angular, crowded with granules, with several prominent, tapering processes, connected by very slender bands; stem with the calyculus dark reddish-brown, elongated,
62 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
erect or slightly curved above, becoming thicker downwards and expanding into a small hypothallus ; spo_res pale yellow brown, globose, smooth, 7 — 8 p. diameter.
On wood and twigs. Ceylon.
(Type in Herb. Berk., Kew, no 10871.)
Gregarious, 3 — 3'5 ,mm. high, superficially resembling Cri- braria microcarpa, but distinguished from this and all other species by the small, funnel-shaped calyculus with the very long, tapering, marginal teeth. The spores sometimes show a tendency to granulation under a high power.
* * Network not thickened at the angles. Cribraria microscopica, B. and C.
Sporangia broadly obovate or globose, stipitate, calyculus occupying almost the lower half of the sporangium, without rib-like thickenings, permanent ribs of upper portion thin, equal, without granules, not incrassated at the anghs, combined to form large, irregular polygons of about equal size ; stem about equal in length to sporangium, erect, brownish umber : spores globose, smooth, 6 — 7 n diameter.
Cribraria microscopica, Berk, and Curt., Grev., Vol. ii., p. 67 ; Sacc., Syll., 1406.
(Type in Herb. Berk., n. 10175.)
On shingles. South Carolina.
Scattered, about 1 mm. high, stem about equal to sporangium in length, expanding at the base into a minute hypothallus. Every part dingy ochraceous. Distinct from G. minima in the absence of thickened nodes in the network of the sporangium.
Cribraria tatrica, Racib.
Sporangia globose, rufous-brown, stipitate, stem obscure rufous, straight; lower part of sporangium persistent, forming a calyculus with the margin irregularly crenato-dentate ; per- sistent thickenings of upper portion of sporangium about equal, not thickened at the nodes; spores yellow, globose, smooth, 6 — 7 p diameter.
Cribraria. 63
Cribraria tatrica, Racib., Hedw., 1885, p. 170; Sacc., Syll., n. 1407.
On rotten wood. Hungary (Tatra).
Sporangia f — 1 mm. diameter, stem 2 mm. long.
Cribraria rufa, Host, (f. 103).
Sporangia broadly obovate or sub-globose, stipitate, orange- rufous, calyculus well-developed, occupying one-third or more of the sporangium, furnished with radiating ribs, which extend above and combine to form a more or less regular net not thickened at the angles ; stem brown, often with a purple tinge, elongated, erect, attenuated upwards, expanding at the base into a small hypothallus; spores pale brown, often with a decided purple tinge, smooth, 5 — 7 //• diameter.
Cribraria rufa, Host., Hon., p. 232, f. 15 ; Cke., Brit. Myx., p. 58, f. 15; Schroeter, p. 105; Sacc., Syll., n. 1404; Raunk., p. 49, t. ii., f. 5.
On wood. Britain (Epping, Carlisle, Linlithgow) ; Germany; Sweden; Denmark.
Gregarious, 2 — 3 mm. high.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Stemonitis rufa, Roth., Fl. Germ., 548 (1788).
Cribraria rufescens, Pers. disp., t. i., f. 5 (1797).
Cribraria fulva, Schrad., t. i., f. 1 (1797).
Cribraria intermedia, Schrad., t. i., f. 2 (1797); Berk, and
Br., Ann. Nat. Hist., no. 1601. Trichia rufescens, Poir., Ency., viii., no. 31 (1808).
Sub-Gen. Homoderma. Calyculus absent.
* Network thickened and forming nodes at the angles.
Cribraria microcarpa, Rost. (f. 134 — 136).
Sporangia globose, small, erect or cernuous, stipitate, calyculus absent, primary ribs of network radiating from apex of stem as elongated, broad bands, anastomosing laterally and forming elongated meshes passing upwards into an irregular network of
64 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
very thin threads connecting large, brown, irregularly stellate knots crowded with granules ; stem slender, very much elongated, straight or flexuous, erect or curved above, brmonish purple; spores very pale, globose, minutely verruculose, 5 — 7 /u, diameter.
Cribraria microcarpa, Host., Mon., p. 236 ; Schroeter, p. 105 ; Karst., Myc. Fenn., iv., p. 86 ; Sacc., Syll., no. 1413.
JExsicc. — Ellis, North Amer. Fung., 1398 (as Cribraria tenella, Schrad.) ; Rav. Fung. Car., 79 (as G. intricata).
On decayed pine-wood and on sphagnum. Britain (Cleve- don, Bristol) ; Germany ; Sweden ; Finland ; United States.
Gregarious, 2'5 — 3 mm. high. Distinguished amongst species without a calyculus by the small sporangium and elongated stem ; also by the elongated, flattened, radiating ribs at the base of the network, thus approaching the type of structure on which Rostafinski's genus Heterodictyon was founded.
Cribraria splendens, Rost.
Sporangia globose, stipitate, erect, yellowish, calyculus not differentiated, membrane between the thickened portions for a long time persistent ; nodes large, angular-, containing granules ; stem elongated, slender, sometimes flexuous, purple-brown; spores pale yellow, globose, smooth, 5 — 7 p. diameter.
Cribraria splendens, Rost., Mon., p. 236 ; Karst., Myc. Fenn., iv., p. 85; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 50, t. ii., f. 6; Sacc., Syll., n. 1414.
On rotten pine-wood. Germany ; Finland ; Sweden ; Switzer- land.
Scattered, about 2 mm. high, stem about three times as long as sporangium. Distinguished by the very persistent nature of the membrane between the thickened portions.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Dictydium splendens, Schrad., Nov. PI. Gen., p. 14, t. iv.,
f. 5—6 (1797).
Cribraria splendens, Pers. Syn., p. 191 (1801). Trichia splendens, Poir., Ency., 1. c. viii., no. 28 (1808).
Cribraria. 65
Cribraria dictydioides, Cke. and Balf.
Sporangia globose, stipitate, dingy ochraceous, calyculus absent ; permanent ribs broad and flattened below, anastomosing laterally, filled with granules, passing upwards into numerous elongated or irregularly angular, prominently convex, coloured nodes containing granules, and connected at various points by very thin, colourless threads; stem elongated, slightly thinner upwards, straight or flexuous, from dirty ochraceous to brown; spores globose, almost colourless, minutely verrucose, 5 — 7 /* diameter.
Cribraria dictydioides, Cke. and Balf., Rav. Fung. Amer., 475.
(Type in Herb. Kew.)
On wood. Aiken, S. Carolina, and Philadelphia, U. S.
Gregarious, about 3 mm. high. The permanent portion of the sporangium closely resembles that of C. argillacea, but in the latter the spores are warted and the sporangium sessile. The present species also agrees with C. microcarpa in the absence of a calyculus, but in the last-named species every part of the permanent portion consists of irregularly stellate nodes connected by thin bands, and the spores are warted. In G. dictydioides, the nodes of the upper portion of the net- work are convex and very prominent. The stern is sometimes branched, or composed of two or three stems more or less completely blended together.
Cribraria argillacea, Pers. (f. 105 — 107).
Sporangia crowded or scattered, shortly stipitate or sessile, subglobose or broadly pyriform, thin portions of sporangium very pwsisl&nt, dirty ochraceous, shining, calyculus absent ; thickened portions of sporangium in the form of long, more or less parallel, laterally connected ribs, passing upwards into an irregular network with irregular nodes containing granules ; the internodes have frequently a central, swollen, fusiform, granular portion; mass of spores dingy ochre; spores globose, minutely warted, 5 — 7 p diameter.
F
66 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Cribraria argillacea, Pers., Obs., i., p. 90 ; Rost., Mon., 239 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., 59; Sacc., Syll., 1418; Raunk., p. 51, t. ii., f. 8.
Exsicc. — Cooke, Fung. Brit., ser. ii., 526.
On wood. Britain (Smethwick, Brandon, Carlisle) ; Germany ; Denmark ; France ; United States.
Characterized by the sessile or subsessile sporangia, absence of calyculus, and in the granular swellings of the thickened portions of the capillitium not being confined to the nodes.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Stemonitis sphaerocarpa, Schr., Bot. Mag., xii. 20 (1790).
Stemonitis argillacea, Pers., in Gmel., 1409 (1796).
Cribraria argillacea, Pers., Obs., i. 90 (1796); B. and Br.,
Ann. Nat. Hist. (1865), no. 1036; Cooke, Hdbk., 1168;
Fung. Eritt., ii. 526.
Cribraria micropus, Schrad., t. ii., f. 1 — 2 (1797). Trichia argillacea, Poir., Ency., viii., no. 32 (1808).
* Network not thickened at the angles.
Cribraria minutissinia, Sz.
Sporangia globose, stipitate, calyculus absent, permanent ribs thin, forming a more or less uniform reticulation ; angles not at all, or very slightly enlarged, rarely enclosing a few granules ; stem filiform, larger than sporangium, erect or curved above, brownish; spores globose, almost colourless, minutely warted, 4 — 6 p. diameter.
Cribraria minutissinia, Schweinitz, in Syn. Fung. Amer. Bor., no. 2362; Rost, Mon., App., p. 31 (Excl. Syn. C. minima, B. and C.) ; Sacc., Syll., 1405 (Excl. Syn. C. minima, B. and C.).
(Specimen in Hb. B. from Schweinitz.)
On decaying pine wood. United States.
Scattered, very minute, from '5 — 1 mm. high, recognized at once by the absence of a calyculus and absence of enlarged,
Dictydium. 67
angles in the network. Stem from 2 — 3 times as long as sporangium.
DICTYDIUM, Schrad.
Wall of sporangium single; permanent rib-like thickened portions radiating from base to apex and joined by numerous thinner transverse bands; thinner portions of wall situated between the ribs disappearing at maturity, or persistent at the base and forming an imperforate calyculus ; columella and capillitium absent.
Dictydium, Schrad., Nov. Gen. PL, p. 11 ; Host., Mon., p. 229 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 57 ; Sacc., Syll., p. 410 ; Zopf, p. 140.
The primary, vein-like, permanent portions of the sporangium radiate from the base and converge at the apex without becoming much broken up or distorted, although there is usually an indication of a reticulate arrangement near the apex ; these primary ribs are united laterally by straight, thinner portions, hence the arrangement of the skeleton is into more or less regular rectangular meshes.
Distrib. Europe; N.America; S. America ; Ceylon ; Australia : species 2.
Dictydium cernuum, Nees. (f. 133).
Sporangium globose, cernuous, more or less umbilicate at the apex, reddish brown; stem elongated, slightly thinner upwards, with a sharp curve near the apex, above which the stem is hyaline and shrivelled at maturity; below the curve dark brown, opaque, smooth, passing into a small hypothallus ; calyculus small ; mass of spores purple brown ; spores globose, smooth, 5 — 7 n diameter.
Dictydium cernuum, Nees., Syst., f. 117; Host., Mon., p. 229, figs. 17, 19, 22; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 57, figs. 17, 19, 22; Sacc., Syll., no. 1401; Schroeter, p. 106; Raunk., p. 51, Tab. ii. fig. 4.
Dictydium cernuum, var. laxum, B. and C., Grev. 1873, p. 67.
Exsicc— Fuckel, Fung. Rhen., 1445 and 2099; Syd., Myc.
68 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
March., 164; Rab., Fung. Eur., 2519; Jack, Leiner. &c., 422 ; Rav., Fung. Car., 78 ; Rav., Fung. Amer., 476 ; Ellis, N. Amer. Fung., 1122.
On decaying wood, especially pine. Britain (Milton, Norths ; Kew, Suffolk, Scarboro', Carlisle, Appin, N. B.) ; Germany ; Sweden; Finland; Belgium; Denmark; Hungary; United States ; S. America ; Ceylon.
Gregarious, 1 — 1'5 mm. high; the stem varies from 2 — 3 times as long as the sporangium; the lower three-fourths is erect, blackish-brown, and opaque ; at the top of this erect portion there is a sharp curve, above which the pendulous portion of the stem consists, at maturity, of a colourless, shrivelled membrane, from which the sporangium hangs sus- pended, and easily moved by wind or insects ; in all probability this peculiar structure of the stem is connected with spore- dissemination. The inner (surface of the calyculus and the ribs are furnished with numerous dark brown granular masses of organic matter.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Mucor canccllatus, Batsch, f. 232 (1789).
Stcmonitis cancellata, Gmel., Syst., 1468 (1791).
Sfthaerocarpus trichioidcs, Bull., p. 124 (1791).
Cribraria cernua, Pers., Obs., i. 91 (1796).
Dictydium, umbilicatum, Schrad., t. iv., f. 1 (1797); Fr., S. M.,
iii. 165; Berk., Eng. Fl., v. p. 318; Cooke, Hdbk., 1165,
fig. 134.
Dictydium airibigvwm, Schrad., t. iv., f. 2 (1797). Trichia cernua, Poir., Ency., viii., no. 25 (1808). Dictydium ccrnuum, Nees., f. 117 (1816). Dictydium trichioidcs, Chev., Fl. Par., 327 (1827) ; Corda Ic.,
v., f. 36.
Dictydium venosum, Schrad.
Sporangium globose, cernuous, brownish-yellow owing to the spore-mass showing through the translucent wall, which is
Dictydium. 69
almost colourless when empty and furnished with 0 — 12 darker coloured ribs giving off lateral, free, not anastomosing branches ; stem elongated, flexuous, brownish.
Dictydium venosum, Schrader, Nov. Gen., p. 14, pi. iii., fig. 6 ; Sacc., Syll, v. 7, pt. I., no. 1412 ?
On rotten prostrate trunks of pine. Germany.
It is doubtful whether the species described by Berlese in Sacc., Syll., 1. c., is the species intended by Schrader.
COLUMELLIFERAE. -
The most pronounced features of the present section are the presence of a central columella, which in most instances is a direct continuation of the stem within the peridium, and the absence of lime from every part. The two sub-sections as defined appear distinct, but this, as usual, is only true of the two poles, and curiously enough, transitions have been met with where they would have been least expected. In the Lamprodermeae, characterized by the capillitium springing from the apex of the columella, we find this character fairly satis- factory in the typical genus Lamproderma, and yet more rigidly carried out in Encrthcnema, where the copious capillitium originates entirely from a peltate disc springing from the apex of the columella after the latter has passed quite through the sporangium; yet we find in the genus Ancyropliorus all the characteristics presented by the genus Enerthenema, plus a few scattered branches springing from various points of the columella throughout its length, in addition to the main bulk of the capillitium which originates from the apical disc as in Ener- thenema. The branches of the capillitium springing from the columella are again broken up into smaller and smaller branch- lets, which usually combine to form an irregular network. The sporangial wall is always very thin and blackish in colour and remarkable for its brilliant metallic tints, and also for its ephemeral nature, disappearing entirely or in part as the spores approach maturity, or as in the genus Orthotrichia being absent
70
A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
from the earliest condition. In Lamproderma molaceum the columella is filled with large spherical, or1 from mutual pressure, polyhedral cells, a character repeated in the stem of several species of Arcyria. The three genera Amaurochaete, Brefeldia, and Eeticularia are only known in the aethalioid condition, and superficially appear quite isolated from the remaining genera, but structurally are nothing more than confluent forms of such genera as Stemonitis and Lamproderma. Comatricha confluens is a connecting link between the two extremes. According to the preconceived idea that the presence of a columella is of sectional importance, the genus Siplwptychium belongs to the present division, nevertheless its affinity with the Peritricheae is obvious.
The following arrangement indicates the affinities of the genera included in the Columellifcrae, and the points of contact with other sections.
STEMONITIS. A ncyroplwrus.
BREFELDIA. Rostajituskia.
AMAUROCHAETE. RETICULARIA.
LAMPRODERMA.-
I Echiiwstelium.
I Orthoiricha.
Raciborskia.
w
K "
-B — pq
f**^
« O
H i— i
3
Siph optychiiim . TUBULIXA.
PERITRICHEAE.
Stemonitae. 7 1
ANALYSIS OF THE GENERA.
Sub-sect. STEMONITAE. A. Sporangia free.
STEMONITIS. Capillitium threads springing from all sides of an elongated columella.
B. Sporangia forming an aethalium.
Siphoptychium. Sporangia straight, parallel, each containing a central columella.
AMAUEOCHAETE. A large, pulvinate aethalium, bifurcating branches of capillitium connected for some distance by a thin membrane.
BREFELDIA. Aethalium large, threads of capillitium with clusters of vesicular bodies.
Eostafinskia. Threads of lower portion of capillitium septate.
RETICULARIA. Aethalium pulvinate; capillitium threads forming an irregular network without vesicles or flat mem- branous expansions.
Sub-sect. LAMPRODERMAE.
ENERTHENEMA. Threads of capillitium springing from a flattened disc at the apex of the columella.
Ancyrophorus. Threads of capillitium springing from a flattened disc at the apex of the columella, and also from the columella throughout its length.
LAMPRODERMA. Threads of capillitium springing from the abrupt apex of the short columella.
Echinostelium. Columella absent ; capillitium springing from apex of stem.
Raciborskia. Wall of sporangium absent, main branches of capillitium springing from apex of a short columella, becoming branched, branches forming a network.
Orthotricha. Sporangial wall absent from the first.
72 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Sub-Sect. I. STEMONtTAE.
STEMONITIS, Gled.
Sporangia cylindrical, ovate, or globose, stipitate; stem con- tinuing into the sporangium as a columella of greater or less length, and giving origin to numerous branches throughout its length, which combine to form a dense, irregular network ; wall of sporangium thin, soon disappearing, often with metallic tints.
Stemonitis, Gleditsch, Meth., p. 141 ; Host., Mon., p. 193 (in part); Cke., Myx. Brit, p. 46 (in part); Sacc., Syll., vii., pt. I., p. 397.
ComatricJia, Preuss. in Sturm's Deutschl. (in part) ;^ Rost., Mon., p. 197 (in part) ; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 47 (in part) ; Sacc., Syll., vii., p. 394.
The genus Comatricha was distinguished according to Preuss by the globose or shortly elliptical sporangium from the species of Stemonitis, a character shown by Rostafinski to be untenable, hence the last-named author used characters supposed to be presented by the capillitium for the separation of the two genera. In Comatricha the meshes of the network are arcuate or curved, and not attached to the wall of the sporangium, by short branches, whereas in Stemonitis the threads are not arcuate at the surface, and the capillitium is attached to the wall in numerous places by short branches. These characters, not being constant, and furthermore overlapping in the two genera, cannot be considered as of generic value, neither in my opinion would they be so even if constant.
Distrib. Scattered over temperate and tropical regions. Species 23.
A. Spores blackish brown in the mass. § S2>ores wartxl.
Stemonitis fusca, Rost. (figs. 155 — 157 and 162 — 164). Densely grcgarioiis, springing from a well-developed, broadly
Stemonitis. 73
spreading hypothallus ; sporangia cylindrical, obtuse or attenu- ated at the apex, wall thin, evanescent ; blackish with metallic tints ; stem slender, equal, shorter than the sporangium, blackish, shining; columella reaching nearly to apex of sporangium; capillitium dense, threads blackish, tapering, combined into a dense, irregular net, the peripheral meshes smaller or equal to the spores in diameter : spores in the mass Hack, with violet tinge, dingy violet by transmitted light, globose, varying from dis- tinctly verrucose to almost smooth, size also variable, from 5 — 11 jut diameter.
Stemonitis fusca, Host., Mon., p. 193, fig. 40; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 46, fig. 40 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1362.
JExsicc.— Roum., Fung. Sel. Gall. (ReL Moug.); Ellis, N. Amer. Fung., 1119 ; Fckl., Fung. Rhen., 1149; Holl, Schmidt, and Kunze, Deutschlands Schwamme, n. cix. ; Cke., Fung. Brit., Ed. ii., n. 522 ; Fung. Cub. Wrightiani, n. 538 ; Roum., Fung. Gall., Cent. xiv. (number indistinct).
On rotten wood, &c. Britain (Bournemouth, Kew, Ilfra- combe, Epping ; Bulmer, Yorks ; Carlisle, Aboyne) ; Europe ; N. America ; Cuba ; Venezuela ; Natal ; Mauritius ; Himalayas ; Ceylon; Victoria; Tasmania.
From 5 — 14 mm. high. The only large British species with a small meshed capillitium and spores blackish violet in the mass.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Lycoperdon capite cylindracea, Rupp. Jenn., 304 (1718).
ClathroidastriLin obscurum, Mich., t. 94, f. 1 (1729).
Enibolus nigerrimus, Hall, t. i., f. 1 (1742).
Clathrus nudus. Linn., Fl. Suec., 1263 (1745).
Stemonitis I, Gled., Meth., 141 (1753).
Embolus, Hall, 2137, t. 48, f. 1 (1768).
Tubulifera cremor, Fl. Dan., t. 659, f. 1 (1777).
Tremella typhina, Willd. Fl. Ber., 420 (1787).
Mucor araneosus, Jacq. Misc., t. 15 (1778).
Stemonitis fusca, Roth. Mag. Bot., p. 26 (1782); Ehr. Ber., f. 5 ; Grev., S. C. Fl., t. 170 ; Corda Ic., ii., f. 87 ; Eng. FL, v., 317; Cooke, Hdbk., 1155, fig. 132, Fung Britt., ii., 522.
74 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Trichia nuda, With. Arr., iv., 477 (1792). Stemonitis fasciculata, Pers., Syn., 187 (1801). Stemonitis typhoides, Auct.
Stemonitis maxima, Sz.
Sporangia crowded, stipitate, springing from a well-developed hypothallus; sporangia cylindrical; wall blackish, reflecting metallic tints, evanescent; columella reaching almost to the apex of the sporangium; capillitium dense, branches often arcuate, sometimes more or less irregularly dilated, especially at the nodes, peripheral meshes much larger than the diameter of the spores; mass of spores blackish broum; spores globose, very minutely verruculose, 5 — 10 //. diameter; stem filiform, black, shining, shorter than the sporangium.
Stemonitis maxima, Schweinifz, Syn. Fung. Amer., n. 2349 (specimen from Schweinitz in Herb. Berk., Kew, n. 10835).
Stemonitis splendens, Rost., Mon., p. 195 ; Sacc., Syll., vii. 1, n. 1364. (Authentic specimen named by Rostafinski. )
On wood, &c. Russia ; Finland ; France ; Ceylon ; Mauritius ; Cuba ; United States ; Australia ; Cape of Good Hope.
A fine large species, distinguished amongst the dark-spored species by the large peripheral meshes of the capillitium. Lumps of organic matter are sometimes met with in consider- able quantities on the threads of the capillitium ; 1*5 — 3 cm. high.
Stemonitis typhina, Mass.
Gregarious, but not usually crowded, springing from a delicate hypothallus; sporangia cylindrical, obtuse at both ends, wall very thin, brownish, disappearing; columella reaching to the apex, capillitium dense, threads originating at numerous points from the columella, dingy brown, copiously branched and form- ing a dense, irregular network, thickest at the point of origin and tapering towards the periphery where they are very slender, and form a network of irregular pattern, with the meshes usually not larger than the diameter of the spores ; stem erect, slender, cylindrical, usually rather shorter than the sporangium, blackish ;
Stemonitis. 75
mass of spores Irownish-llack, lilac-brown by transmitted light, globose, very minutely asperate, 5 — 8 /x diameter.
Rostafinski gives the following forms, but it is not unusual to meet with both in the same cluster.
a. Genuina. — Sporangium with stem 2£ — 4 mm. high.
/3. Pumila. — Sporangium with stem 2 mm. high.
Comatricha typhina, Host, Mon., p. 198, figs. 46, 47; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 47, figs. 46, 47; Sacc., Syll., vii., n. 1355.
On rotten wood. Britain (Lyndhurst, Kew, Scarboro', Car- lisle, Aboyne, N. B.); Europe; U. States; Cuba; Ceylon; New Zealand.
From 4 — 7 mm. high. Closely allied to 0. pulchella, but distinguished by the dark brown colour of the spores in the
*o mass.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Clathroidastrum obscunom, Mich., t. 94, f. 2 (1729).
Mucor capitulo fusco, Scop., Fl. Cam., 66 (1760).
Mucor Stemonitis, Scop., Fl. Cam., 493 (1772); Schpf., t. 296.
Enibolus lacteus, Jacq., Muse. 1, t. 6 (1778).
Clathrus nudus, Fl. Dan., t. 755 (1782).
Clathrus fertusus, Batsch, f. 176 (1753).
Stemonitis typhina, Roth. Fl. Germ., 1, 547 (1788); Pers.,
Obs., 1, 57.
Stemonitis filicina, Schrk., Fl. Bav., 1782 (1789). Trichia typhoides, Bull., t. 477, f. 2 (1791). Stemonitis typhoides, D. C., Fl. Fr., ii., 257 (1805); Cooke,
Hdbk., n. 1157. Stemonitis bicolor, Fries, Herb. Stemonitis leucopoda, Fr. Gast., 16 (1817). Stemonitis pumila, Corda Ic., v., p. 37 (1842).
Stemonitis macrosperma, Mass.
Sporangia naked, stipitate ; stem continued into the sporan- gium as a columella, reaching nearly to the apex, threads of capillitium passing from the columella to the wall and pro-
76 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
ducing very much thinner branchlets, which are combined amongst themselves at all points to form a rather loose net- work, the, peripheral meshes of the network formed of combined, arcuate threads, and slightly smaller than the rest, especially towards the base of the capillitium ; spores 9 — 12 jx, diameter, pale violet, verruculose.
Stemonitis macrosperma, Racib., Myx. Crac., p. 8 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1361.
Var. obovata. Racib., sporangia obovate, 0*5 — 0'75 mm. broad. With the type.
Var. oblonga. Racib., sporangia oblong, 0'75 — 1 mm. long, 0'3 — 0'5 mm. broad. With the type.
Poland.
Stemonitis Suksdorfii, Mass.
Gregarious, stipitate, sporangia cylindrical, very obtuse at both ends, wall iridescent, evanescent; stem blackish-brown, shining, about equal in length to sporangium, tapering upwards, rather stout, becoming dilated at the base into a hypothallus ; spores in the mass blackish-purple. Columella rather thick, sub-equal, blackish, usually becoming abruptly divided into branches at some distance below the apex of the sporangium; sometimes more or less flattened at the apex, and with a tendency to become discoid ; capillitium exceedingly dense, dark, main branches originating from the columella; stout, taper- ing, branches arcuate, combined to form an irregular, small- meshed network; spores bright lilac, minutely warted, 7 — 8 /x diameter.
Comatricha Suksdorfii, Ellis and Everh.
On wood, bark, &c. United States.
(Described from a portion of type specimen communicated by Wingate.)
From 5 — 6 mm. high.
Stemonitis affinis, Mass.
Sporangia cylindrical, obtuse, up to 2 mm. high ; stem from its shortness scarcely distinct : columella reaching almost to apex
Stemonitis. 7 7
of the sporangium, then dividing into 2 — 5 branches ; threads of capillitium much more rigid at the base than in the ulterior, very loose network, node's often triangular, ultimate branches arcuate, transversely joined, some free and excurrent; spores pale violet, warted, 5 — 6 fi diameter.
Comatricha affinis, Host., Mon., p. 202; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1 n. 1359.
Germany.
Stemonitis confluens, Cke. and Ellis.
Forming compact tufts about 2 mm. high, from 8 — 15 ; individuals spring from a firm, spreading, venulose hypothallus ; stems usually simple and distinct, dark brown, wrinkled to- wards the base, about *5 mm. high, then "breaking up into from 2 — 4 main branches or columellas which anastomose later- ally with those of other individuals forming an irregular plasmodiocarp, covered with a blackish-violet, evanescent, common cortex; mass of spores Hack with violet tinge; the main branches springing from the columellas form a dense network, threads arcuate, many of the meshes closed by a thin membrane ; spores globose, dingy violet, minutely warted, 7 — 8 j-t, diameter.
Stemonitis conjluens, Cke. and Ellis, Grev., vol. v., p. 51. . Comatricha conjluens, C. and E., Myx., U. States, p. 396.
On oak bark. United States.
A very interesting species, and highly instructive in showing how the fundamental simple form becomes modified by con- fluence. The general mass of the plasmodiocarp is sometimes spherico-depressed, and even at others the columella of one individual of the colony remains simple and projects above the mass as a finger-like projection; in others all the individuals are more or less free at the tips. When the wall and spores are completely blown away, the resemblance of the capillitium to that of Reticularia is striking.
78 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
§ § Spores smooth. Stemonitis atra, Mass. (n. sp.).
Scattered ; sporangia cylindric-ovate, black, slightly iridescent ; stem twice as long as sporangium, thin, equal, dull, black, expanding at the base into a minute, circular hypothallus ; mass of spores brown with a lilac tinge ; columella as thick as the stem, equal, reaching to apex of sporangium; main branches scattered, remaining simple for a short distance then branching and forming a network, the meshes becoming smaller towards the periphery where they equal the spores in diameter ; all the branches of the network of equal thickness, very stout, 3'5 — 4 /* diameter ; dark brown ; spores globose, dingy lilac-brown, smooth, 10 n diameter.
On wood. New Zealand.
Remarkable in the scattered habit, 6 — 8 mm. high. Readily distinguished by the very thick threads of the capillitium. The columella sometimes breaks up into branches a short distance below the apex of the sporangium.
Stemonitis acuminata, Mass. (n. sp.).
Gregarious, or often densely crowded on a well-developed, iridescent hypothallus ; sporangia cylindrical, elongato-acuminate at the apex; wall blackish-purple, iridescent, disappearing; stem equal to or shorter than sporangium, filiform, slightly attenuated upwards; blackish, shining; mass of spores black with purple tinge; capillitium continuing to the apex of the sporangium, primary branches scattered, short, supporting a network of irregularly polygonal meshes which are large and everywhere of equal size, 40 — 50 p in diameter ; spores globose, smooth, 13 — 14 jx diameter.
On rotten wood. Cape of Good Hope (Table Mountain).
Agreeing with Stemonitis Morgani in the large-meshed capillitium, but distinguished by the acuminate apex of the sporangium and the larger spores ; 1*5 cm. high.
Stemonitis. 79
Stemonitis Bauerlinii, Mass. (n. sp.).
Densely gregarious on a well-developed, firm hypothallus; sporangia elongato-fusiform, wall blackish, iridescent, very evanescent, mass of spores black with a violet tinge ; stem erect, black, shining, slightly tapering from the base; columella ex- tending to apex of sporangium ; flexuous above ; capillitium of lower half of sporangium of large, equal meshes which are peri- pheral only and supported on distant, thin, simple or rarely divided branches springing from the columella, the main branches become more and more numerous, thicker, and irregular towards the apex of the sporangium, and often form irregular, flattened expansions ; the branches forming the net are also much thicker, and the meshes irregular, and not all peripheral as towards the base of the sporangium; many of the branches of the network towards the apex with short free ends; spores globose, smooth, 5 — 6 f* diameter.
On wood. New Guinea (Strickland River). 'From l-5 — 2 cm. high. Distinguished by the capillitium being very scanty and the network being entirely peripheral below, becoming very dense towards the apex.
Stemonitis laxa, Mass.
Sporangia spherical, scarcely "5 mm. diameter; stem rigid, black, not attaining to 1 mm. in length; columella almost reaching to apex of sporangium, and then dividing into 2 — 3 branches ; threads of the capillitium of equal width throughout, very rigid, forming a regular, lax network, ultimate branches arcuate, connected by transverse bands, some remaining free and furcately divided; spores smooth, lilac, 9 — 11 ju, diameter.
Comatricha laxa, Host., Mon., p. 201 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, no. 1358.
Germany.
Stemonitis flummensis, Speg.
Hypothallus very thin, broadly effused, mucedinous, black, rather shining ; stem erect, rather rigid, shining, black, 0'5 — 1
80 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
mm. long, 07 — 0'6 mm. thick; smooth when moist, rugulose when dry, sub-contorted, extended into the sporangium as a columella, not reaching to the apex; sporangium cylindrical, rarely sub-clavate, rounded at both ends, O8 — 1*2 mm. long, 0'3 — 0'2 mm. thick, black, opaque, wall persistent for a long time; capillitium springing from the columella, forming a rather dense network, the superficial meshes equal to or twice the diameter of the spores, with uncinate free tips ; spores globose or sub-elliptical, 5 — 8 /u diameter, perfectly smooth, smoky brown.
Stemonitis Jluminensis, Speg., Fung. Arg., N. 261 ; Sacc., Syll, vii., 1, n. 1366.
On bark, moss, &c. Brazil.
Stemonitis subcaespitosa, Mass.
Stems subcaespitose or loteely clustered, thickened at the base, about half the length of the sporangia, extending through the capillitium as a columella; peridia ovate-oblong, obtuse, fugacious ; capillitium growing from the columella, reticulately connected and also forming a superficial net with coarse meshes, blackish ; spores globose, even, (smooth ?), blackish-brown, •0004 — -00045 in. in diameter.
Comatricha subcaespitosa, Peck, 43rd Report, New York State, Mus. Nat. Hist. (1890), p. 25, PL iii., figs. 6—9.
Decorticated wood of hemlock. Tsuga Canadensis. Sandlake. July.
This species resembles Stemonitis fusca in colour. In size it approaches Comatricha typhina. Its capillitium is variously connected, and appears to combine the reticulation of Comatricha and Stemonitis, but on account of the network not being wholly parallel to the walls of the peridium, it is placed in Comatricha. The plants are mostly connected in small groups or loose clusters of two to ten individuals. Its coarser meshes and larger spores distinguish it from Comatricha typhina. (Peck, 1. c.).
Stemonitis aequalis, Mass.
Gregarious or loosely clustered, about three lines high, arising from a thin hypothallus ; sporangia cylindrical, obtuse, fugacious,
Stemonitis. 81
wholly falling away; capillitium brown or blackish-brown, forming an intricate network ; stem slender, smooth, black, penetrating the capillitium as a columella, and extending nearly or quite to the apex, the free portion about equal in length to one-half the altitude of the entire plant; spores globose, smooth, violet-black, '0003' — '00035' in diameter ( = about 8-9 p).
Gomatricha aequalis, Peck, 31st Report of State Mus., N. Y., p. 42 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1360.
Decaying wood. Catskill Mountains. Sept.
In colour this species is almost exactly like Stemonitis fusca, from which its more lax habit, proportionally longer stem and different capillitium separate it. The larger size, both of the plant itself and of the spores, will separate it from ComatricJia typliina. The length of the stem and of the capillitium are
nearly equal, hence the specific name. (Peck.) r
Stemonitis tenerrima, B. and C.
Gregarious ; sporangia cylindrical, base and apex very obtuse, wall thin, blackish-purple, iridescent, evanescent; stem about equal in length to sporangium, filiform, blackish, sub-equal; columella reaching nearly or quite to apex of sporangium ; primary branches short, breaking up into a network, the meshes becoming smaller towards the periphery where they equal the spores in diameter, the threads taper towards the periphery; spores in the mass black with violet tinge, globose, smooth, 13 — 14 p, diameter.
Stemonitis tenerrima, Berk, and Curt., Grev., vol. ii., p. 69. (Type in Herb. Berk., Kew, n. 10831.)
On wood. Lower Carolina.
Distinguished by the small size 3'5 — 4 mm., cylindrical sporangium, and the large, smooth spores.
Whether the present species is identical with "Stemonitis tenerrima Curtis in Sill., Journ., 1. c., p. 349 (1848)," as quoted by Rostafinski, Mon., Append., p. 27, I have no means of determining.
G
82 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Stemonitis Friesiana, De Bary.
Scattered or gregarious ; sporangia globose or shortly elliptical, wall very thin, disappearing, whitish with a silvery sheen or purple black; stem Hack, shining, elongated, tapering upwards^ expanding at the base into a small, circular, irregularly ribbed or latticed hypothallus ; columella reaching about two-thirds the height of the sporangium, then breaking up into several branches, threads of capillitium dark brown, arcuate, forming a dense net; spores in the mass blackish, violet-brown by transmitted light, globose, smooth, 8 — 10 /u. diameter.
Stemonitis Friesiana, De Bary, in Rab. F. Eng., n. 568.
Comatricha Friesiana, Host., Mon., p. 199, figs. 51 and 56 ; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 48, figs. 51 and 56 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1356.
Exsicc. — Fuckel, Fung. Rhtta., n. 1446 (as Stemonitis ovata).
On wood, branches, leaves, &c.
Britain (Lyndhurst, Kew, Hereford, York, Carlisle, Aboyne, N. B.) ; Europe ; U. States ; Ceylon ; Tasmania.
From 3 — 5 mm. high. The threads of the capillitium are of nearly equal thickness throughout, and sometimes studded with amorphous lumps of organic matter. Distinguished by the long, tapering stem, and small globose, or shortly ovate sporangium.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Mucor embolus, Linn. Sp., 1185 (1753).
Lycogala, Hall, 2146? (1768).
Stemonitis rcticulata, Trent, p. 223? (1797).
Stemonitis nigra, Pers., Gmel. Sys., 1467 (1791).
Stemonitis atrofusca, Pers., Disp., 11 (1797).
Stemonitis atrofusca, /3 nigra, Pers., Disp., 54 (1797).
Stemonitis ovata, Pers., Syn., 189 (1801); Berk., Eng. Fl., v.,
p. 317; Cooke, Hdbk., no. 1158. Trichia mucoriformis, Schum., SaelL, 1469 (1803). Stemonitis violacea, Schum., SaelL, 1491 (1803). Stemonitis nigra, Schum., Saell., 1493 (1803). Stemonitis globosa, Schum., Saell., 1494 (1803).
Stemonitis. 83
Trichia alba, Sow., t. 259 (1818).
Stemonitis obtusata, Fr. Sym. Gast., 17 (1818) ; Eng. Fl., v.,
p. 317; Cooke, Hdbk., no. 1159. Comatricha obtusata, Preuss., Sturrn. (1851). Comatricha alba, Preuss. in Sturm (1851). Stemonitis Friesiana, De Bary (1870) ; Rabh., Fung. Eur.,
no. 568.
§ § § Spores reticulated.
Stemonitis longa, Mass.
Sporangia gregarious, slender, cylindrical, straight, or usually flcxuous, very long; wall evanescent; stem filiform, slender, rather short, blackish ; columella, capillitium, and mass of spores brmvnish-violet ; columella extending nearly to apex of sporan- gium, tapering upwards; capillitium springing from the colu- mella at numerous points throughout its length, main branches soon branching, axils usually rounded, often occupied for some distance by a thin membrane, sometimes connected laterally, branches towards the periphery much branched in a penicillate manner, tips free ; spores globose, epispore very minutely reticu- lated, 7 — 8 ju diameter.
Comatricha longa, Peck, 43rd Report of New York State Mus., p. 24, pi. 3, f. 1—5.
On wood, bark, &c. United States.
Fasciculate, capillitium often curved or twisted after the wall has disappeared, 3 — 6 cm. long.
Stemonitis dictyospora, Rost. (fig. 112).
Sporangia, gregarious, cylindrical, both ends obtuse, Avail silvery, soon disappearing, stem shorter than sporangium, rather thick, equal, black, springing from a well-developed hypothallus ; columella reaching nearly to apex of sporangium, capillitium dense, threads like the columella blackish, combined to form a network having the peripheral mesJies not larger than the diameter of the spores ; spores in the mass blackish-violet, globose, epispore with thin ridges forming a polygonal netwoi'lc, 12 — 15 fx diameter.
84 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Stemonitis didyospora, Host., Mon., p. 195 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, 1303.
On palm leaves. Venezuela ; Amazon Valley ; United States.
The type specimen on which Rostafinski founded the species is in the Berkeley herbarium, Kew, and had evidently been considered as distinct as the MS. name of " S. trechispora, B. and C.," is on the paper in Berkeley's writing. It seems a pity that Rostafinski could not accept this name. Distinguished at once by the silvery white sporangial wall, very small peripheral meshes of the capillitium, and reticulated spores. _.»
B. Spores brcnvn or ferruginous in the mass.
§ >%0? es smooth. Stemonitis Carlylei, Mass. (n. sp.) (figs. 158, 159).
Growing in small scattered tufts, sporangia cylindrical, apex obtuse, wall very thin, evanescent except the apical portion, which remains like a cap, dark, with purple or dark blue tints ; stem short, dark, expanding into a tough, brown, common hypo- thallus; mass of spores dull orange-brown; columella attenu- ated upwards, disappearing just below the apex ; capillitium dense, originating in numerous stout branches from the colu- mella, which soon break up into thinner branches that anasto- mose to form a dense, irregular net, threads arcuate, peripheral meshes large, at least tioice the diameter of the spores, and bearing numerous free tips which are at first attached to the wall, brown, becoming paler towards the periphery; spores globose, pale, clear orange-brown, smooth, 11 — 15 /u diameter.
On wood. Carlisle.
Growing in small scattered tufts of from 8 — 14 plants, 3'5 — 4 mm. high, the sporangia are cylindrical with abruptly rounded ends, or rarely slightly attenuated below, and passing into the stem, which is not usually a quarter the length of the sporangium. At once distinguished from Stemonitis ferruginea, the remaining bright-spored species by the large peripheral meshes of the capillitium, with numerous free tips, and the
Stemonitis. 85
larger spores. The spores sometimes show indistinct indications of warting under 1200 diameters.
Stemonitis ferruginea, Host. (figs. 160, 161).
Densely gregarious, on a well-developed hypo th a 11 us ; spor- angium cylindrical, obtuse, wall thin, dark brown, evanescent ; stem slender, blackish, equal to or shorter than sporangium; columella reaching to the apex of the sporangium, blackish ; capillitium dense, threads dark brown, tapering, combined to form an irregular network, the peripheral meshes abend equal- ling the spores in diameter; spores in the mass bright brmvn, pale brown by transmitted light, globose, smooth, 6 — 9 f* diameter.
Stemonitis ferruginea, Rost., Mon., p. 196, figs. 31 — 39, 41 — 44, and 50 ; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 47, figs. 31—39, 41—44, and 50 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., n. 1365.
Exsicc. — Rav., Fung. Car., 75 (typical) ; Rav., Fung. Amer., 788.
On rotten wood, &c. Britain (Lyndhurst, Highgate, Scarboro', Carlisle, Linlithgow) ; Europe ; United States ; Mexico ; S. Domingo; Cuba; Rangoon; Ceylon; Queensland; New Zealand.
Usually densely gregarious, 1 — 1*5 cm. high. Readily dis- tinguished by the small peripheral meshes of the capillitium and the bright brown colour of the spores in the mass.
(Rostafiuski's Synonyms.)
Stemonitis typhina, Willd., Ber., 408 (1787).
Clathrus nudus, Bolt., t. 93, f. 1 (1789).
Trichia axifera, Bull, t. 447, f. 1 (1791).
Stemonitis fascidata, Pers., Syn., 187 (1801).
Stemonitis violacea, Schum., Saell., 1491 (1803).
Stemonitis fasciculata, DC., Fl. Fr., ii., 256 (1805).
Stemonitis ferruginea, Ehr., Syl. Ber., f, vi. a b (1818) ; Cooke,
Hdbk., No. 1156.
Stemonitis decipiens, Nees. Nov. Act. Leop., xvi. 95 (1821). Stemonitis heterospora, Oudem. Ned. Kr. Arch., L, 167 (1872).
86 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
x
Stemonitis Morgan!, Peck.
Sporangia crowded, stipitate, springing from a well-developed hypothallus ; cylindrical, wall evanescent; stem much shorter than sporangium, black, shining ; mass of spores Ircnon with a ferruginous tinge ; columella evanescent just below the apex of the sporangium; threads of capillitium forming the network brown, sub-equal, about 3 /* thick, meshes large, and about equal in size at every part, spores globose smooth, 6 — 7 JA diameter.
Stemonitis Morgani, Peck, Bot. Gaz., vol. v., p. 33 ; 34th Report State Mus., N. Y., p. 43 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1368.
Exsicc. — Ellis and Everhart, N. Amer. Fung., Ser. II., n. 2088.
o ' *
On bark, wood, &c. United States.
Agreeing in the large meshed capillitium with S. Carlylei and S. maxima; differing from the former in the much smaller spores, and from the latter in the brown or sub-ferruginous colour of the spores in the mass.
§ § Spores ivartcd.
Stemonitis pulchella, Bab.
' Scattered or gregarious, springing from a delicate hypothallus ; sporangic cylindrical or cylindrical-ovate, apex obtuse, base usually slightly umbilicate, wall delicate, silvery or dark ; stem rather stout, blackish, sub-equal or slightly tapering upwards, expanded at the base, shorter than sporangium ; columella reaching nearly to the apex of the sporangium ; capillitium dense, threads tapering, arcuate, brown, forming a dense, irregular net with the peripheral meshes not larger than the diameter of the spores ; spores in tlic, mass clear ferruginous, pale brown by transmitted light, globose, minutely wartcd, 6 — S ^ diameter.
Stemonitis pulchellat Babington, Linn. Soc. Trans., 1830 ; Berk., Ann. Nat. Hist, 1841, p. 431, t. 12, f. 11 ; Cke., Hdbk., n. 1160.
Comatricha pulchclla, Host., Mon., Suppl., p. 27; Cke., Brit. Myx., p. 49 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., pt. I., n. 1357.
Stemonitis. 87
(Type in Herb. Berk., Kew, n. 10841.)
On twigs, herbaceous stems, ferns, &c.
Britain (Bardon) ; Germany.
The peridium is sometimes almost white with a silvery sheen, at others brown. From 4 — 6 //. high. Much shorter and not so densely crowded as S. ferruginea. Quite distinct from S. pulcherrima, B. and C.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Stemonitis pulchella, Bab., Trans. Linn. Soc., cfr. Berk., A.
and M. (1841), p. 431, t. 12, f. 11 (1839). Stemonitis tenerrima, Curtis, Sill. Journ., 1. c., p. 349 (1848).
Stemonitis tenerrima, B. and C., Grev., n. 373 (1873). i
Stemonitis herbatica, Peck.
Sporangia densely gregarious, stipitate, springing from a thin hypothallus, sub-cylindrical, wall evanescent ; stem usually shorter than sporangium, thin, blackish; spores in the mass Irmvn ; columella reaching nearly to apex of sporangium ; capillitium dense, peripheral meshes not larger than diameter of spores, threads sometimes furnished with a few short, free ends ; spores globose, very minutely ivartcd, 8 — 9 p diameter.
Stemonitis herbatica, Peck, 26th Report State Mus., N. Y., p. 75 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, no. 1367.
(Authentic specimen from author.)
On living leaves, stems, &c. United States.
Often in scattered, small, densely crowded clusters, 5 — 8 mm. high. Allied to S. ferruginca in the colour of the spore-mass, and in the small peripheral meshes of the capillitium, differing in the very minutely warted spores.
Stemonitis tubulina, A. and S.
Aethalium at first white, soft, 1| — 2 in. broad, 4 — 6 lines high, orbicular, rarely sub-oblong, basal membrane stout, silvery, pellucid, iridescent, easily removable from the substratum ; surface very smooth, shining, with hemispherical warts above,
88 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
regularly arranged and corresponding to the apices of the component sporangia; columella (stylidia) brown, slender, capillary, aggregated, but for the most part individually free ; capillitium loosely interwoVen into a common mass; mass of spores brown.
Stcmonitis Tubnlina, Alb. and Schu. Consp., p. 102.
On decorticated pines. Germany.
From the description given by Albertini and Schweinitz, I have very little doubt but that the organism they had in view was Siphoptychium Casparyi, Rost.
In Saccardo's Sylloge, vii., p. 399, the following synonyms and remarks are given.
Stcmonitis fusca, var. /3 Fr. Syst. Myc., iii. ; Amaurochaete speciosa, Zukal, Eni. Pilze Myx. Bact., p. 5, t. 15, f. 3.
According to Raciborski, Hedw. 1887, p. 3, the above species is neither a species of Stemonitis nor Amaurochaete, but a new genus described under the name of Juudzillia, Racib.
SlPHOPTYCHIUM, Rost.
Sporangia sessile, densely crowded, springing from a well- developed hypothallus, cylindrical, or prismatic from mutual pressure, the whole forming a naked aethalium ; wall of spor- angium single, thin; columella central, springing from the hypothallus and reaching to the apex of the sporangium, tubes of capillitium rather scanty, radiating from the columella to the wall of the sporangium.
Siphoptychiwn, Rost., Mon., App., p. 32; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 83 ; Sacc., Syll., vol. vii., part I., p. 417.
The general habit and appearance of some species of Tululina from which the present genus differs in the presence of a central columella and capillitium; yet the general structure and arrangement of the sporangia and the spore sculpture of the only known species is so thoroughly that of Tulmlina cylindrica, that it seems very probable that the present genus is an evolution from the last-named species, or some close ally, the columella and radiating tubes being derived from modified sporangial walls.
Siphoptychium. Amaurochaete. 89
Siphoptychium Casparyi, Rost. (fig. 111.)
Sporangia crowded on a well-developed hypothallus, elongated, cylindrical or prismatic from mutual pressure, apices slightly convex, wall thin, brownish, iridescent; mass of spores umber; columella thin, reaching nearly or quite to apex of sporangium, tubes of capillitium simple, rarely branched, springing from the columella and extending to wall of sporangium; spores globose, with a, minutely raised network, 7 — 9 /A diameter.
Siphoptychium Casparyi, Host., Mon., Append., p. 32, fig. 245 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1423.
Exsicc. — Ellis and Everh., N. Amer. Fung., n. 2092.
On wood, &c. United States.
^Sporangia up to *5 cm. high, and about '5 mm. diameter of equal height, and densely packed side by side, forming cake- like aethalia, stated in letter from Dr. Rex, of Philadelphia, who has collected this species in abundance, to average from three to five inches in diameter ; but one aethalium collected in the Adirondack Mountains, N. Y., measured one foot and a half in length by one foot in width, with various prolongations besides.
AMAUROCHAETE, Rost.
Aethalium consisting of numerous elongated, naked sporangia, compacted together in several layers, and enclosed in a common delicate cortex; the capillitium consists of several columella- like, erect tubes springing from the base of the aethalium, and anastomosing amongst themselves form tree-like branches, which along with the secondary branches combine to form an irregular network ; angles of the larger forks of the capillitium connected for some distance by a thin web-like membrane.
Amaurochaete, Rost., Mon., p. 210; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 52; Sacc., Syll., p. 401.
Closely related to if indeed distinct from Ecticularia.
Distrib. Europe; United States. Species 1.
Amaurochaete atra, Rost. Aethalium variable in size, pulvinate, covered with a thin,
90 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
fragile, blackish cortex ; capillitium dense, forming an irregular network, the two branches forming the angles of the larger dichotomies connected by a membrane ; spores brownish-violet, globose, minutely warted, 14 — 17 IL diameter.
Amaurochaete atra, Host., Mon., p. 210, fig. 67 ; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 52, f. 67; Sacc., Syll., vii., no. 1375.
On wood and bark, especially of pines. Britain (Ascot, Lyndhurst, Leicester, Somerset, Aboyue, N. B.); Germany; France ; Sweden ; United States.
Varying from 1 — 3 in. or more across.
In the typical form the sporangia are very irregular and have nearly lost their individuality, whereas in other specimens the whole structure suggests the idea of a number of confluent individuals of a sessile Stcmonitis.
BREFELDIA, Rost.
Aethalium composed of numerous naked, elongated, closely- packed sporangia, arranged in several strata; columellas of the various sporangia coalescing to form tree-like branchings, branches of the capillitium meeting at the boundary of the sporangia and coalescing by the formation of polycellular vesicles.
Brcfeldia, Rost., Mon., p. 212; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 53; Sacc., Syll., vii., p. 402 ; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 96.
Like Reticularia, the one species constituting the present genus is only known in the aethalioid form, and the component sporangia are much contorted. The principal feature of the genus is the presence of numerous very peculiar structures met with scattered at intervals in the threads of the capillitium. These bodies usually consist of eight cell-like vesicles more or less quadrate in outline, measuring 8 — 15 p in diameter, and arranged in a quadrate manner, the capillitium threads are attached to the four cells forming the two ends of the cluster of vesicles by short branches, usually four in number, one being attached to each vesicle. Rostafinski says that these
Brefeldia. Rostaftnskia. 91
bodies are situated at the points where adjacent sporangia meet.
Distrib. Europe. Species 1.
Brefeldia maxima, Eost. (figs. 254 — 256).
Aethalium large, pulvinate, surface blackish with purple or olive tints, rough with irregular wart-like nodules, seated on a firm, silvery-looking hypothallus; capillitium dense, threads irregularly anastomosing, dark coloured, with numerous inter- calary clusters of vesicles ; spores in the mass blackish with a purple tinge, globose, minutely warted, 13 — 17 p diameter.
Brefeldia maxima, Eost., Mon., p. 213, figs. 60, 65, 66, 69, 70 j Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 53, figs. 60, 65, 66, 69, 70 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., no. 1377; Eaunk., Myx. Dan., p. 96, t. 5, f. 13.
Licea perreptans, Berk., Gard. Chron., 1848, p. 451.
Exsicc. — Cke., Fung. Brit., Ed. II., n. 518.
On fallen trunks, &c. Britain (Eolleston, Kew) ; Germany.
Foiming large pulvinate patches of irregular form varying from 1 — 6 inches across.
(Eostafinski's Synonyms.)
Lycoperdon epidendrum, Sow., 400, f. 2, 3 (1809).
Dermodium inquinans, Fr. Gast., 9 (1817).
Rclicularia maxima, Fr. S. M., iii., 85 (1829); Eng. Fl., v.,
308; Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1097; Fungi Britt., ii., 518. Lycoperdon echiniformis, Sow., t. 400, f. 1. Licea perreptans, Berk., Gard. Chron. (1848), 451 ; Ann. Nat.
Hist., No. 392; Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1196.
EOSTAFINSKIA, Speg.
Sporangia flexuous, intricately combined to form aethalia of varying magnitude, seated on a floccoso-papyraceous hypothallus ; columellas absent; capillitium well-developed, not furnished with granules of lime, persistent, naked; spores globose or irregular, coloured, present only in the central stratum of the aethalium.
92 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
RostafinsJeia, Speg., Fung. Arg., Pug. III., p. 27 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, p. 403 (not of Raciborski).
I am not acquainted with the single species constituting the present genus which appears to be exceptional in the septate tubes of the capillitium, &c.
Distrib. Argentine Republic. Species I.
Rostafinskia australis, Speg.
Aethalia variable in form, thickly pulvinate — effused; ecorticate, surface softly velvety- tomentose,vat first with a longish cottony tomentum, then breaking up into powdery filaments, purple- violet or bright reddish-violet; capillitiura tubes of the inter- mediate stratum cylindrical, 3 — 4 /A thick, branched, not septate, everywhere rough with minute warts* hyaline or tinged violet, tubes of inferior sterile stratum cylindrical septate, nodulosely branched, 5 — 6 p thick, smooth, brownish ; spores globose, ovoid or irregular, filled with granular protoplasm, smooth, bright lilac, 8—10 x 5—6 ft.
Rostafinskia australis, Speg., Fung. Arg., Pug. III., n. 59; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1381.
On rotten trunks, sawdust, &c. Everywhere very common.
Argentine Republic.
RETICULARIA, Bull.
Aethalia composed of numerous elongated, naked sporangia, arranged in strata and covered with a thin, common cortex ; capillitium consisting of several columel la-like, slender, thin- walled tubes, that give off several lateral branches which anastomose to form an irregular network.
Reticularia, Bulliard, Hist. Champ., Host., Mon., p. 240; Cke., Myx. Brit, p. 60; Sacc., Syll., vii., p. 418.
In the present genus numerous naked, elongated sporangia, arranged in a few superposed layers or strata, are covered with an external cortex. Each sporangium has its own long colu- mella, which gives off lateral branches that anastomose to form an irregular network, the branches of contiguous sporangia also
Retwularia. 93
anastomose. The structure of the entire body may be compared with the dense clusters of sporangia in Stemonitis, differing in the irregularity of the sporangia and absence of sporangial walls. Enteridium Rozeanum bears a close resemblance to the present genus, but there the capillitium is formed from the walls of the component sporangia. Several exotic species placed by Berkeley in Reticularia belong to the genus Chromosporium. Distrib. Europe and N. America. Species 3.
Reticularia lycoperdon, Host. (figs. 311, 312).
Aethalium large, pulvinate, completely surrounded by a delicate cortex which varies from dull umber, through reddish- br9wn, to pale grey with a silvery lustre ; sometimes rough with irregular, yellowish, minute warts; threads of the capillitium springing from the base, consisting of erect, columella-like portions with slender, anastomosing branches ; spores in the mass varying from umber to chestnut-colour, globose, about one- half the surface, of the spore covered with a regular network of raised lines, the remainder smooth, 7 — 9 p. diameter.
Reticularia lycoperdon, Host., Mon., p. 240, figs. 3, 4, 6, 13 ; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 60, figs. 3, 4, 6, 13 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., n. 1424.
Exsicc. — Fuckel, Fung. Rhen., n. 2583.
On wood, bark, &c. Britain (Bristol, Kew, Ecclesfield, Scarboro', Carlisle, Coed Coch, Linlithgow) ; Europe ; United States.
Forming lumps varying from 1 — 3 inches across, more or less circular or elongated, sometimes compressed, at others pulvinate, and 1 in. or more high. Care must be taken not to confound small specimens of the present species with Lycogala epidendrum, which differs in the thick capillitium threads with ornamented walls.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Lycogala griseum major, Mich., t. 95, f. 1 (1729).
Lycoperdon fuscum, Huds. Fl. Aug., 645 (1778).
Mucor lycogalus, Bott., t. 133, f. 2 (1789).
Reticularia lycoperdon, Bull., t. 446, f. 4, t. 476, f. 1—3 (1791).
94 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Lycogala argentea, Pers., Disp., 7 (1797). Lycogala turbinatum, Pers., Syn., 157 (1801), Strongylium fuliginoides, Ditm., t. 2, f. 1 (1809). Fuligo lycopcrdon, Schum., Saell., 1409 (1803). Reticularia argentea, Poir., Ency., vi., 20 (1806). Reticularia, umbrina, Fr. S. M., iii., 87 (1829) ; Corda, Ic., vi., f. 36 ; Eng. Fl., v, 308; Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1100.
Sub-sect. II. LAMPRODERMAE.
LAMPRODERMA, Rost.
Sporangia globose or broadly obovate, usually stipitate, stem continuous within the sporangium as a columella; threads of the capillitium originating from the apex only of the columella, primary branches either remaining simple for some distance or branching irregularly from the base, the branches combining to form an irregular network; wall of sporangium usually iridescent, soon disappearing.
Lamproderma, Rost., Mon., p. 202 ; Cke., Brit. Myx., p. 49 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, p. 390 ; Zopf, p. 1 56.
Closely allied to Diachaea and Stcmonitis, but differing from both in having the threads of the capiliitium originating from the apex of the columella only.
Distrib. Europe; United States; Ceylon; Australia; New Zealand. Species 18.
A. Spores smooth. Lamproderma violacemn, Rost. (figs. 152 — 154).
Gregarious on a strongly-developed hypothallus; sporangia sub-globose, convex above, flattened or slightly umbilicate below ; wall thin, blackish, with a dark violet lustre ; stem elongated, black, thick at the base, attenuated upwards ; columella about half the height of the sporangium, filled ivith large colourless cells; branches of capillitium almost colourless, springing from the ajjcx and sides of the columella, irregularly branched and com-
Lamproderma. 95
bined into a network; spores violet, globose, smooth, 9 — 12 /* diameter.
Lamproderma violacca, Host., Mon., p. 204, fig. 64; Cke., Brit. Myx., p. 50, f. 64 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., no. 1394.
On wood, moss, &c. Britain (Shrewsbury, Castle Howard, Yorks); United States.
A very distinct and beautiful species, characterized by having the sporangium flattened or umbilicate below, and the almost colourless capillitium springing from every part of the columella. From 2 — 3 mm. high.
(Rostafinski's Synonym.)
Stemonitis violacea, Fr. S. M., iii., 162 (1829); B. and Br., Ann. Nat. Hist., 387; Cke., Hdbk., n. 1162.
i
Lamproderma irideum, Mass. (figs. 149 — 151).
Scattered ; sporangia globose, wall thin, with steel-blue, green, or coppery metallic tints; stem elongated, blackish-brown, tapering upwards, expanded at the base into a small, circular hypothallus; columella cylindrical, about one-third the height of the sporangium, giving origin at the apex to several thick, ascending branches, which remain simple throughout the greater portion of their length, towards the tips repeatedly bifurcating, rarely anastomosing laterally, violet-brown, not paler at the tips ; spores globose, violet-brown, smooth, 11 — 15 p diameter.
Lamproderma arcyrioides, Var. iridea, Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 50, figs. 246—249 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., n. 1353.
Exsicc. Cke., Fung. Brit., Ser. I., 523 (as Stemonitis arcy- rioides)', Cke., Fun:*. Brit.. Ser. II., 523 (as Lamproderma arcyrioides).
(Type in Herb., Kew.)
On dead leaves, moss, &c. Britain (Hampstead).
Distinguished by the scattered habit, smooth spores, and in the primary branches of the capillitium remaining unbranched except at the tips.
Lamproderma suboeneum, Mass. Scattered ; sporangia globose, small, wall thin, broivn, with a
96 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
bright coppery tinge, basal portion often remaining as a frill round the stem; stem elongated, tapering upwards, expanding at the base into a minute, circular hypothallus, brown; colu- mella cylindrical, not more than one quarter the height of the sporangium, producing at the apex several primary branches, which are at once divided into numerous arcuate branches of equal thickness that combine to form a dense net, threads broWn, often studded with organic lumps ; spores lilac-brown, globose, smooth, 14 — 16 /u. diameter.
Rtemonitis physarioides, A. and S., Var. suboeneus, Berk., in Herb., n. 10842.
On slender twigs, moss, &c. Britain (Bulmer, Yorks) ; United States.
Remarkable in the capillitium consisting entirely of equal, rather stout, arcuate threads combined into a network of small, sub-equal meshes. From 2'5 — 3 mm. high, sporangium rarely attaining to *5 mm. diameter, constantly the colour of new copper.
Lamproderma leucosporum, Rost.
Sporangia spherical, about '5 mm. diameter, with various metallic tints ; stem black, shining, subulate, thin, passing into the sporangium as an exactly cylindrical, truncate columella; threads of the capillitium from, the base variously branched and combined to form a compact network, blackish when the spores are blown away ; spores pale violet, 8 — 9 /u. diameter, smooth.
Lamproderma leucosporum, Rost., Mon., App., 26 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1350.
Lamproderma nigrcscen^ Rost., Mon., p. 205 (in part).
Germany.
Lamproderma arcyrionema, Rost.
Sporangia spherical, very small, with a silvery metallic lustre, stipitate, stem straight, subulate, black, shining, dilated into a very thin, blackish-purple hypothallus, and passing into the sporangium as a very slender, cylindrical, truncate columella; branches of, the capillitium everywhere of uniform thickness,
Lamproderma. 97
divided from, the base, arcuate, variously interlaced, and combined to form a dense net without free branches ; spores pale violet , smooth, 6 — 7 /x diameter.
Lamproderma arcyrionema, Host., Mon., p. 208; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1352.
Poland.
Judging from the description, the present species appears to approach very closely such species as Stemonitis Friesiana.
B. Spoils warted or echinulate.
Lamproderma echinulatum, Rost.
Sporangia globose, dark steel-blue or blackish, iridescent ; stem thick at the base, becoming attenuated upwards, some- times-'sub-cylindrical, black, filled with large cells that become smaller upwards; columella thick, filled with cells like the stem, about one-third the height of the sporangium, sometimes clavate; capillitium dense, originating from apex of columella and at once forming an irregular netivork without the usual undivided primary branches, tubes pale, irregular, arcuate, often flattened and triangular at the nodes; spores globose, dingy- purple, coarsely echinulate, 15 — 22 //, diameter.
Lamproderma echinulatum, Rost., Mon., Append., p. 25 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1344.
Stemonitis echinulata, Berk., Fl. Tasm., p. 268. (Type in Herb. Berk., Kew.)
Amongst moss. Tasmania.
Gregarious, springing from a hypothallus, 3 — 4 mm. high, Departing from the usual type of Lamproderma in having every part of the capillitium combined to form a network with arcuate branches. Differs from Comatricha in the capillitium origin- ating from apex of thick columella only. Remarkable in having the stem and columella filled with large cells.
Lamproderma Listeri, Mass. (n. sp.) (figs. 202, 203).
Sporangia globose, dark -purple or blackish, iridescent, lower
portion sometimes remaining as a frill round the stem; colu-
H
98 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
mella slender, about one-third the height of the sporangium, capillitium rather dense, the main branches springing from the apex of the columella which is sometimes expanded in a discoid manner, branches stout, simple for half their lengthy then two or three times dichotomous, axils acute, secondary branches straight, sometimes anastomosing laterally, tips colourless, the other portions blackish ; stcr* elongated, straight or sub-flexuous, conical, smooth, blackish -brown, filled with amorphous organic matter, springing from a hypothallus ; spores globose, dingy purple, coarsely spinulosc, 15 — 17 M diameter.
Scotland (Moffat) ; Tasmania ; N. Zealand.
On moss, wood, &c. ; gregarious, 2 mm. high. A very fine species, remarkable for the elongated stem becoming usually much incrassated downwards, and in the apex of the columella being in some specimens expanded into a disc from the margin of which the primary branches of the capillitium originate. Both these features are characteristic of the genus Enerthenema, and the present species forms a connecting link between the last-named genus and Lamproderma. Agreeing with L, echinu- lata in the large, spinulose spores ; differing in the long, straight branches of the capillitium, and the stem being filled with amorphous lumps of organic matter.
Lamproderma Ellisiana, Cooke.
Sporangia globose, stipitate, minutely rugulose, blackish- purple, rather dull; columella short; capillitium originating from apex of columella, threads blackish-purple, very slender, equal throughout, repeatedly forking from the base, angles very acute; stem coloured like the sporangium and twice as long, slender above, becoming very thick downwards, and expanding into a small, circular, brown hypothallus; spores in clusters of 5 — 7 ; when the spores break up the clusters are sub-angular but soon become globose when free, pale lilac, minutely warted, 15 — 16 n diameter.
Lamproderma Ellisiana, Cke., Myx., U. States, p. 397.
Badhamia penetralis, Cke. and Ellis, Grev., vol. v., p. 49.
Lamproderma. 99
(Type in Herb., Kew.)
About 1 mm. high ; scattered. " On pine boards not much decayed, white at first." (Ellis.)
United States.
The clustered spores probably suggested the genus Badhamia, but the plant is a true Lamproderma, and quite distinct from a small species of Comatricha, "with which it is mixed.
Ellis appears to have confused the true Lamproderma of Cooke with the Comatricha in the N. A. F., Ser. II.
Lamproderma robusta, Ellis and Everh.
Sporangia globose or slightly contracted below, stipitate, blackish-purple, dull ; when in perfect condition covered with a very delicate bloom, lower portion usually remaining like a frill ,v round the stem ; columella short, thick, wrinkled ; capillitium very dense, springing from apex of columella, the main branches 3 — 5 p. thick, simple for a very short distance, then branching and anastomosing to form a small-meshed, very irregular dense netwoi*k ; threads tapering from the base, mostly flattened, angles often rounded, with scattered interstitial swellings, brownish-purple at the base, becoming paler upwards, attached, at numerous points to sporangial wall;- stem equal in length to sporangium or a little longer, blackish, smooth, equal, springing from a hypothallus; spores globose, dirty brownish-purple, minutely warted, 9 — 10 ^ diameter.
Lamproderma robusta, Ellis and Everhart.
(Described from portion of type communicated by Mr. Wingate.)
On wood. United States.
A very distinct and beautiful species, gregarious, springing from a common hypothallus, 2 — 2'5 mm. high. The sporangium is covered with an exceedingly thin layer of some substance resembling the bloom on a plum, which may be lime ; it cracks and breaks up into angular patches in water.
Lamproderma Schimperi, Host. Sporangia spherical, green, becoming blackish, or with a
100 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
reddish metallic sheen; stem black, shining, rigid, subulate, entering the peridium as an obovate columella, and about half its height; capillitium of dusky threads springing from apex of columella, branches for some distance simple, then becoming very much bra/nchcd, laterally connected, and forming a dense net at the periphery r, spores dingy- violet, minutely spinulose, 10—11 ^ diameter.
Lamproderma Schimperi, Host, Mon., p. 203, fig. 63 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1343 ; Cke., Myx. Brit., fig. 63.
Germany.
Lamproderma Sauteri, Host.
Similar to L. violaceum, but more rigid in every part; sporangia spherical, slightly flattened below, 1 mm. broad, shining with various metallic tints; stem black, sulndate, springing from a well-developed hypothallus; columella cylin- drical, truncate ; capillitium threads toanched from the lose and forming a dense network, pale when the spores are blown away ; spores dingy-violet, densely covered with spinules, 12 — 15 /A diameter.
.Lamproderma Sauteri, Host., Mon., p. 205; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, no. 1348.
Tyrol.
Entire specimen 2 mm. high.
Lamproderma minutum, Host.
Sporangia spherical, £ mm. diameter, slightly metallic ; stem black, slender, equal ; columella cylindrical, thin, truncate ; threads of capillitium colourless, rarely fasciculately branched, fascicles blending togctJwr ; spores violet, delicately vcrruculose, 6'6 /u, diameter.
Lamproderma minutum, Host., Mon., Append., p. 26 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1351.
France.
Lamproderma columbinum, Rost. Sporangia stipitate, sub-ovate or globose, blackish, reflecting
Lamproderma. 101
variously coloured metallic tints ; stem slender, attenuated up- wards, longitudinally wrinkled below, purple-black; columella cylindrical, more or less attenuated at the apex, about half the height of the sporangium ; capillitium pale, primary branches short, but distinct, thick, soon branching and dichotomosing in an irregular manner, combined by transverse branches to form an irregular network with numerous free, thin tips; spores globose, pale violet, minutely warted, 12 — 16 //. diameter.
Lamproderma columbinum, Host., Mon., p. 203, f. 61 ; Cke., Myx. Brit., f. 61 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1345.
Lamproderma iridcscens, Host., Mon., App., p. 25 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1346.
Physarum iridescens, Berk., Hook. Journ., 1851, p. 20.
Exsicc— Rab., Fung. Eur., 2213; Roum., Fung. Gall. Exs., n. 1685.,
On moss, wood, &c. Britain (Orton Wood, Leicester ; Rudloe, Twycross, Carlisle) ; Europe ; United States.
From 2 — 3 mm. high, sometimes sessile and even aethalioid ; distinguished by the very short, stout, primary branches of the capillitium, the smaller branches are sometimes nodulose at intervals.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Mucor violaceus, Leess., Fl. Herb., n. 1128 (1775).
Trichia violacea, Hoffm., Veg. Cr., p. 5, t. 2. f. 1 (1790).
Physarum columbinum, Pers., Syst., p. 173 (1801).
Trichia columbina, Poir., Encycl., no. 17 (1808).
Physarum salicinum, Schum., Fl. Saell, n. 1431 (1803).
Physarum bryophilum, Fr., S. M., iii., p. 135 (1829).
Physarum Iryophilum, /3 melanocephalum, Cda., Ic. 1, p. 22, t.,4, f. 287 (1837).
Lamproderma Saccardianum, Mass.
Broadly gregarious, altogether blackish, sporangia perfectly spherical, not umbilicate, \ mm. broad, at first yellowish then opaqiLC black, smooth, persistent, erect; stem filiform, \ mm. high, 40 ju, thick, black; hypothallus (when evident) distinct, minute, rufescent; columella terete, half the height of the
102 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
sporangium, apex rather obtuse ; branches of the capillitium springing from apex of columella, dichotomously branched, fili- form, fuliginous; spores globose, 9 — 10 /* diameter, pale smoky- violet, minutely echinulate.
Lamproderma nigrescens, Sac., Michelia, II., p. 262; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, no. 1354 (not of Host.).
On fallen leaves of Buxus, Robinia Pinus, heaps of chips, &c. Selva, N. Italy.
Distinguished from L. physarioides by its smaller size and smaller spores, and from L. violaceum by the black spherical sporangium, etc. (Sacc.)
Saccardo's name is antedated by Rostafinski's.
Lamproderma arcyrioides, Rost. (figs. 145 — 148).
Gregarious or scattered, springing from a firm hypothallus; sporangia globose, shortly elliptical or obovate, wall thin, blackish, with blue, purple, green, or reddish metallic tints ; stem usually becoming thinner upwards, blackish, shining, sometimes obsolete, passing directly into the sporangium as a short columella that breaks up at the apex into several equal, ascending branches, these again produce numerous lateral brandies, at some distance from the base, that anastomose laterally and form a dense, irregular network, threads pale greyish- brown; spores globose, dirty violet, minutely warted, 11 — 16 p diameter.
Lamproderma arcyrioides, Host., Mon., p. 206 ; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 50 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., n. 1353.
E,Ksicc.— Rab., Herb. Myc., 431; Roum., Fung. Gall., 908; FuckeL, Fung. Rhen., 1447 ; Rab., Fung. Eur., 797.
On rotten wood, dead leaves, &c. Britain (New Forest, Scarborough, Carlisle); France; Germany; Sweden; Denmark; United States.
From l-5 — 3 mm. high. Near to L. violacea, but dis- tinguished by the larger and more coarsely warted spores, and in the main branches of the capillitium remaining unbranched for some distance at the base.
Lamproderma. 103
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.) Stemonit'ls arcyrioides, Somm., Tidsk. (1827); Berk., Ann. N.
Hist., No. 114; Cke., Hdbk., n. 1163. Stemonitis chalylea, Pers., in litt.
Stemonitis Carestiae, Ces. and Not. (1861); Erb. Or. ItaL, 888. Stemonitis Morthieri, Fckl., Exs., n. 1447 (1860).
Lamproderma physarioides, Rost.
Gregarious or scattered ; sporangia globose, wall pale, with a silvery sheen, stem elongated, tapering upwards, base expanding into a small circular hypothallus, black ; columella about one- third the height of the sporangium, clavate ; threads of capil- litium purple-brown, springing from the clavate portion of the columella, repeatedly branching in a dichotomous manner, the branches anastomosing to form a network, becoming dense and small meshed towards the periphery ; spores globose, brown, minutely verruculose, 11 — 15 ju. diameter.
Lamproderma physarioides, Rost., Mon., p. 202; figs. 55, 59, 62; Cke., Myx. Brit, p. 49, figs. 55, 59, 62; Sacc., Syll., vii., n. 1342.
On rotten wood, moss, &c. Britain ; Germany ; U. States.
Distinguished by the pale, silvery sporangial wall, the clear brown spores, and the clavate columella ; 2 — 3'5 mm. high.
(Rostafinski's Synonym.)
Stemonitis physarioides, A. and S., Consp., t. 11, f. 8 (1805) ; B. and Br., Ann. Nat. Hist., no. 386; Cke., Hdbk., no. 1161.
C. Spores reticulated. Lamproderma Fuckelianum, Rost.
Sporangia globose, almost sessile, slightly umbilicate belmv, reddish, metallic ; stem from its shortness almost inconspicuous, entering the peridium for nearly half its length as a conical columella ; threads of the capillitium sparingly branched, com- bined into a loose network ; spores pale violet, with thin ridges combined to form a network, 8 — 9 /x diameter.
104 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Lanqwoderma Fuckclianum, Rost., Mon., p. 207; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1347. Germany. Distinguished more especially by the reticulated epispore.
Lamproderma Lycopodii, Raunk.
Sporangia single, globose, sessile, on a violet-brown hypo- thallus. Wall, columella, capillitium, and spores violet-brown. The lower part of the wall remains, with irregular, tattered margin. Columella cylindrical, nearly reaching half the height of the sporangium. Capillitium originating singly from the upper part of the columella, in continuation forked more and more, especially at the surface of the sporangium, combined into a net by transverse branches, extremities rather colourless, Spores 12 — 18 /ut diameter, on the surface furnished with a delicate network of fine thickenings.
Lamproderma Lycopodii, Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 108 (in English).
(Raunkier's Synonyms.)
Stemonitis cribrarioidcs, Fries, Syst. Myc., iii., p. 163; Sacc.,
Syll., vii., 1, no. 1370. Cnbraria Lycoj>crdi, Nees, in litt. On the leaves of Lycopodium annotinum. Sealand.
ENERTHENEMA, Bowm.
Sporangial wall very thin, fragile, soon disappearing; stem continuing as a columella quite through the sporangium and expanding at its apex into a discoid membrane from which the capillitium originates; capillitium of slender, sub-equal threads which bifurcate and anastomose more or less laterally, tips free ; spores free or at first in clusters.
Enerthencma, Bowman, Trans., Linn. Soc. (1828), xvi., p. 151 ; Rost., Mon., p. 209 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit, p. 51 ; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 92 ; Sacc., Syll., v. 7, p. 402.
Enerthenema. 105
A well-marked genus, characterized by the capillitium originating solely from the peltate, flattened apex of the colu- mella; capillitium dense, threads coloured, thin, sub-equal, branching in a dichotomous or irregular manner, main branches frequently connected by transverse bars, tips free ; that is, not combined into a net, but evidently in many instances showing indications of having originally been attached to the inside of the evanescent sporangial wall. Connected with the typical structure met with in the Columelliferae by Raunkier's genus Ancyrophorus, which agrees with Enerthenema in having the columella dilated at the apex, but the capillitium originates from the columella throughout its length as well as from the disc, and the tips of the "threads are not so decidedly free from anastomosing as in the present genus.
Distrib. Europe ; United States ; New Granada. Sp. 3.
Enerthenema elegans, Bowm. (figs. 302 — 304).
Sporangia globose, with usually a minute apical umbo, wall very thin, brownish, iridescent, fugitive ; stem thick, conical, blackish-brown, opaque, continuing as a thin columella quite through the sporangium and supporting the pendulous capil- litium from its apical disc, threads of capillitium brown, siib-equal, 2'5 — 3 fj. thick, often minutely and irregularly nodulose ; spores globose, free from the first, very indistinctly verruculose, 8 — 10 p diameter.
Enerthenema elegans, Bowman, Linn. Trans. (1828), xvi., p. 151, t. 16 ; Rost, MOD., p. 209, figs. 45, 48, 49, 52, 57.
Enerthenema papillata, Rost., Hon., App., p. 28 ; Cooke, Brit. Myx., p. 51, figs. 45, 48, 49, 52, 57; Sacc., Syll., no. 1378; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 92, t. 5, f. 7.
Britain (Wothorpe, Carlisle, Edinburgh) ; Germany ; Finland ; United States.
On wood and bark. From 1*5 to 2 mm. high, wall of spor- angium disappearing very early, hence the plant is usually met with having the capillitium streaming from the discoid apex of the columella.
106 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Owing to an oversight, Enerthenema' Berkeleyana was intro- duced by Cooke in Myx. Brit., p. 51, as a native of Britain. This species, so far as I am aware, has only been met with in S. Carolina, and is known by the clustered spores.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Arcyria atra, Schum., Saell., no. 1487; Fl. Dan., t. 4194
(1803). Enerthenema elegans, Bowm., Trans. Linn. Soc., xvi., p, 151,
t. 16 (1828).
Stemonitis mammosa, Fr., iii., 161 (1829). Stemonitis papillata, De Bary, I.e. (1859). Enerthenema phoenicolcpta, Bowm., msc.
Enerthenema Berkeleyana, Rost.
Sporangia stipitate, globose, blackish, wall evanescent ; stem black, very thick at the base, conical, becoming contracted into a thin, cylindrical, black columella that reaches to the apex of the sporangium, and there becoming expanded into a disc ; capillitium threads dark, springing from the margin of the disc, pendulous, sparingly forked, rarely joined laterally; spores blackish-purple in the mass, at first in clusters of 4 — 14, sub- triangular at first, free portion warted, 10 — 13 p. diameter.
Enerthenema Bcrkeleyana, Rost., Mon., Append., p. 29 ; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 51.
(Type in Herb. Berk., Kew, no. 10888.)
On boards. South Carolina.
Closely resembling S. elegans, but distinct in the clustered spores that are warted on the free surface only. The stern is not always thickened below.
Enerthenema muscorum, Lev.
Gregarious, black ; stem setaceous, smooth, expanding at the base into a shield-like hypothallus ; sporangium smooth ; tubes of the capillitium springing from the lenticular apex of the
A ncyrophorus. 107
columella; simple for some distance, then branched in a dichotomous or vague manner; spores globose, brown.
JSnerlhenema muscorwm, LeV., Ann. Sci. Nat, Ser. IV., vol. xix., p. 289 (1863) ; Sacc., Syll, vii., 1, no. 1380.
On moss. New Granada.
The information respecting the present species is insufficient to indicate its specific features with exactness.
ANCYROPHORUS, Baunk.
Sporangium stipitate. Stem prolonged within the sporangium as a columella, reaching the apex of the sporangium and there expanding into a discoid membrane. Capillitium originating from this stout discoid membrane, and from the upper part of the columella proper. Threads of the capillitium only towards the extremities inconsiderably forked, the extreme branches arcuate and furnished with numerous subulate spines.
Ancyrophorus, Raunkier, Myx. Dan., in Bot. Tidsskrift. (Journ. Bot. Soc. Bot. de Copenhague), 1888, p. 92, and 1889, p. 110 (in English).
Clossly allied to JSnerthmema, known by the branches of the capillitium springing from the upper portion of the stem as well as from its discoid apex.
Distrib. Denmark. Species 1.
Ancyrophorus crassipes, Raunk.
Sporangia globose, stipitate. Stem shorter than the spor- angium, from an exceedingly thick base lengthened directly into the subulate columella. Threads of capillitium combined by very few transverse branches. The extreme branches arcuate, and provided with numerous subulate spines. Stem, columella, and capillitium dull violet-black. Spores smooth or delicately warted; bright violet, 10 — 12 //, diameter.
Ancyrophorus crassipes, Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 93 (1888), and p. 110 (1890) in English.
On rotten wood. Denmark.
108 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
RACIBORSKIA, Berl.
Sporangia naked, globose, stipitate, stem elongated, entering the sporangium as a columella from one-third to half its height, bearing at the apex secondary, short, slender columellas, these in turn divide in a similar manner to the primary columella ; ultimate branches combined amongst themselves at every point to form a network ; extreme branchlets not free but arcuately combined with each other.
Hacibm'skia, Berlese, Sacc., Syll., vii., pt. I., p. 400.
Eostafinslda, Racib., Myx. Crac., p. 9 (not of Spegazzini).
Distrib. Poland. Species 1.
Raciborskia elegans, Berl.
Sporangia naked, globose, up to '5 mm. broad, stem erect, 1 — 2 mm. high, thickest at the base, then subulate-attenuated, plicate, black ; columella half to one-third shorter than the sporangium, cylindrical, 8 — 10 /u thick ; capillitium blackish- violet, exterior threads exceedingly thin, not free ; the extreme branches furnished with scattered spines; spores 9 — 10 JA diameter, obscure violet, aculeate.
Raciborslcia dcgansy Racib., Myx. Crac., p. 10, fig. 5.
Poland.
Raciborski considers that the present species is allied to Rostafinski's genus Echinostclium. He also inclines to the idea that tire genus Orthotricha may prove to be identical with his Raciboi'slcm ( = Rostqfinskiay Racib.).*
ECHINOSTELIUM, De Bary.
Sporangia stipitate, columella absent, capillitium originating from apex of stem, threads arcuate, combined to form a loose network, furnished with numerous spine-like free arms.
Echinostelium, De Bary, in Rost., Mon., p. 215; Cooke, Brit. Myx., p. 53.
* Hedwigia, March and April, 1889.
Orthotricha. 109
Echinostelium minutum, De Bary (fig. 202).
Sporangia scattered, stipitate, globose, naked, whitish ; the arcuate threads of the capillitium springing from the apex of the stem, furnished with numerous acute, free branches ; spores coloured, 6*7 — 8'3 p. diameter, smooth.
Echinostdium .minutum, De Bary, in Host., Mon., p. 215, figs. 53, 54, 58, and 68 ; Cke., Brit. Myx., figs. 53, 54, 58, 68 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, no. 1340.
ORTHOTRICHA, Wingate.
Sporangium globose ; stipe elongated, entering the sporangium as a very short or obsolete columella, and then dividing into a few branches at a sharp angle. These branches fork several times, thus forming a capillitium of straight threads. The last branches meet at the surface of sporangium at a very sharp angle by twos or threes, where they are joined together by small membranaceous plates. Wall of the sporangium, with the exception of the plates and a very small collar around the stipe, not apparent.
Orthotricha, Wingate ; Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil., 1886, p. 125; Sacc., Syll., vii., pt. I, p. 400.
Distrib. United States. Sp. 1.
Orthotricha microcephala, Wingate.
Sporangia globose, very variable in size, from one-twelfth to one-fourth of a mm. in diameter; stipe elongated, brown or blackish at the base, growing lighter towards the top, more or less translucent, ten to thirty times the diameter of the sporangium in height, tapering, rugose, except at the upper part, where it more or less suddenly becomes a smooth filament, entering the sporangium as a very short, sometimes almost obsolete columella. It then divides into a few (sometimes only two) branches at a sharp angle. These branches fork several times, forming a very loose capillitium of straight threads, the
110 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
last branches meeting at the surface of the sporangium' by twos or threes at a very sharp angle, where their slightly thickened ends are joined together by minute, nieinbranaceous plates. Sporangium wall not apparent, except a slight collar around the stipe as it enters the sporangium ; spores brown in mass, very light-violet, almost colourless, under the microscope, per- fectly smooth, 7 — 8 mm. in diameter.
On rotten logs, Philadelphia, Pa.
This plant has been found during three seasons in Fairmont Park, Philadelphia, Pa., in many localities. The plasmodium has a dirty-brown colour. When erecting, the dark, granular substance of the mass is left in the matter which is to form the stipe, and the globule of the sporangium becomes milky white. Before the stipe has reached its full height, say in the upper fifth, the sporangium mass leaves behind it, clustered around the stipe, several (2 — 8) clear, highly-refractive, minute globules, which, in a recently-matured plant, sparkle like dew- drops. The plant continues erecting, but from the place where the globules are left behind, the stipe very frequently suddenly narrows, sometimes to a mere filament. As the plants become old, the dew-like globules become amber-coloured, but remain transparent. These clear globules have been occasionally noted by the writer on the sporangium wall of Comatrichas, and have been considered as an indication of some degree of immaturity, hence they have not been mentioned in the description as having a specific value. In the plants, as found in different places, they are constant, though sometimes fused into one mass. The finer filaments of the capillitium, in fluid under the microscrope, are almost colourless. The plants are more or less sociable, sometimes forming patches an inch or so in diameter, and may readily be mistaken for a mould. (Wing.)
OrtliotrwJm microccphala, Wingate, in Proc. Acad. Nat. Science, Philadelphia, 1886, p. 125; Sacc., Syll., vii., pt. I., n.
Exsiccs — Ellis and Everhart, N. Arner. Fung., Ser. II., n. 2498.
A very beautiful and at the same time puzzling form. I am not at all convinced in my own mind as to whether the present genus belongs to the present division or to the Peritricheae.
Calotricheae. Ill
CALOTRICHEAE.
The varied types of ornamentation under the form of warts, spines, or raised bands, often arranged in the form of half-rings, or anastomosing to form a network on the surface of the capil- litium tubes, constitute the most pronounced character of the present order. In connection with spore dissemination, the capillitium here reaches its highest development, due to the elasticity of the tubes, which are never rigid with lime, and in the most perfect genera are quite free from the sporangial wall. The elasticity is not due to stretching, but to the sudden straightening out of previously coiled-up tubes. If an immature sporangium of Arcyria cinerea having the spores and capillitium fully differentiated, is hardened in alcohol, a section shows the tubes of the capillitium, which are combined to form a network, to be much contorted, and consequently shortened so that the net-like structure is not evident, the interspaces between the convolutions of the tubes being filled with spores. This arrange- ment of parts continues until the spores are mature, and owing to the disappearance of water, form a powdery mass, when the coiled-up tubes straighten out and the network becomes fully expanded, resulting in an increase of ten or more times in the length and breadth of the capillitium. This expansion takes place suddenly, with the result that the mass of spores are carried up and dispersed. During the expansion of the capil- litium the sporangial wall is torn into fragments, and disappears with the exception of a small portion at the base which, owing to its firmer consistency and comparative freedom from the expansion exerted by the capillitium, remains in the form of a cup or calyculus. In the genius Trichia the free tubes or elaters are very much coiled up and contorted until the spores are mature, when by suddenly straightening out, the wall of the sporangium is ruptured and some of the spores thrown out, but the arrangement is not so perfect as in Arcyria. In some of the comparatively imperfect genera, as Perickaena, the capillitium is scanty or obsolete. Yellow is the predominating
112 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
colour of the spores as seen in the mass, passing in some species to deep orange and orange-brown ; similar colours are met with in the sporangia! wall. In the genus Perichaena the inner surface of the sporangial wall is frequently covered with a layer of amorphous granules of lime. In stipitate forms of some species belonging to the genera Arcyria, Heterotrichia, and Trichia, the stem is filled with cells which are either spherical or polygonal from mutual pressure. These cells, when young, contain protoplasm, and the wall gives a cellulose reaction ; they are usually largest at the base of the stem, and become smaller upwards, passing insensibly into normal spores at the point where the stem expands into the sporangium. The tubes of the capillitium frequently pass down between these cells into the stem. It would appear as if the stem cells had originally been intended for tme spores, but owing to the contraction of the base of the sporangium into a stem had been checked in their development.
|
TRK OLIGO PROTOT |
IHIA. NEMA. RICHIA |
ARCYRIA. HETEROTRICHIA. LACHNOBOLOS. Ol'HIOTHECA |
|
^^^ LYCOGALA. ^ PERICHAENA.-^ |
^ |
CALOTRICHEAE. /CLATHROFTYCHIDMA
XPERITRICHEAE./
ANALYSIS OF THE GENERA. CALOTRICHEAE.
Sub-sect. TRICHEAE. Maters free, not forming a network. TRICHIA. Elaters with well-developed spirals. OLIGONEMA. Elaters without distinct spirals.
Arcyriae. 113
Sub-sect. ARCYRIAE.
Elaters attached to wall of sporangium only slightly branched or forming a network.
PROTOTRICHIA. Elaters fixed by one end to base of spor- angium, tips free.
PERICHAENA. Sporangial wall with a layer of lime granules inside ; capillitium scanty.
Ophiotheca. Threads of capillitium usually spiny, of equal thickness, forming a net with numerous blunt, free arms.
ffeterotrichia. Threads of capillitium of two distinct thick- nesses, forming a net, outer network with numerous free, pointed arms.
Lachnobolus. Threads of capillitium forming a network attached at numerous points to wall of sporangium.
ARCYRIA. Threads of capillitium forming a network usually elastically protruded at maturity.
LYCOGALA. Cortex containing numerous cells filled with protoplasm, capillitium tubes thick.
Sub-sect. ARCYRIAE.
PERICHAENA, Fries.
Sporangia sessile, gregarious, dehiscing irregularly or in a circumscissile manner, wall usually double, the outer often containing granules of lime or a layer of granules of organic matter ; capillitium variously developed, in some species form- ing an irregular network attached at various points to the upper portion of sporangial wall, in other species almost obsolete, threads of the capillitium without definite markings, either quite smooth or with a few scattered, rudimentary spinules or notch-like constrictions ; spores globose.
Perichaena, Fries, Gast., p. 12; Rost., Mon., p. 292; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 77 ; £opf, p. 169 ; Sacc., Syll., vii. pt. I., p. 420.
The most prominent generic features are the circumscissile dehiscence of the sporangium, which however is not universal, the layer of amorphous particles of lime or of organic matter
114 A Monograph of tlie Myxogastres.
inside the sporangial wall, and the smooth or obsoletely marked threads of the capillitium. The present genus is allied to Arcyria; in Arcyria parqdoxa we meet with lumps of lime and of organic matter on the inner surface of the sporangial wall, but the capillitium is characteristic of Arcyria.
The present genus is yet more closely allied to Ophiotheca; in fact it is impossible to say where one ends and the other commences ; in Perichaena the capillitium threads are typically without external markings, whereas in Lachnobolus the threads have distinct raised markings, but in each genus species occur deviating from the typical idea and in the direction of the other genus, and it is doubtful whether the presence or absence of markings on capillitium threads alone, even if constant, is of sufficient value to constitute a generic distinction.
Distrib. Europe ; Borneo ; W. Australia ; Canada ; United States. Species 9.
Perichaena depressa, Libert, (figs. 118 — 120).
Sporangia usually gregarious or much crowded, polygonal from mutual pressure, very much depressed, and almost plane above, dehiscing in a circumscissile manner, brown, sometimes with a purple tinge, polished ; mass of capillitium and spores bright orange-yellow; capillitium usually well-developed, threads variable in width, smooth, rarely notched or furnished with rudimentary scattered spinules ; spores globose, minutely warted, 9 — 12 \i. diameter.
Perichaena. depressa, Lib., PI. Or. Ard., Fasc. IV., n. 378 ; Host., Mon., p. 292; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 77; Sacc., Syll, 1434; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 54.
Exsicc— Sacc., Myc. Ven. 500; Ellis, N. Amer. Fung., 1218; Roum. Fung. Gall., 2113; Fuckel., Fung. Rhen., 2200; Lib., PI. Crypt. Ard., Fasc. IV., n. 378.
On wood, &c. Up to 1 mm. diameter. Characterized by the very much flattened sporangia and bright yellow mass of spores.
Britain (Carlisle) ; Germany ; Bohemia ; Belgium ; Italy ; France ; United States.
Perichaena corticalis. 115
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Perichaena vaporaria, Schw., Am., 2311 (1831). Perichaena depressa, Lib., Exs., n. 378 (1837). Stegasma depressum, Cda., Ic. V., f. 13 (1842).
Perichaena corticalis, Rost. (figs. 114 — 117).
Sporangia spherico-depressed, crowded, dehiscing in a circum- scissile manner, lid convex, brown, bluish-purple, sometimes whitish, smooth ; mass of capillitium and spores pale yellow ; capillitium scanty, sometimes almost obsolete, threads thin, smooth, or here and there notched ; spores globose, warted, warts variable in size, sometimes very indistinct, at others well- developed, never smooth, 9 — 12 ju, diameter.
Perichaena corticalis, Rost., Mon., p. 293, figs. 188 ; Cke., Myx. Brit., 78, fig. 188 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1435 ; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 53.
Perichaena fa-sco-atra, Rost., Mon., p. 294 ; Cke., Myx. Brit., 78 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1436.
Perichaena quercina, Fr., Gast., p. 12. (Specimen from Fries in Herb., Kew.)
Exsicc. — Sydow, Myc. March., 1669; Karst., Fung. Fenn., 179; Fuckel., Fung. Rhen., 1899; Berk., Brit. Fung., 47; Desm., Or. Fr., Ser. I., 671.
On bark and wood. Britain (Lyndhurst, Kew, Derby, Castle Howard, Yorks ; Carlisle, Edinburgh, Appin, N. B.) ; Europe ; Canada ; United States ; W. Australia ; Ceylon.
Very closely allied to P. depressa, if indeed really distinct as a species, the less depressed sporangium and scanty capillitium are the distinguishing features of the present species.
In some specimens tha wall of the sporangium has a dense layer of angular particles of lime, and is consequently nearly or quite white externally, in others the lime is scanty and in its place a layer of amorphous, coloured granules of organic matter which give the brown or reddish-purple colour to the sporangial
116 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
wall. The spores vary in markings from vague granulations to well-defined warts.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
(Perichaena corlicalis).
Lycopcrdon corticale, Batsch. EL, p. 155 (1783). Sphacrocarpus sessilis, Bull., t. 417, f. 5 (1791). Trichia gymnosperma, Pers., Obs., vi., f. 1, 2 (1796). Trichia circumscissa, Schrad., p. 19 (1797). Licea circumscissa, Pers., Syn., 196 (1801). Physarum luteo-album, Schum., Saell., 1430 (1803). Tulmlina circumscissa, Poir., Ency., viii., 5 (1808). Perichaena populina, Fr., Gast., 12 (1817); Grev., t. 252;
Erig. Fl., v., 321 ; Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1192. Pcrichaena populina, )3 sorbea, Weinm. in Fr. S. M., iii., 192
(1829).
Pcrichaena quercina, Fries, Gast., p. 12 (1817). Trichia varia subrufescens, Bong. Herb. Licea quercina, Walk. Fl. Cry., 2103 (1833). Licea artocreas, B. and Rav., Fungi Car., ii., 82. Pcrichaena artocrcas, B. and Rav., Grev., No. 370 (1873).
(Pcrichaena fusco-atra.)
Mucor lycoperdioides, Scop. Ann., iv., t. 1, f. 11 (1772). Trichia fusco-atra, Sibth. Fl. Ox., 1152 (1794). SpJuterocarjms scssitis, Sow., t. 258 (1803). Licea circumscissa, ft abictina, A. and S., p. 108 (1805). Perichaena abietina, Fr., Gast., p. 17 (1817) ; Eng. Fl., v., 321 ;
Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1191. Perichaena microcarpa, Sauter. Rabh. DC. Fl., No. 2180
(1844).
Perichaena applanata, Mass.
Sessile, adnate on a broad base, much depressed, circular in outline or aethalioid and irregular, dehiscing in an irregularly circumscissile manner, wall with a dense layer of granules of lime on its inner surface, bright Uuc-grcy ; mass of capillitium
Perichaena. 117
and spores clear orange-yellcnv ; capillitium rather scanty, form- ing a loose net, threads 3 — 5 ^"diameter, sometimes notched or with scattered rudimentary spinules; spores globose, minutely warted, 11 — 12 /x diameter.
Hemiarcyria applanata, Cke. and Mass., Grev., vol. xvi., p. 20. (Type in Herb., Kew.)
On wood. Brisbane.
From 1 — 2 mm. diameter. Readily known by the bright grey sporangium and the clear orange spore-mass. The present species, owing to superficial examination, was originally described as a Hemiarcyria.
Perichaena microcarpa, Schroet.
Sporangia distinct or confluent in minute clusters, generally globose, 0'5 mm. diameter, rarely unequal, depressed, yellow- brown, smooth, dehiscing irregularly ; capillitium well-developed, threads golden-yellow, 1*5 — 2 /x thick, combined to form a loose, regular net, thickened at the angles, smooth ; spores golden-yellow, globose, 15 — 17 ft diameter, epispore strongly aculeolate.
Perichaena microcarpa, Schroeter, Krypt. Fl. Schles. Pilze, p. 108; Sacc., Syll., vii., pt. I., n. 1445.
On rotten leaves. Silesia.
Perichaena Rostafinskii, Karst.
Sporangia scattered or sub-gregarious, sessile, spherical, yellow- ish then bay, shining; capillitium obsolete; spores globose, smooth, or nearly so, in the mass Uackish-broivn, brownish under the microscope, variable in size, 10 — 27 /^ diameter.
Perichaena Rostafinskii, Karst., Myc. Fenn. IV., p. 130 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1444.
On dead moss, rotten leaves, &c. Finland.
The variability in the markings and size of the spores suggests that Karsten has had an immature species under consideration.
Perichaena confusa, Mass. (n. sp.).
Sporangia hemispherical and scattered or aethalioid, and often forming an irregular network, pale umber or dingy ochraceous,
118 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
dehiscing irregularly; capillitium well developed, forming an irregular, loose network, threads 2 — 4 n* thick, irregularly notched; spores globose, smooth, 13 — 14 /u diameter; mass of capillitium and spores dingy ochraceous, sometimes with a suggestion of olive.
(Type in Herb., Kew.)
Exsicc. — Ellis, N. Amer. Fung., n. 726 (as Ophiotheca umbrina, Berk.).
On wood, leaves, &c. Britain (Lyme Regis, Yatton) ; U. States.
Berkeley's description of Opkiotheca umbrina is very imperfect, as shown by examination of his type specimen, which proves to be identical with Physarum vermiculare, Sz. Rostafinski had not seen Berkeley's type, but gave the original description and changed the name to* Perichaena varidbilis, Rost. Berkeley's imperfect description of Ophiotheca umbrina curiously agrees in many points with the present species which was unknown to him. Rarely with simple, normal sporangia, usually elon- gated and curved, forming rings, flexuous vein-like strands, or combined to form a network. The species is a connecting link between Perichaena and Ophiotheca, having the capillitium of the former without distinct markings, but the peculiar habit of Ophiotheca.
Perichaena li ceo ides, Rost.
Sporangia globose, scattered or gregarious, dehiscing in an irregularly circumscissile manner; spores smooth, globose, 9 — 10 /* diameter ; capillitium scanty, threads slender, branched, with minute included granules.
Pcrichaena liccoides, Rost., Mon., p. 295 ; Sacc., Syll., vol. vii., part I., n. 1438.
Licea pannorum, Cienk., Pringsh. Jahrb., vol. in., p. 407, t. 17, fig. 1 (not of Wallr.).
On leaves. Germany.
Doubtful species. Perichaena pallida, Berl. Sporangia gregarious, very pale tan colour; spores yellow,
Lycogala. 119
but paler than in Perichaena austvajlis, whose chestnut-coloured sporangia and intense golden spore-mass distinguish it from the present species.
Perichaena pallida, Berl., Sacc., Syll., n. 1446.
Stegasma pallidum, Cesati, Myc. Born., p. 12.
Borneo (Sarawak).
Perichaena australis, Berl.
Sporangia often circinnate, angular, central ones .orbicular, at first yellow, passing through chestnut to brown, smooth, lid plane ; capillitium yellow ; spores sub-globose, granular within, opaque, yellow.
Perichaena australis, Berl., Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1447.
Stegasma australe, Cesati, Hedwigia, 1874, p. 186.
Borneo.
Perichaena ? pseudaecidium, Speg.
Sporangia cylindrical, conical, or calyciform, 1 — 1*5 mm. long, by 0*5 — 1 mm. broad, sessile or shortly stipitate, wall very thin, cartilagineo-membranaceous, base even or minutely rugulose, dehiscing at the apex in an irregularly laciniate or fimbriate manner, chestnut or brownish; mass of spores and capillitium citrin or yellowish ; capillitium threads very slender, 1 ju, thick, sparingly branched, here and there with solitary conical or elon- gated branch-like spines, yellowish, hyaline; spores globose, 6 — 7 //, diameter, often irregularly angular from mutual pressure, per- fectly smooth, pale vinous with yellow tinge.
Perichaena ? pseudaecidium, Speg., Fung. Guar., n. 321.
On living fronds of many different species of fern, and on Tillandsia muscoides.
Argentine Republic.
A very beautiful but paradoxical species exactly resembling a folicolous Aecidium, will probably form the type of a new genus (Speg.). Possibly a sp. of Chondrioderma.
LYCOGALA, Mich. Sporangia aethalioid, grouped together in an intricate manner,
120 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
and forming a large plasmodiocarp, enclosed in a well-defined, thick, common cortex, enclosing near the outer side numerous cell-like masses of protoplasm ; capillitium originating at numerous points in the inner portion of the cortex, forming an irregular, loose net with numerous free ends, threads ornamented with warts or raised bands forming irregularly arranged rings, spirals, or anastomosing to form a network ; spores globose.
Lycogala, Mich., Host., Mon., p. 285; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 74 ; Sacc., Syll., v., 7, pt. I., p. 435.
Lycoper&on, Bux., p. 203.
Dcrmodmm, Host., Mon., p. 284 ; Sacc., Syll., p. 434 ; Cke., Myx., p. 74.
The species resemble those of Heticularia in'their large size, forming hemispherical or irregularly elongated masses up to four inches in diameter. The stout cortex covering the inter- woven mass of aethalioid sporangia presents a complicated structure. In L. epidcndron, the most highly evolved species, the cortex contains towards the outside numerous irregularly- shaped coloured masses of protoplasm of various sizes, each surrounded by a special wall ; these are sometimes so numerous as to present the appearance of closely aggregated polygonal cells when seen in section. The tubes of the capillitium originate in the thick corte'x from the cells of protoplasm just described, and frequently combine to form an irregular reticulation in the substance of the cortex ; in this position the tubes are very thick, reaching to '20 /x'in diameter, and consist, as it were, of two tubes, one enclosed within the other ; the outer tube, the wall enclosing the protoplasm, has very thick, perfectly smooth, colourless walls, and disappears at the point where the capil- litium breaks through the walls to enter the mass of aethalia forming the plasmodiocarp. The inner tube has a very thin, faintly-tinged wall furnished with intermixed warts and raised bands anastomosing to form an irregular network; the inner tube is completely surrounded by the outer at its apex, until the whole structure has grown beyond the inner surface of the cortex, when the inner tube pushes through the apex of the outer smooth tube and alone forms the capillitium. The outer
Lycogala. 121
common cortex cannot in the pfesent instance be considered as excretory, and solely for protective purposes, but must be considered as a living portion of the organism giving origin to the complex capillitium, the tubes of which appear to increase in length by apical growth. The tubes of the capillitium that enter the aethalia collapse before the spores are mature, and consequently exercise no dispersive function. The scheme of classification adopted in the present work, I much regret to say, is founded mostly on characters presented by mature forms, hence the elaborate ornamention of the capillitium tubes places the present genus in the sub-family Calotrichcae ; whereas, if the capillitium is a continuation of the cortex, or rather a development directly from the cortex, Peritrichcae would be its proper position.
Distrib. Cosmopolitan. Species 6.
Lycogala epidendrum, Rost. (figs. 121, 122).
Plasmodiocarp sub-globose, gregarious or rarely solitary, "5 — 2 cm. diameter, surface, minutely warted, variable in colour, rose- red, dingy vermilion, or brownish red; threads of capillitium almost colourless, 8 — 12 n thick, springing from the cortex, becoming irregularly branched with various free, slightly in- crassated tips, now and then anastomosing laterally, furnished with warts, short bands, irregular rings or spirals, or with the raised bands anastomosing to form an irregular network ; frequently all the above modifications may be seen on the same tube, wall thin and soon collapsing ; spore-mass variable in colour, dingy purple, flesh-colour, greyish-yellow, or some- times with a dingy green tinge, spores globose, minutely but distinctly wartcd, 4 — 6 n diameter.
Lycogala epidendrum, Rost., Mon., 85, figs. 1, 7 — 12; Cke., Myx. Brit., 75, figs. 1, 7 — 12; Sacc., Syll., vol. vii., pt. I., n. 1484; Raunk, Myx. Dan., p. 62; Zopf, p. 168.
Lycogala a/ine, Berk, and Br., Ceylon Fung, (type in Herb. Berk., Kew, n. 10702).
Lycogala atropurpureum, B. and Br., Ceylon Fung., n. 735 (type in Herb. Berk, Kew, n. 10703).
122 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Lycogala nitidum, B. and Br., Ceylon Tung., n. 734.
Lycogala terrestre, Fr., Syst. Myc., iii., p. 83 (specimen from Fries in Herb. Berk., Kew).
Exsicc— Cke., Fung. Brit, Ed. II., 614; Ellis, N. Amer. Fung., 334; Karst, Fung. Fenn., 287; Thum., Fung. Austr., 522; Fckl., Fung. Rhen., 1475; Rav., Fung. Car., 78; Mong. and Nest., n. 85 ; Kunze, Fung. Sel., 197 ; Westendorp, Crypt. Belg., 741 ; Jack, Leiner u. Sitz., 330 ; Desmaz. Cr. Fr., Ser. I., 609; Rab., Fung. Eur. 2140; Sydow, Myc. March., 186; Roum., Fung. Gall., 2813.
On decaying trunks, stumps, &c. Plasmodium rose-coloured, or sometimes bright scarlet. Britain (Kew, New Forest, Rudloe, Scarboro', Carlisle, Appin, N. B., Abergavenny) ; Europe ; U. States; Bermuda; Venezuela; Cuba; Algeria; S. Africa; Himalayas ; Ceylon ; Madagascar ; New Guinea ; W. Australia.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Fungus coccincus, Ray Syn., ii., 336 (1690).
Fungus sanguineus, Bocc. Mus., p. 304 (1697).
Fungus non vescus, Lses. Fl. Prus., 96 (1703).
Lycoperdon sanguineurn'Rupp. Fl. Jen., 304 (1718).
Bavista miniata, Dill. Cat. PL, 197 (1719).
Lycoperdon epidendron, Bux. Hall, p. 203 (1721) ; Fl. Dan.,
t. 720; Light, f. Fl. Scot., No. 1068; Holms. Ot., t. 31;
Bolt., t 119, f. 1; Sow., t. 52; Purt. Midi. Fl., p. 701;
BehL Cant., p. 566 : With. Arr., iv., p. 457. Lycogala globosum, Mich., t. 95, f. 2 (1729). Lycoperdon sanguincum, Buxb., t. 29, f. 2 (1740). Lycoperdon spJuicricum, Gled. Meth., 150 (1753). Mucor iii. sfihaericus, Gled. Meth., 161 (1753). Mucor secundus, Schff., t. 193 (1762). Lycogala sessile, Retz., Ac. Holms., 254 (1769). Mucor lycogala, Scop. Cam., ii., 1645 (1772). Mucor fragifomiis, Schff. Bar., No. 283 (1774). Lycoperdon variolosum, Huds. Fl. Ang., 645 (1778). Lycoperdon epiphyllum, Huds. Fl. Ang., 645 (1778).
Lycogala. 123
Lycoperdon pysiforvie, Jacq. Misc., t. 7 (1788). Galepcrdon epidendron, Wigg. Fl. Holsat, 1148 (1780). Lycoperdon ckalybeum, Batsch. El., p. 155 (1781). Lycoperdon verrucosum, Batsch. El., p. 155 (1781). Reticularia rosca, DC. Bullet. Phil, f. 8 A, B, c (1798). Lycogala miniata, Pers. Obs., ii., 26 (1790); Grev. S. C. Fl.,
t. 38 ; Nees., t. 8, f. 97 ; Gray. Arr., L, 568. Lycogala punctata, Pers, Syn., p. 158 (1801). Lycogala plur/ibea, Schum. Saell., 1408 (1803). Lycogala ferruginea, Schum. Saell., 1406 (1803). Reticularia miniata, Poir., Ency., viii., 22 (1808). Reticularia punctata, Poir., Ency., viii., No. 21 (1808). Reticularia rosea, Poir., Ency., viii., No. 4. Lycogala miniata, Johnst. Fl. Berw. Lycogala epidendrum, Fr., S. M., iii., 80 ; Berk. Engl. Fl.,
v. 307; Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1095. Lycogala affinis, B. and Br., Ceylon Fungi, No. 735.
Lycogala conicum, Pers.
Plasmodiocarp sessile on a broad base, often attenuated towards the apex, hence more or less conical, shining, purple, or pale ochraceous-brown, at maturity minutely ivarted or scurfy ; mass of spores ochraceous-olive, sometimes with a tinge of flesh- colour; tubes of capillitium numerous, originating from the inner portion of the cortex, 8 — 10 /u. diameter, almost colourless, frequently branched and anastomosing laterally, free ends numerous, markings variable, warts or irregular raised bands more or less anastomosing or sometimes almost obsolete ; spores globose, minutely warted, 4 — 6 //, diameter.
Dermodium conicum, Host., Mon., p. 284; Sacc., Syll., vii., •pt. I., n. 1483.
Gregarious, "5 — 1 cm. or more in diameter.
From a careful examination of specimens of the present species that have been examined and named by Rostafinski, I am satisfied that the genus Dermodium is synonymous with Lycogala. In both cases the leading idea is a vein-like plas- modiocarp covered with a common cortex, the outside portion
124 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
containing numerous cell-like aggregations of protoplasm, while the inner portion gives origin to the tubes of the capillitium which originate from the cell-like masses of protoplasm.
Rostannski's generic diagnosis of Dermodium is altogether misleading, inasmuch as it implies that we are dealing with a single sporangium, whereas in Rostannski's own specimens the plasmodiocarp structure is distinct. Furthermore it is very doubtful as to whether the present species is anything more than Lycogala cpidendrum. It is certain that Lycogala atropur- pureum, B. and Br., and Lycogala nitidum, B. and Br., referred to the present species by Rostafinski, both belong to Lycogala epidendricm.
On rotten wood. Sweden ; Germany ; Ceylon.
(Rostannski's Synonyms.)
Lycogala conica, Pers., Syn., 159 (1801). Lycogala conicum, Fr., S. M., iii., 82 (1829). Lycogala atropurpureum, B. and Br., Ceylon Fungi, II., n. 735.
Lycogale nitidum, B. and Br., Ceylon Fungi, II., n. 734.
Lycogala flavo-fuscum, Rost. (fig. 123).
Plasmodiocarp hemispherical or elongated, 3 — 9 cm. diameter, coi'tex smooth or slightly wrinkled when dry, yellow-brown, bright chestnut-brown, or greyish-umber ; mass of spores greyish- umber or with a flesh-coloured tinge; tubes of capillitium rather scanty, almost colourless, 4 — 5 p. thick, slightly rugulose or ivith indistinctly raised bands, sparingly branched ; spores globose, very minutely wartcd, 5 /x diameter.
Lycogala flavo-fuscum, Rost., Mon., p. 288; Cooke, Brit. Myx., p. 76 ; Sacc., Syll., no. 1485 ; Zopf, p. 167.
On stumps and trunks. Britain (King's Cliffe); Europe; United States; Ceylon.
A large species, usually solitary, distinguished from L. cpi- dendrum by the smooth cortex and the scanty capillitium with thinner tubes and rudimentary ornamentation.
Lycogaia. 125
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Diphtherium fiavo-fuscum, Ehr., SyL, p. 27 (1818). Eeticidaria flavo-fusca, Fr., S. M., iii., p. 88 (1829) ; B. and Br.,
Ann. Nat. Hist., No. 591. Reticu'aria testacea, Wallr., Fl. Germ., 209 (1833).
Lycogaia qchraceum, Mass. (n. sp.).
Plasmodiocarp sessile, sub-globose, gregarious, springing from a firm, broadly effused hypothallus, ochraceous, at first smooth, becoming minutely furfuraceous ; mass of spores very pale ochraceous; capillitium scanty, tubes sparingly branched, with a few indistinctly raised band,s, 5 jj. diameter, collapsing ; spores globose, 3'5 — 4 ^diameter, minutely and sparsely verruculose.
On rotten wood. Bahia ; Java. (Challenger exped.) (Type in Herb. Berk., Kew.)
Often densely gregarious and variously angular from mutual pressure, at other times larger and scattered ; from "5 — 2'5 cm. diameter.
Lycogaia minutum, Sacc. and Paol.
Plasmodiocarp gregarious, superficial, sessile, base narrow, globoso-depressed, 4 — 5 mm. broad, smooth (not punctate), at length with crowded, very minute depressions, yellow, becoming ochraceous; hypothallus scanty, white, mucedinous; tubes of capillitium filiform, short, sulsimple, hyaline; spores globose, aspcndosc, 3 p diameter, yellow, then colourless.
Lycogaia minutum, Saccardo* and Paoletti, ' Mycetes Mala- censes' Atti del R. Instit. Verieto di scienze, lettere, ed arti. Tome VI., Ser. VI., p. 5, t, 5, f. 1 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1486.
On fallen decorticated rotten branches. Malacca.
Apparently closely allied to Lycogaia ochraceum, but distin- guished by the scanty mucedinous hypothallus and in the cortex not becoming furfuraceous.
Lycogaia rufo-cinnamomeum, Mass. (n. sp.).
Plasmodiocarp hemispherical, gregarious, '5 — 1 cm. diameter, surface smooth, ochraceous or greyish, sometimes with a tinge
126 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
of red; mass of spores bright reddish-cinnamon; threads of capillitium colourless, much branched, walls smooth, not collapsing when dry, 4 — 5 p. thick ; spores globose, 10 \t. diameter, rather coarsely warted.
On fragments of rotten wood lying on the ground.
South Africa.
(Type in Herb. Berk., n. 10706.)
Gregarious. Distinguished by the dense capillitium, the tubes of which have thick, smooth walls, and the large spores.
PROTOTRICHIA, Host, (emended).
Sporangia simple or fasciculate, stipitate or sessile, thin, reflecting metallic tints, dehiscing irregularly ; capillitium well- developed, elaters attached by one end to the basal portion of the sporangium, becoming attenuated upwards and dividing into a variable number of slender, tapering, free tips, the slender branchlets are sometimes more or less connected laterally, elaters furnished with spirals, irregular rings, or entirely smooth.
Prototrichia, Host., Mon. App., p. 38; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 65; Sacc., Syll., vii., pt. I., p. 437; Mass., Revis. Trich., p. 349.
Trichia, B. and Br., Ann. Nat. Hist., Ser. III., vol. xviii., p. 56, pi. 2., f. 4.
Comuvia, Host., Mon., p. 289 (in part) ; Cooke, Myx. Brit, p. 76 (in part) ; Sacc., Syll., vii., pt. 1, p. 289 (in part).
Alwisia, B. and Br., Joum. Linn. Soc., xiv., p. 87, t. 2, f. 6, and xv., t. 2, f. 1 ; Mass., Mon. Trich., p. 348.
Trichia, Host., Mon., p. 246 (in part) ; Sacc., Syll., vii., pt. I., n. 1494 (in part).
As above denned the main features of the genus are the thin iridescent sporangial wall and the elaters attached at one end to the base of the sporangium, and becoming divided above into a variable number of tapering, free tips, the branchlets are rarely connected transversely, but never to such an extent as to suggest a network.
Distrib. Europe ; Tasmania ; Ceylon : 5 species.
PrototricMa. 127
A. Spores smooth.
PrototricMa flagellifera, Rost. (figs. 130—132).
Sporangia scattered, globose, attenuated below to a narrow point of attachment, wall thin, smooth, copper-colour, and reflecting metallic tints; mass of capillitium and spores flesh- colour; elaters 7 — 9 p broad at the base, tapering towards the apex, branching at some distance towards the point of attach- ment into two or three arms, each generally again divided near the apex, spirals thin, not prominent, sometimes crowded, at others distant, disappearing below the ultimate branchlets, brown, becoming colourless towards the tips; spores globose, smooth, 10 — 13 ju. diameter.
Prototrichia flagellifer, Rost., Mon. Appendix, p. 38 (in part); Cookej Myx. Brit., p. 65 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1492 (in part) ; Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 350, pi. vii., f. 23.
Trichia flagellifer, B. and Br., Ann. Nat. Hist., Ser. III., vol. xviii., p. 56, pi. 2, f. 4 (no. 1143).
Dermatricha flagellifer, Cooke, MS.
(Type specimen in Herb. Berk., Kew, n. 10,905).
On dead wood. Britain (Badminton, Gloucester, Carlisle) ; Sweden.
Scattered, or rarely 3 — 5 in a cluster, but not crowded together, '5 or a little more in diameter. A very neat species, the sporangia! wall is unusually persistent, hence the plant is generally found in good condition. The smooth spores and elaters thickest at the point of attachment mark the species.
Prototrichia metallica, Mass.
Sporangia scattered, stipitate or sessile on a broad base, spherical or depressed and lenticular, smooth, shining, copper- colour with metallic tints ; stem very short, rather thick, darker in colour than the sporangium ; mass of capillitium and spores pale flesh-colour or yellowish ; elaters elongato-fusiform, 6 — 7 p. at thickest part, 300 — 400 /m long, terminating at the apex in a
128 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
pencil of simple or branched, cylindrical', smooth, sometimes nodu- lose filaments, 2 p thick, and 40 — 60 /* long; spirals broad, flat, close ; spores globose, smooth, 9 — 11 p. diameter.
Prototrickia metallica, Mass., Rev. Tdch., p. 350, fig. 26.
Trichia metallica, B. and Br., Fl. Tasm., p. 268.
Prototrichia flagellifera, Host., Mon. Append., p. 38 (in part) ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1492 (in part).
Prototrichia elcgantula, Rost., Mon. Append., p. 39, fig. 246 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1491.
(Type in Herb. Berk., Kew, n. 10,905 a.)
On wood. Tasmania; Sweden.
Sporangia '5 — 1 mm. diameter. Rostafinski founded his Prototrichia elcgantula on a specimen in the Berkeley Herbarium at Kew, which was sent by Fries, and marked " (Perichaena ?) nova species, in Betula, Lindblad." This specimen on examin- ation proves to be identical with Trichia metallica, B. The last-named species is given as a synonym of P. flageUifer, B. and Br., by Rostafinski, the outcome of superficial examination.
Prototrichia bombarda, Mass.
Sporangia broadly fusiform or elliptical, several seated on the apex of an elongated stem, smooth, dark-broum, sometimes with a purple tinge ; stem same colour, hollow, springing from a well-developed hypothallus ; mass of elaters and spores brown ; elaters cylindrical, 6 — 7 p thick, sometimes furnished with one or two swollen portions, walls thin, collapsing when dry, un- branckcd, with a few scattered, very rudimentary spinules, and a very indistinct open spiral, free ends obtuse, rarely attenuated and bifid ; spores globose, smooth, 5 — 6 p. diameter.
Alwisia lombarda, B. and Br., Journ. Linn. Soc., xiv., p. 87, t. 2, f. 6, and xv., t. 2, f. 1.
Trichia fragilis, Rost., Mon., p. 246 (in part) ; Cke., Brit. Myx., p. 63 (in part) ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1494 (in part).
On decayed wood. Gongolla Forest ; Ceylon.
(Type in Herb. Berk., Kew, n. 10921).
From 2 — 3 mm. high, scattered. The fasciculate sporangia
Prototric/tia. 129
are in some specimens connate except at the tips, and then present the appearance of a single sporangium with several subacute apical lobes. The stem is somewhat contracted and wrinkled longitudinally when dry. The present plant resembles to a certain extent, when examined with a pocket-lens, fasci- culate forms of Trichia fragilis, and from such superficial examination Rostafinski gave it as a synonym of the last- mentioned species. If it had been properly examined this mistake would not have been made.
B. Spores warted.
Prototrichia cuprea, Mass. (figs. 127 — 129).
Sporangia scattered or rather crowded, sub-globose, usually sessile on a broad base, rarely attenuated below, or with a very short distinct stem, bright copper-colour, shining, sometimes iridescent ; mass of capillitium and spores reddish flesh-colour ; capillitium copious, elaters 6 — 8 /^ thick at point of origin from wall of sporangium, 60 — 80 p long, then branching once or twice in a dichotomous manner, branches tapering upwards, 150 — 200 fj. long, each ending in a corymbose tuft of slender, smooth, colourless filaments, 1 — 2 n thick, main trunk and branches brownish, with rather close, not prominent spirals ; spores globose, minutely warted, 10 — 13 p. diameter.
Prototrichia cuprea, Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 351, pi. vii., f. 24. (Type in Herb., Kew.)
On dead thorn. Scarborough ; Carlisle.
Sporangia pure white when immature, "5 — rl mm. diameter, bright copper-colour, polished and often iridescent, especially when old and empty. Characterized by the warted spores and the slender filaments terminating the main branches of the elaters, which are not always so densely corymbose as figured in Rev. Trich., pi. vii., f. 24. A form of the present species sent by Mr. Camm from Smethwick has the elaters without a trace of spiral marking, thus approaching P. chamaeleontina.
130 A Monograph of the Myxoyastres.
Prototrichia chamaeleontina, Mass.
Sporangia spherical or spherico-depressed, attached by a narrow base, wall very thin, highly iridescent, dehiscing irregu- larly; capillitiuni well-developed, threads thick at the point of attachment, tapering upwards, often nodulose, without external markings, breaking up into several free, pointed spines that are sometimes connected by transverse bands, dingy brown ; spores pale pink, globose, minutely warted, 9 — 11 ju, diameter.
Cornuvia metallica, Host., Mon. App., p. 35 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 76 ; Sacc., Syll., n.
Physarum metallicum, Berk., Mag. Zool. and Bot., No. 29, t. 3, f. 8; Cooke, Myx. Brit, p. 16.
(Type in Herb. Berk., Kew.)
On twigs, bark, dead leaves, &c. Britain (Clifton, Notts; Carlisle, Smethwick).
Scattered or in groups of 2 — 3, about 1 mm. diameter. Sporangial wall very iridescent, reflecting green or rosy tints, mass of spores pinkish or flesh-colour. The previous existence of a species of Prototrichia called metallica, accounts for the change of name in the present species.
OPHIOTHECA, Curr. (emended).
Sporangia sessile with single or double wall, frequently con- taining amorphous particles of lime, either regular, circular, or depressed, with circumscissile dehiscence, or aethalioid, or form- ing a vein-like, anastomosing plasmodiocarp ; capillitium form- ing a loose network, attached to the wall at various points, and usually with free arms, threads with spines, warts, or short bands irregularly scattered ; spores globose.
Ophiotheca, Currey, Quart. Joura.- Micr. Science, vol. ii., p. 240.
Pcrichaena, Host., Mon., p. 292; Cke., Brit. Myx., p. 77; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, p. 420 (all in part).
Cornuvia, Host., Mon., p. 289 ; Cke., Brit. Myx., p. 76 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, p. 423 (in part).
Ophiotheca. 131
Closely allied on the one hand to Perichaena, and on the other to Arcyria. Differs from the latter in the sessile, much compressed sporangia often becoming aethalioid, presence of lime in the wall, and the capillitium with numerous free arms and attached to the wall at many points. From Perichaena in the threads of the capillitium being in some way ornamented. Lachnobolus differs in the stipitate sporangia.
Distrib. Europe ; United States ; Cuba ; Ceylon. Species 9.
A. Threads of capillitium spinulose.
^Ophiotheca circumscissa, Curr.
Sporangia either regular, circular, depressed, or dehiscing in an irregularly circumscissile manner, or becoming aethalioid, sinuous, and often combined into a network ; wall smooth, chestnut, or brown; mass of capillitium and spores yellow; threads of capillitium 2 — 4 /* thick, with scattered, straight, or bent spines, 1 — 2 /u, long, combined to form an irregular network, with numerous free arms often slightly incrassated at the tips ; spores globose, smooth, 8 — 19 p diameter.
Ophiotheca chrysosperma, Curr. Quart. Micr. Journ., v., ii , p. 240, t. 9, f. 1—5.
Cornuvia circumscissa, Host., Mon., p. 290 ; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 76; Sacc., Syll., n. 1452; Schroeter, Kr. Fl. Schles., 108.
Gornuvia dictyocarpa, Crupa, Cosmos, Lemberg, 1866; Sacc., Syll., n. 1453.
On bark. Britain ; Germany ; France ; Switzerland.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Lignidium quercimim, Fr., Stirp. Femsp., 83 (1825). Trichia circumscissa, Wallr., Fl. Cr. Germ., n. 2219 (1833). Arcyria glomerata, Fr., Sun. Veg. Scand., 457 (1849). Ophiotheca chrysosperma, Microsc. Journ., p. 240, t. 9, f. 1 — 5
(1854), Trichia Curreyi, Crouan, 1. c., 16 (1867).
132 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Var. scabra, Schroeter, Kr. FL Schles. (Pilze), p. 109. Threads of capillitium with rigid spines, 1 — 2 /x long.
Silesia. .
Va/r.spinosa, Schroeter, Kr. Fl. Schles. (Pilze), p. 109. Threads of capillitium with scattered acute spines, 5 — 6 /x long.
Silesia.
Ophiotheca Wrightii, Berk, and Rav. (fig. 197).
Sporangia circular, much depressed, dehiscing in a circum- scissile manner, or becoming aethalioid and irregularly vein- like; wall bright or blackish-brown, smooth, with granules of lime inside ; mass of capillitium and spores Iriyht, deep yellow, sometimes with a flesh-coloured tinge; capillitium well de- veloped, forming a loose, irregular network, the threads are densely and very minutely verruculosc, and in addition are furnished with numerous straight or flcmious sharp-pointed spines, 2 — 4- ju. long ; spores globose, minutely warted, 10 — 14 u diameter.
Ophiotheca Wrightii, Berk, and Curt., Linn. Journ., vol. x., p. 349.
Cornuvia Wrightii, Host., Mon. App., p. 36 ; Sacc., Syll., vii.,' 1, n. 1454.
Exsicc. — Fung. Cub. Wrightiani, 540.
(Type in Herb. Berk., Kew, n. 10888.)
On wood. Cuba ; Ceylon.
Very closely allied to 0. circumscissa, more especially the Var. spinosa, but distinguished by the warted spores.
Ophiotheca irregularis, Mass.
Sporangia spherical, much depressed, rather convex above, usually gregarious, dehiscing in an irregularly circumscissile manner, wall bright-brown, containing lime inside; mass of capillitium and spores bright yellow ; capillitium well-developed, forming a loose net, threads 3 — 4 /A diameter, equally covered with distinct slender spines '5 — 1 /u long ; spores globose, minutely verruculose, 9 — 11 jx diameter.
Ophiotheca. 133
Perichaena irregularis, Berk, and Curt., Grev., vol. ii., p. 68 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1439.
(Type in Herb. Berk., Kew.)
On bark. Lower Carolina.
Sporangia up to 1 mm. diameter, often much crowded and consequently irregular in outline. Resembling Perichaena depressa in general appearance, but distinguished by the distinct spines uniformly and rather thickly scattered over the capillitium threads.
Ophiotheca nitens, Mass.
Sporangia single or few gathered in clusters, globose-pyriform, sessile, or with a short stem, splitting irregularly, greyish-brown with a fine violet tone of metallic lustre, '5 mm, broad. Wall single, almost without particles. Tubes of the capillitium long, slightly branched, by irregular enlargements fastened to the wall, unequally and very delicately spinulose, equally broad throughout, 1-^-1*5 /x broad. Spores delicately spinulose, yellowish, hyaline, 10 — 12 p. diameter.
Perichaena nitens, Raunkier, Myx. Dan., p. 107, t. 2, f. 11.
On bark of oak and fir, and on decayed leaves of pine. Denmark (Sealand, Jutland).
B. Threads of elaters with raised bands which may be short and wart-like, or combined to form rings or a network.
Ophiotheca reticulata, Mass. (figs. 199, 200).
Plasmodiocarp venulose, sinuous or anastomosing to form an irregular network, clingy ochraceous- umber, wall containing numerous masses of lime inside ; mass of capillitium and spores pale ochraceous-umber ; capillitium scanty, threads forming a very loose network, 3 — 5 p. thick, densely covered with short, straight, or curved raised bands and rounded warts; spores globose, with minute, scattered warts, 13 — 14 p. diameter.
Licea reticulata, B. and Br.
Perichaena reticulata, Rost., Mon. App., p. 35 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1442.
134 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
(Type in Herk. Berk., Kew, n. 10852.) On bark. Ceylon.
Resembling in many respects Ophiotlieca vcrmicularis, but distinguished by the very minute, scattered warts on the spores.
Ophiotlieca cano-flavesceus, Mass.
Sporangia gregarious, standing on a thin, yellow-grey hypo- thallus, globose to hemispherical, or lengthened to reniform, sessile, *5 mm. broad, bright yellow-grey, splitting more or less regularly with a lid. The wall contains numerous round or angular particles. The upper part of the wall, on its inner side, provided with delicate thickenings combined into a regular network ; meshes of the network 5 — 6-gonal and 1 2 jx diameter. Capillitium scarcely evident, only consisting of a few, slightly- branched or quite unbranched threads of variable width, un- equally warted, colourless, yellowish ; without regard to the thickenings the tubes are 1'5 — 2 jx broad.
Spores golden-yellow, delicately warted, 12*5 — 14 /x diameter.
Perichaena cano-flavcscens, Raunkier, Myx. Dan., p. 107, t. 2, fig. 10.
On bark of beech. Denmark (Lolland).
Ophiotheca vennicularis, Mass. (figs. 198, 198 a}.
Sporangia circular, irregularly lobed, or venulose and anasto- mosing to form an irregular network ; when the sporangia are circular or simply lobed there is usually a well-defined, up- raised marginal portion, wall smooth with masses of lime inside, varying from flesh-colour, through brown to umber; mass of capillitium and spores flesh-colour or bright-yellow ; capillitium well-developed, attached at numerous points to wall of spor- angium, combined to form a loose, irregular net, threads 3 — 4 /x diameter, equally covered vjith mimerous short, straight or curved, sometimes branched, raised bands ; sometimes a few rounded warts are intermixed, these latter now and again run out with prominent spines ; spores globose, densely and thickly covered with small, depressed warts, 10 — 13 /x diameter.
Ophiotheca. 135
Physarum vermieularc, Sz., Syn. Fung. Amer., n. 2296. (Specimen from Schweinitz in Herb. Berk., Kew.)
Perichaena vermicularis, Rost., Mon. App , p. 34; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1437.
Ophiotheca umbrina, B. and C., Grev., vol. ii., p. 68 (1873). (Type in Herb. Berk., Kew.) (Not Perichaena variabilis, Rost., Mon., p. 295 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1440.)
Perichaena artocreas, B. and Rav., Grev., v. ii., p. 68 (1873). (Type in Herb. Berk., Kew).
Perichaena corticalis, Rost., Mon., p. 293 (in part) ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1435 (in part) ; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 73 (in part).
Perichaena Friesiana, Rost., Mon., 296 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1441.
On rotten wqpd and bark. United States.
In Schweinitz's specimen there is a clear transition shown from normal perithecia to the venulose, reticulate plasmodiocarp. In the non-venulose form the margin is uniformly raised all round. The threads covered with short raised bands, looking like warts under a low power, and the spores densely covered with depressed warts are very characteristic.
Ophiotheca anomala, Mass.
Sporangia scattered or gregarious, sessile, sub-sphaeroid, dingy- ochraceous, rather shining, about 1*5 mm. diameter; threads of the capillitium 4 — 6 /m thick, cylindrical, ends numerous, truncate, often terminated ~by clavately swollen tips, with crowded raised bands arranged as circles; spores globose, smooth, dingy-ochra- ceous, under the microscope very pale tinge of yellow, 6 — 7 ^ diameter.
Corwwvia anomala, Karst., Myc. Fenn., 4, p. 131 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, 1455.
Trichia anomala, Karst., Not. Sallsk. pro Faun, et Flor. Fenn., ix. (1868), p. 354.
Ophiotheca serpula, Mass.
Plasmodium venulose, yellow ; mass of spores and capillitium golden-yellow ; capillitium threads cylindrical, 3'3 //, thick, with
136 A Monograph of the Myxoyastres.
raised bands in the form of rings, '4 — '7 M high, combined into a net with free, more or less swollen tips; spores globose, 10 fx thick, with raised bands forming a polygonal network.
Arcyria serpula, Wigand, Pringsh. Jahrb., vol. iii., p. 44,
t; 3, f. is.
Cornuma serpula, Host, Mon., p. 289; Sacc., Syll., n. 1451.
On wood. Germany.
Wigand describes the spores as areolate on the surface, but judging from his figure of a spore, mag. 720 diameters, it appears that the areolation is due to raised bands combined to form a polygonal network.
Ophiotheca pallicla, B. and Curt.
Sporangia flcxuous, pale ; threads of capillitium yellow, nodu- lose, minutely echinulate ; spores globose, '0004 inch in diameter ( = about 11 \ji).
Ophiotheca pallida, Berk, and Curt., Journ. Linn. Soc., vol. x., p. 350 (1809).
On dead stems of herbaceous plants. Upper Carolina.
The flocci are very irregular in outline, and have far shorter processes than the other two species. [0. chrysospervia and C. Wrightii] (M. J. B.)
There is no specimen in the Berkeley Herbarium.
LACHNOBOLUS, Fries.
Sporangia stipttate, sessile, or aethalioid, dehiscing irregularly or by. the disappearance of the upper evanescent portion of the wall ; capillitium combined into a net, which is attached at numerous points to the wall of the sporangium ; spores globose.
Lachnobolus, Fries, Flor. Scand., p. 356; Sacc., Syll., vii., p. 433; Cooke, Brit. Myx., p. 74; Zopf, p. 170.
Very closely, allied to Arcyria ; in fact the only important point of difference consists in the present genus having the capillitium attached by asrms at numerous points to the wall of the capillitium, hence it is not protruded elastically when
Lachnololus. 137
mature as an aid in spore dispersion, a function performed by the elastic capillitium in some species of Arcyria, but not all,, as in several species belonging to the last-named genus, the capillitium is in many places attached to the wall, as in A. chrysospora, A. pallidula, &c. In Arcyria the markings on the capillitium threads are generally more developed than in Lachnobolus. Distrib. Europe ; United States. Species 4.
Lachnobolus globosus, Host. (fig. 204).
Sporangia globose, stipitate, lower half of sporangial wall stout, persistcnt^upper half very thin, evanescent, yellow, becoming whitish; stern about equal in length to sporangium, straight, coloured like the sporangium, filled with large irregular angular cells; mass of capillitium and spores colour of ground ginger; capillitium dense, combined into an irregular network, attached at many points to persistent portion of sporangium, threads varying from 3 — 6 /x broad, closely covered with minute warts; capillitium not elastic ; spores at first sub-angular from mutual pressure, then becoming globose, but the thick wall remains slightly thickened at the angles, hence looking as if furnished with a few rudimentary warts, 6 — 7 /x diameter.
Lachnobolus globosus, Host., Mon., p. 283 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., pt. I, n. 1479.
On dry involucres of sweet chestnut.
United States.
(Specimen from Schweinitz in Herb. Berk., Kew.)
Gregarious, about T5 mm. high.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Arcyria globosa, Sz., Consp. Fung. Carol., n. 400 ; Amcr.
Fung., n. 2340 (1822).
Craterium globosum, Fr., S. M., iii., 154 (1829). Nassula globosa, Fr., Summ. Veg. Sc., 456 (1849).
Var, minor, Ellis, N. Amer. Fung. Exs., n. 1397.
138 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Differs from the typical form in the smaller size of the sporangium and longer stem. United States.
Lachnobolus Rostafinskii, Kuril).
Sporangia stipitate, ovate-conoid, apex rounded, yellowish- grey, lower portion of sporangium with a distinct membrane, hemispherico-patelliform, the upper portion destitute of a mem- brane; capillitium well-developed, forming a net adnate to the peridium by numerous branches, the upper portion with numerous free branches ; threads with thin, plate-like processes forming a reticulation, varying from 4*2 — 8*2 p. diameter ; spores yellow, membrane jinn, smooth, 7'5 — 8*3 /a diameter.
Lachnobolus Rostafinslcii, Racib., Myx. Cracov., p. 12, fig. 6; Sacc., Syll, n. 1482.
Very closely allied to Lachnobolus glolosus.
Poland.
Lachnobolus arcyrella, Rost.
Sporangia piriform, fulvous or almost straw-coloured, stem as long as sporangium, or slightly shorter, sub-gilvous ; capillitium not elastically extruded, forming a lax irregular network, threads 2'5 — 8'3 m diameter, attached at many points to the sporangial wall, sometimes descending into the hollow of the stem, orna- mented with numerous obtuse, small warts ; spores smooth, 7 — 8 ft diameter.
Lachnobolus arcyrella, Rost., Mon., p. 431 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1480.
Jutland.
Lachnobolus incarnatus, Schroet.
Sporangia when free globose or elongated, sessile, usually clustered and forming a plasmodiocarp, wall thin, brittle, pinkish, becoming brown, smooth, shining, dehiscing irregularly ; mass of spores jtesh-col&ur ; threads of capillitium combined to form a dense net; 4 — 5 p thick, ornamented with warts and short,
Heterotrichia. 139
irregular bands, incrassated at the nodes ; spores globose, smooth, 6 — 8 /u. diameter.
Lachnobolus incarnatus, Schroeter, Kr. Fl. Schles., 110; Sacc., Syll, vii., 1, n. 1478.
Lachnobolus circinans, Host., Mon., p. 281.
Lachnobolus congesta, B. and Br., Ann. Nat. Hist., n. 1604, t. 9, f. 2 ; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 74 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1481.
On rotten wood, especially pine. Britain (King's Cliffe) ; Germany ; Switzerland ; Lapland.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
4
Arcyria circinans, Fr., Stirp. Femsj., p. 83; Fr., S. M., iii.,
p. 177 (1825).
Lachnobolus circinans, Fr., Fl. Scan., 356 (1835). Lachnobolus Sauteri, Host., in Fckl. Symb., 2, p. 76 (1873).
Licea incarnata, A. and S., Consp., 109, t. 10, f. 6 (1805). Lycogala incarnatum, Swrtz, Vet. Ac. Handl., 112 (1815). Perichaena incarnata, Fr., S. M., iii., p. 193 (1829).
Lycopcrdon pinetum, Batsch., Elench.. p. 155, n. 29 (1783). Physarum congestum, Somf., Fl. Lap., p. 241 (1825). Perichaena congesta, Fr., S. M., iii., p. 192 (1829). Licea congesta, Wllr., Fl. Or. Germ., n. 2108 (1833).
HETEROTRICHIA, Mass. (Nov. Gen.).
Sporangia densely crowded or scattered, stipitate ; wall single, thin, upper portion disappearing at maturity, leaving the basal portion as a calyculus ; stem rilled with large, thick-walled cells that are sub-angular from mutual pressure; these become smaller upwards, and pass gradually into normal spores; capillitium free from wall of sporangium, its lower branches passing between the cells filling the stem, central portion composed of very thin tubes anastomosing to form a loose, irregular network ; towards
140 A Monograph of the Myjcogastres.
/
the periphery the branches become many times thicker, and form a small-meshed regular network, furnished with numerous stout, acute, free tips ; the free tips are simple, or once or twice furcate ; the entire capillitium is protruded elastically during dehiscence; colume] la absent; spores globose.
Distinguished from Arcyria, its nearest ally, by the very numerous free, pointed, simple or branched spines springing from the tubes of the stout peripheral portion of the capillitium, the meshes of which are much more uniform in size and shape than in Arcyria. The present genus agrees with Ophiothcca in the presence of numerous free arms on the capillitium, but in the last-named genus the free ends are not attenuated at the point, but usually inflated, and furthermore the tubes of the capillitium are of equal thickness throughout, and not of two distinct types as in Heterotrichia.
Heterotrichia Gabriellae, Mass. (n. sp.) (figs. 205 — 207).
Sporangia densely crowded, becoming scattered towards the margin of the cluster, cylindric-ovate, wall thin, smooth, even, at first red, becoming yellowish-brown at maturity, upper por- tion disappearing, leaving a small calyculus ; stem much shorter than sporangium, thin, filled with large cells; mass of capil- litium and spores yellowish-brown ; threads of central portion of capillitium about 1'5 /x thick, with slightly raised rings or short bands partly encircling the tube, almost colourless, threads of peripheral portion bright-yellow, 5 — 6 /u thick, forming an even network, free arms of equal thickness to tubes of network, 40 — GO fj. long ; every part densely and uniformly covered with warts or short bands, a few scattered elliptical swellings are present on the tubes and spines ; spores globose, smooth, 7 — 8 /ix diameter.
On wood. South Carolina.
(Type in Herb.,' Kew.)
Sent to Dr. Cooke by the late H. W. Ravenal, accompanied by the following note: — "Arcyria Gabriellae, n. sp. Primary state red, becoming fuscous, closely congregated, elongated,
Arcyria. 141
stipitate, peridia circumscised, upper part fugacious, spores reddish fuscous. April 1850. S. C., H. W. R."
The species was considered by Cooke to be Arcyria bicolor, Berk.
•ARCYRIA, Hill (emended).
Sporangia regular, plasmodiocarp, or aethalioid, wall single, dehiscing irregularly or in a circumscissile manner, basal portion persistent, columella absent ; stem usually filled with large cells which become smaller upwards and gradually pass into normal spores ; capillitium dense, usually becoming elastically elongated and protruding during dehiscence, free, or the basal threads attached to the inside of the stem, or attached at several points to the lower, persistent portion of the sporangial wall, threads combined to form a dense network with or without free ends, ornamentation in the form of continuous ridges arranged in a spiral, or prominent, plate-like half-rings or spines arranged in a very open spiral, or wart-like spines scattered equally over the entire surface of the threads.
Arcyria. Host., Mon., p. 270 ; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 69 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., p. 425.
Hemiarcyria, Host., Mon., p. 261 ; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 67 ; Mass., Mon. Trich., p. 27; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, p. 446.
The genus Hemiarcyria was founded by Rostafinski on those species of Arcyria having continuous ridges arranged in a spiral manner on the threads, as in the genus Trichia, and remodelled Arcyria to include all those species having the threads orna- mented in any other fashion than by spirally arranged ridges. It is an open question as to whether ornamentation of the capillitium threads is of generic value even if constant, as supposed by Rostafinski, but such is certainly not the case; the two extreme characteristics overlap and are combined in several species. In some species of Hemiarcyria the spiral ridges are accompanied by numerous spines, as in H. rubiformis and H. serpula, whereas in H, melanopeziza, a Brazilian species, the spines are abundant, and the spiral ridges present, but shadowy in some individuals and entirely absent in others, consequently
142 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
in the same species, and sometimes in different portions of the same individual we meet with the features of the two supposed genera. Finally in Arcyria, in Rostafinski's sense, the markings, whether in the form of prominent, ridge-like half-rings or spines, are arranged in a spiral manner, and may be looked upon as the remaining portions of continuous spiral ridges, the greater portions of which are obsolete. For the above reasons the two genera proposed by Rostafinski have been merged into one under the older name of Arcyria.
Distrib. Europe; S. Africa; India; E. Indies; Ceylon; Australia ; N. Zealand ; Tasmania ; United States ; S. America. Species 38.
A. Eu-Arcyria. Threads of capillitium without continuous spirally arranged ridges.
* Spores smooth.
Arcyria punicea, Rost (figs. 242 — 244).
Sporangia globose, ovate or elliptical, stipitate, wall vermilion, sometimes with a brownish or purple tinge, rarely yellowish- brown ; stern slender, about equal in length to sporangium or longer, same colour, filled with large cells, expanding at the base into a hypothallus, capillitium and mass of spores dull- vermilion, crimson-lake, brownish, or sometimes yellow-brown ; capillitium dense, protruding elastically, attached at many points to the firm, plicate, persistent basal portion of the sporangial wall, threads combined to form a very irregular network with or without free ends, furnished with prominent half-rings arranged in a very open spiral, remainder smooth ; spores globose, smooth, pink, or pale-brown, 6 — 8 p. diameter.
Arcyria punicea, Rost, Mon., p. 268, figs. 190, 192, 197; Cke., Myx. Brit, p. 69, figs. 190, 192, 197 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1457; Zopf, p. 165.
Arcyria vcrnicosa, Rost., Mon. Supp., p. 69.
Exsicc. — Jack, Leiner u. Sitz., n. 613; Cke., Fung. Brit, 613; ed. II., 520; Syd., Myc. March., 915; Rab., Fung. Eur., 1914;
Arcyria. 143
Fckl., F. Rhen., 1441 ; Karsten, Fung. Fenn., 378 ; Ellis, N. Amer. Fung., 1114; Klotzsch, Herb. Myc., 671; Eav., Fung. Car., 80 ; Wentendorp, Herb. Crypt. Belg., 81 ; Desm., Cr. Fr., Ser. L, 1510.
On rotten wood. • Britain (Poole, Woolwich, Kew, Chester, Scarboro', Carlisle, Aboyne, N. B.) ; Europe ; S. Africa ; Ceylon ; S. Australia ; New Zealand ; United States ; Canada ; Brazil.
Gregarious, often springing from a common hypothallus, 1-5 — 3 mm. high. Distinguished by the capillitium being attached to the cup-like permanent portion of the sporangial wall, and the prominent, flattened half-rings arranged in a loose spiral on the threads of the capillitium, which are otherwise smooth. The threads of the capillitium are often compressed or triangular, but not unfrequently terete.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Clathroides purpureum, Mich., t. 94, f. 1, 1. c. (1729) ; Hall.,
pi. 1, f. 6 (1742).
Clathrus pediculatus, Guett., Obs. 1, 16 (1747). Arcyria pedicula, Hill, p. 47 (1751). Clathrus denudatus, Linn., Sp. PL, 1179 (1753). Trichia, Hall, No. 2164, t. 48, f. 6 (1768). Mucor dathroides, Scop. Carr., ii., 492 (1772). Mucor pyriformis, Leers. Fl. Herb., 1135 (1775). Clathrus pedunculatus, Batsch. FL, p. 141 (1783). Lycoperdon rufum, Dicks Cry., fasc. i., p. 25 (1785). Stemonitis denudata, Rehl. FL Cant. (1786). Embolus crocatus, Batsch., t. 30, f. 176 (1786). Stemonitis crocata, Willd. Fl. Ber., 1189 (1787).
Stemonitis coccinea, Roth. Fl. Germ., i., 548 (1788).
Trichia denudata, Vill. Fl. Dauph., 1060 (1789) ; Purt. Mid. FL, t. 24, f. 2 ; Sow., t. 49.
Trichia graniformis, Hoffm. V. Cr., i., p. 3 (1490).
Trichia cinnabaris, Bull., t. 502, fig. 1, b. c. (1791).
Stemonitis crocea, Gmel. Sys., 1467 (1791).
Trichia rufa, With. Arr., iii., p. 478 (1795).
144 A Monograph of the My-xoyastres.
Arcyria punicea, Pers. Disp., p. 10 (1797); Eng. Fl., v., 318;
Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1170 ; Fung. Brit., ii., 520. Trichia purpurea., Schum. Saell., 1472 (1803). Arcyria rufa, Schum. Saell., 1486 (1803). Arcyria melanoccjtiiala, Schum. Saell., 1484 (1803). Arcyria conjugata, Schum. Saell., 1485 (1803), Arcyria cincta, Schum. Saell., 1480 (1803). Arcyria cylindrica, Schum. Saell., 1486 (1803). Trichia cinnabaris, DC. Fl. Fr., No. 688 (1805). Arcyria fusca, Fr. Gast., p. 17 (1818). Arcyria vemicosa, Rost., MOD. Supp., p. 36.
Arcyria punicea. Var. cribroides, Raunk.
The inner meshes equal and of ordinary width ; on the surface of the capillitiura, on the contrary, groups of very small and single layers succeed each other alternately.
Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 108, t. 3, f. 12.
Jutland.
Arcyria ferrnginea, Rost. (figs. 250 — 253).
Sporangia globose or ovate, sometimes deformed, stipitate, dull vermilion or rusty-red, sometimes pale reddish-pink; stem thin, length variable, usually short, filled with large cells ; mass of capillitium and spores brick-red, brownish, sometimes ochra- ceous ; capillitium becoming elastically protruded, threads com- bined to form a dense, irregular network, more or less acutely triangular, one side with parallel projecting ridges, the two others with a fine, irregular network ; spores globose, smooth, 9 — 11 /ix diameter.
Arcyria ferrnginea, Rost., Mon., p. 280, fig. 194; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 73, fig. 194 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1470.
Arcyria intricata, Rost., Mon. Suppl., p. 72.
JExsicc. — Fuckel, Fung. Rhen., n. 1444.
On rotten wood. Britain (Hampstead, Carlisle, Scarboro') ; Europe ; United States ; Ceylon.
Distinguished amongst the red species of Arcyria by the
Arcyria. 145
portion of the capillitium threads not occupied by the pro- minent ridges being ornamented with a delicate network of
O O
slightly raised lines.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Arcyria ferruginea, Sauter., p. 316 (1811). Arcyria lateritia, DeBy. Mycet., 24 (1859). Arcyria ferruginea, Fckl. Sym., p. 337 (1869); Berk, and Br., Ann. Nat. Hist., No. 1603 ; Grevillea, v., p. 13.
. Arcyria incarnata, Rost.
Sporangia crowded, ovate or sub-globose, stem very short or absent, wall reddish, often with a brown or yellow tinge ; mass of spores and capillitium flesh-colour, rosy, or reddish-brown, sometimes ochraceous ; capillitium attached to the apex of stem wall, and with very few attachments to basal portion of thin, sporangial wall, threads combined to form a dense, elastically protruding network, with many free, flattened, or swollen spinose tips, markings in the form of half-rings or spines, or a mixture of the two arranged in a loose spiral, and mixed with small, spinose warts, there are frequent swellings in the length of the threads; spores globose, smooth, pinkish or tinged with ochre, 6 — 8 n diameter.
Arcyria incarnata, Rost., Mon., p. 275, figs. 187, 199 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 71, figs. 187, 199.
Arcyria adnata, Rost., Mon. Supp., p. 72.
Eocsicc.— Fuckel, Fung. Rhen., 1442.
On rotten wood and bark. Britain (Lyndhurst, Kew, King's Cliffe, Norths, Carlisle, Aboyne, N. B.) ; Europe ; United States ; India; Ceylon.
Usually crowded, sub-sessile, To — 2 mm. high. The wall of the sporangium is thinner, and the permanent base little or not at all longitudinally ribbed ; the capillitium threads are generally round, but sometimes compressed. Closely allied to A. punicea, of which the present is perhaps only a variety; intermediate stages between the two are not wanting.
146 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Clathroides purpureum, Mich., t. 94, f. 2 (1729).
Arcyria sessilis, Hill, p. 47 (1751).
Clathrus ramosus, a., Retz. Vet. Hand., 253 (1769).
Lycoperdon hypoxylon, Pallas., ii., 503 (1771).
Clathrus adnatus, Batsch., p. 141 (1783).
Stemonitis trichia., Roth. Fl. Germ., 1., 549 (1788),
Stemonitis lilacina, Schr., Fl. Bav., ii., 1784 (1789).
Stemonitis incamata, Pers., in Gmel., 1467 (1791).
Trichia cinnabaris, Bull, t. 502, f. 1, D (1791).
Arcyria incamata, Pers., Obs., t. 5, f. 4, 5 (1796) ; Eng. Fl.,
v., 318; Cke., Hdbk., 1171. Stemonitis carnea, Trent., 222 (1797). Stemonitis globosa., Trent., p. 222 (1797). Trichia flcmiosa, Schum. Saell., 1465 (1803). Arcyria lilacina, Schum. Saell., 1476 (1803). Arcyria carnea, Schum. Saell., 1477 (1803). Arcyria dentata, Schum. Saell., 1478 (1803). Arcyria rosea, Spr.
Arcyria incarnata, (3 flexuosa, Fr., S. M., iii., 179 (1829). Arcyria nutans, ft exigua, Bong., in Weinm., 609 (1836). Arcyria fiexuosa, Rabh., Fl. Cry., 2158 (1844).
Arcyria irregularis, Racib.
Sporangia pinkish-red, stipitate ; stem up to '5 mm. high, filled unth large, colourless cells; calycidus hemispherical, mem- brane minutely warted; capillitium forming an irregular net, meshes of variable size; threads flattened, margin undulate, from 4'5 — 9'1 /* wide, 2'5 — 4*5 thick, threads everywhere densely covered ivith irregular obtuse cones 0'8 — 1*5 p. broad, for the most part elongated; spores 7 — 7'5 /u diameter, membrane firm, smooth, almost colourless.
Arcyria irregularis, Racib., Myx. Crac., p. 15, fig. 10; Sacc., Syll, vii., 1, n. 1466.
Poland.
Arcyria. 147
Arcyria (Erstedtii, Rost.
Sporangia ovate, in the typical form, stipitate, stem shorter than sporangium, firm, erect ; like the sporangium, dirty brown ; mass of capillitium and spores brown, often with a red tinge; capillitium forming a rather dense net, threads cylindrical, 3 — 5 fi diameter, with scattered, elliptical, swollen portions, spar- ingly and equally covered with slender spines of various lengths ; spores smooth, 8 — 10 /x diameter.
Arcyria (Erstedtii, Rost., Mon., p. 278, fig. 196 ; Sacc., SylL, vii., 1, n. 1468; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 60, t. 3, f. 1 ; Cke., Myx. Brit., fig. 196.
On wood. Britain (Burnham Beeches, Bucks) ; Denmark ; Russia.
Characterized by the net, without free arms, having its threads swollen at intervals, and sparingly and equally covered with slender spines of variable length, the longest about equal to diameter of thread.
Arcyria umbrina, Schum.
Sporangia single or gregarious, on a thin, shining hypothallus, ovate, stipitate. Receptacle on the inner side provided with a network of delicate thickenings. Stem brownish-black, longer than the sporangium. After dehiscence of the sporangium the capillitium enlarges itself but slightly. Capillitium and the mass of spores ochre-brown. Tubes of net of the capillitium with thickenings in the form of half-rings encircling the thread in a spiral, without regard to the thickenings 2'5 — 3 /x, broad. Spores smooth, 5 — 7 n diameter.
Arcyria umbrina, Schum., t. 3, f. 5. Schumacher: Fl. Saell., No. 1479; Fl. Dan. Tab., 1975, fig. 1; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 108, t, 3, f. 8.
On rotten stumps. Summer ; autumn. Near Copenhagen.
When comparing the two Arcyria — species delineated in the Flora Danica, 1975, figs. 1 and 2, with the descriptions of them, it will be seen that the text to fig. 1 in reality belongs
148 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
to fig. 2, which no doubt is Arcyria cinerea, what also may be seen by comparison of this figure with the authentic figure in Bulliard's Hist, des champ., &c., Tab., 447, fig. 3.
This error is to" be found in all authors who have cited Tabula 1975 of Fl. Dan. I beg to observe that I follow the figure no. I. of the Tabula and correct the text according to this, con- sequently for A. cinerea I have cited Fl. Dan. Tab. 1795, fig. 2.
Fig. 1 on the Tabula — fig. 2 in the text — Arcyria umlrina, Schum., is hitherto quoted as synonymous with A. pomiformis, Roth., but I think they are rather different both in their shape and in their colour.
On a rotten stump near Copenhagen I have found the above described Arcyria, which throughout harmonizes with the figure named and with Schumacher's description of his A. umlrina. This species I therefore believe to have again found. As may be seen from the description, A. umbrina is in the thickenings on the tubes of the capillitium very different from A. pomi- formis, and more connected with A. punicea. (Raunkier, in Myx. Dan.)
From the above it appears that Raunkier considers he has collected the species intended by Schumacher. It will be noted, however, that no type specimens are factors in the determination, but only figures. .
Arcyria insignia, Kalchb. and Cke.
Sporangia scattered, very minute, not more than '5 mm. high, cylindric-ovate, rosy or vermilion, upper portion falling away, calyculus minute ; stem half as long as sporangium, similarly coloured, filled with large, globose, coloured cells which pass into normal spores at the apex; capillitium dense, protruded elastically, threads cylindrical, thick-walled, combined into an irregular network; everywhere densely and equally covered with stout, acute spines about 1 p high ; spines not connected into a network at the base; spores globose, smooth, 11 — 12 JLI diameter.
Arcyria insignis, Kalchbr. and Cke., Grev. x., p. 143 ; Sacc., Syll., no. 1475.
On rotten wood. S. Africa.
Arcyria. 149
(Type in Herb., Kew.)
Distinguished amongst the red species by the cylindrical threads of the capillitium being equally and densely covered with short spine-like warts or very short bands.
Arcyria fusca, Fries.
Every part umber-brown, sometimes with .a tinge of olive; sporangia stipitate, globose or very broadly elliptical ; basal por- tion remaining as a calyculus; stem 3 — 4 times as long as S2Jorangium, very thin, equal, filled with large cells that become smaller upwards ; capillitium protruded elastically, attached to base of sporangium, the threads passing down between the cells of the upper portion of the stem, threads round, combined to form a dense network, with a single row of warts or very short plates arranged in a very open spiral ; spores globose, smooth, 7 — 9 fj. diameter.
Arcyria fusca, Fries, Gast., p. 17.
Arcyria punicea, Host., Mon., p. 268; Cke., Myx. Brit, p. 69 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, no. 1457 (all in part).
Exsicc. — Fuck el, Fung. Rhen., 1443.
(Specimen from Fries in Herb. Berk.)
On wood. Britain (Batheaston) ; Sweden ; Germany.
Gregarious, 3 — 4 mm. high. Considered by Rostafinski as synonymous with Arcyria punicea, from which it differs in the ornamentation of the threads, consisting of spines or short flattened plates not occupying more than £ diameter of thread, long, thin stem, colour, &c.
Arcyria versicolor, Phill.
Sporangia elongato-pyriform or clavate, often attenuated downwards into a short, thin, weak stem ; wall of sporangium smooth, polished, varying from bright clear yellow to dark olive ; dehiscing irregularly, basal portion persistent; springing gre- gariously from a well-developed hypothallus ; mass of capillitium and spores clear yellow to dusky olive ; capillitium attached only to inner surface of stem-like base of sporangium ; forming
150 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
a dense, irregular network, protruded elastically ; threads equally covered in every part with short, variously curved, and frequently anastomosing, slightly raised bands; sometimes a more or less perfect ring occurs; spores globose, smooth, 8 — 10 p. diameter.
Arcyria versicolor, Phillips, in herb.
Arcyria versicolor, Phill., Grev., v., p. 115, t. 88, f. 8, a — e; Sacc., Syll, vii., 1, n. 1473.
Arcyria vitellina, Phill., Grev., v., p. 115, t. 88, f. 7, a — e; Sacc., Syll., n. 1474.
On trunks. California.
A beautiful species, 3 — 3'5 mm. high. Variable in colour, but constant in all important characters. I am indebted to Mr. Phillips for an opportunity of examining the type specimens.
Arcyria nutans, Host. (figs. 140, 141).
Sporangia cylindrical, sometimes ovate, very shortly stipitate, wall dingy yellow ; stem same colour, filled with large cells ; capillitium and mass of spores pale opaque yellow ; capillitium elastically protruded, elongated, drooping, threads combined to form a dense, irregular network, thickenings in the form of prominent half-rings, often with projecting spines arranged in a diffuse spiral, the remainder covered with a fine, irregular net- work ; spores globose, pale yellow, smooth, 7 — 8 p. diameter.
Arcyria nutans, Host., ]\|on., p. 277 ; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 72.
Exsicc.— Fuckel, Fung. Rhen., n. 1439.
On rotten wood and bark. Britain (Kew, Scarboro', Carlisle) ; Europe ; United States.
Scattered or gregarious, 1*5 — 2 mm. high. Somewhat re- sembling A. cinerea, but distinguished by the short stem, the elastically protruded, very long, drooping capillitium, which is usually the colour of ground ginger, but sometimes tinged with brown, and more especially by the portion of the capillitium threads not occupied by the half-rings being ornamented with a fine network of slightly raised lines.
Arcyria. 151
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Clathroidcs flavescens, Mich., p. 214 (1729).
Clathroides longissimum, Hall, p. 10 (1742).
Clathms ramosus, /3. Retz. Vet. Handl., 253 (1769).
Trichia nutans, Bull., t. 502, f. 3 (1798) ; Sow., t. 260.
Stemonitis nutans, Gmel., Sys., 1467 (1791).
Arcyria flava, Pers. Obs., i., 85 (1796) ; Grev., t. 309.
Stemonitcs amaena, Trent., p. 222 (1797).
Trichia elongata, Schum. Saell., 1464 (1803).
Arcyria alutacea, Schum. Saell., 1474 (1803).
Arcyria nutans, Grev. Fl. Ed., p. 455 (1824); Eng. Fl., v.,
319 ; Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1173. Arcyria pattens, Wallr. in litt.
Arcyria straminea, Wallr. Crypt. Germ., 2232 (1833). Arcyria nutans, c, minor, Bong., in Weinm, p. 609 (1836).
Arcyria cinera, Mass. (figs. 137—139, and 248, 249).
Sporangia varying from globose to cylindrical, stipitate, simple or digitate-fasciculate on a common stem, wall thin, smooth, grey, or yellowish, cup-like base persistent after de- hiscence ; stem slender, about equal in length to sporangium or longer, straight, colour of sporangium, filled with large cells that become smaller upwards; mass of capillitium and spores yellowish-grey or grey ; capillitium dense, protruding elastically, and remaining erect, threads combined to form an irregular network, variable in thickness, often smooth or minutely warted towards the base, the remainder equally covered with close-set short spines, or half-rings or spines arranged in a diffuse spiral ; spores globose, smooth, rarely minutely granular, 7—9 /x diameter.
Arcyria cinerea, Rost., Mon., p. 272, figs. 182 — 185, 193 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 71, figs. 182—185, 193; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1459.
Arcyria ' pomifoi-mis, Rost., Mon., p. 271; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 70.
Arcyria stricta, Rost., Mon. Supp., p. 71.
152 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Arcyria Friesii, B. and Br., Ann. Nat. Hist., n. 1602 (type in Herb. Berk., Kew) ; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 71, figs. 251 and 259.
Exsicc. — Fuckel, Fung. Rhen., 1440; Sydow, Myc. March., n. 1499; Rab., Fung. Eur., 369 ; Ellis, N. Amer. Fung., 1115.
On wood and bark. A variable species, from 1'5 — 4 mm. high, the capillitium remains erect after expansion. In the fasciculate form the sporangia are cylindrical and elongated, 2 — 8 springing from a long, slender stem.
Britain (Lyndhurst, Swansea, Kew, Bulmer, Scarboro', Car- lisle, Appin, N.B.); Europe; United States ; Brazil; Venezuela; S. Africa ; Himalayas ; Ceylon.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
(Under A. cinerea.)
Clathrus recutitus, Linn. Sp., 1649 (1764).
Trichia, Hall., No. 2166 (1768).
Trichia cinerea, Bull., t. 477, f. 3 (1791).
Stcmonitis recutita, Gmel. Sys., 1467 (1791).
Stemonitis cincrea, Gmel. Sys., 1467 (1791).
Arcyria albida, Pers. Disp., t. 1, f. 2 (1797).
Stcmonitis glauca, Trent., p. 221 (1797).
Arcyria cinerea, Schum. Saell, 1480 (1803) ; Fl. Dan., t. 1975,
f. 1 ; Eng. Fl., v., 318; Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1172. Trichia camea, Wall, in litt. Arcyria camea, Wall. Fl. Germ., 2234 (1833). Arcyria trichioidcs, Corda Ic., ii., f. 86 (1838). Stemonitis grizea, Opiz. in Lotos, 215 (1855). Arcyria pallida, B. and C. Grev. (1873), No. 365. Arcyria stricta, Rost., Mon. Supp., p. 36. .
(Under A. pomiformis.')
Stemonitis 2>omif minis, Roth. Fl. Germ., i., 548 (1788). Stemonitis ochroleuca, Trent, in Roth., 221 (1797). Stcmonitis lutea, Trent., 221 (1797).
Arcyria nmbrina, Schum. Saell., 1479 (1803) ; Berk. Ann. N. Hist., No. 389; Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1174.
Arcyria. 153
Arcyria silacea, Ditm., t. 8 (1817).
Arcyria ochroleuca, Fr.-S. M., iii., 181 (1829) ; Berk. Ann. N.
Hist., No. 115 ; Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1175. Arcyria hitea, Schwz. Fung. Car., 2339 (1831). Arcyria globosa, Weinm, teste Fr. Stemonitis ochracea, Opiz. herb.
Arcyria cinerea. Var. cribroides, Raunk.
Tubes of the capillitium broader than those of the type species, the inner meshes equal and of ordinary width, on the surface of the capillitium, on the contrary, groups of very small meshes and single larger succeed each other alternately.
Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 107.
On decayed branches of fir. Denmark.
Arcyria digitata, Rost
Scattered or gregarious, several sporangia, 3 — 7 ', fasciculate on a common stem; sporangia shortly cylindrical, apex obtuse, basal cup-like portion persistent ; mass of capillitium and spores pale opaque greyish-yellow, or with an ochraceous tinge ; stem elongated, equal, rather slender, expanded at the base into a circular hypothallus ; capillitium dense, becoming very much elongated after dehiscence, threads forming a network, meshes very irregular in size ; here and there minutely warted, varying in thickness; spores globose, smooth, 7 — 10 /u diameter.
Arcyria digitata, Rost., Hon., p. 274; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1 n. 1460.
Stemonitis digitata, Sz., Syn. Amer., n. 2350.
(Specimen from Schweinitz in Hb. Berk.)
Arcyria Leprieurii, Mont., Ann. Sci. Nat., Ser. IV., vol. iii., p. 141. (Type in Herb. Mus., Paris.)
Arcyria bicolor, B. and C., Journ. Linn. Soc., vol. x., p. 349. (Type in Herb. Berk.)
JExsicc. — Fung. Cub. Wrightian., 542 (as Arcyria bicolor, B. and C.).
On wood and bark. Cuba ; U. States ; Cayenne.
154 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
From 3 — 4 mm. high; several sporangia fasciculate on a common stem, rarely simple. Closely allied to Arcyria cinerea, differing in the larger size of the sporangia. Sometimes the capillitium and spores are brownish or red.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Stcmonitis digitata, Sz., Amer., f., n. 2350 (1834). Arcyria Leprieurii, Mont, Ann. Sci. Nat., v. iii., p. 141, no. 603 (1855).
Arcyria Cookei, Mass. (n. sp.).
Gregarious ; every part Uuish-grey ; sporangia narrowly cylindrical, elongated, wall very thin except the basal portion which persists as a shallow calyculus; stem erect, elongated, very slender, equal, filled with irregular lumps of organic matter ; capillitium dense, becoming protruded elastically during de- hiscence and remaining erect, innermost threads very thin, 1'5 — 2 /x smooth, combined to form a very large-meshed, irregular network, outer threads 4 — 5 jx thick, densely and uniformly covered with minute warts, forming a small-meshed network; spores globose, smooth, 8 — 9 /x diameter.
On wood. Brazil.
(Type in Herb., Kew.)
From 3'5 — 4 mm. high ; stem about equal in length to sporangium. Placed by Dr. Cooke along with Arcyria cinerea, from which it differs in the thin, elongated sporangium, the details of the capillitium, and in the thin long stem being filled with amorphous lumps of organic matter.
Arcyria dictyonema, Rost.
Sporangia ovate, stipitate; stems springing in clusters from the substratum, capillitium not very much divided, threads cylindrical, width variable, generally 3'5 p thick, sub-equally covered with an elevated network, the bands of which are spinulose, spines 1—2 jx high ; spores smooth, 9 — 10 p diameter.
Arcyria. 155
Arcyria dictyonema, Rost., Mon., p. 279, fig. 195; Cke., Myx. Brit., fig. 195 ; Sacc., Syll, vii., 1, n. 1469.
Russia; Germany.
Appears to approach very closely some forms of A. cinerea and A. nutans.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Arcyria nutans, (a) sordide ochracea, Bong., in Wein., 1. c.,
p. 609 (1836).
Arcyria ochracea, D. By., MS. Arcyria cinnamomea, Kaulfuss, MS.
Arcyria Hariotii, Mass. (n. sp.).
Gregarious or much crowded and irregularly polygonal from mutual pressure, de23ressed, sessile on a broad lose, sporangial wall primrose-yellow, smooth, shining, capillitium and mass of spores dingy yellow ; threads of capillitium 6 — 8 // diameter, forming a dense, irregular net, uniformly and densely covered with minute warts ; spores globose, wall thick, smooth, 7 — 9 i*. diameter.
France. Communicated by M. Hariot of the Paris Museum.
On decayed wood. About "5 mm. diameter, superficially closely resembling Oligonema nitens. Agrees in the smooth spores, dense capillitium, and polished sporangium with Arcyria versicolor, but in the latter the sporangium is clavate or elongato- pyriform, and the markings of the capillitium consist of short irregularly arranged bands.
Arcyria aurantiaca, Raunk.
Sporangia gregarious, ovate, or shortly cylindrical, stipitate ; stem same length or shorter than sporangium. Thickenings on the inner side of the receptacle, in the form of fine warts ; wall, capillitium, and mass of spores brick-red to orange. Tubes of the capillitium with irregularly connected, close-standing, ring-like thickenings, 5 — 7 n broad; spores smooth, 10 — 11 /x diameter.
156 A Monograph of the Myxogastre*.
Arcyria aurantiaca, Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 109, t. 3, figs. 4, and 9—11.
On rotten wood. Denmark.
From the above description it is difficult to indicate either the prominent features of the species intended, or its affinity with other species.
* * Spores warted.
Arcyria similis, Hacib.
Sporangia shortly stipitate, cherry-coloured ; threads of capil- litium thick-walled, 4'2 — 5 — 8 /x broad, cylindrical or a little compressed, everywhere with plate-elevations; plates generally in the form of half-rings not arranged in a regular spiral manner, but irregularly, or overlapping, or in spirals irregularly broken up; spores 8.3 /A diameter, almost colourless, wall thin, dis- tinctly verruculose.
Arcyria similis, Racib., Myx. Crac., p. 13, f. 8; Sacc., Syll., n. 1462.
Poland.
Arcyria Raciborsckii, Berlese.
Sporangia stipitate, stem filled with cells; calyculus hemi- spherical, membrane thin, reddish, densely covered on the inner surface with very short, acuminate warts ; capillitium at the nodes and often also on the intemodcs inflated into globose vesicles, forming a loose net ; threads of lower portion of the capillitium flattened, one margin with incrassated teeth, remainder of threads smooth, the remainder and greater portion having the threads sub-cylindrical, with the teeth arranged in a spiral, the remainder of the thread with undulating ridges, in a varying number of spirals, here and there becoming indistinct, or anastomosing to form an irregular network on the surface of the thread ; spores verruculose, 10'5 — 11*6 f* diameter.
Arcyria Raciborsckii, Berlese, Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1467.
Arcyria. 157
Arcyria decipiens, Racib., Myx. Crac., p. 16, f. 9 (not of Berkeley). Poland.
Arcyria inermis, Racib.
Sporangia stipitate, brick-red; stem filled with cells of various sizes, the interspaces filled with capillitium threads ; capillitium forming a network, threads cylindrical or a little flattened, 4'2 — 10'8 /* broad, protuberances combined into a network, meshes 1*6 — 2 u long and almost equally broad; spores 9'9 — 10'8 p. diameter, membrane firm, reddish, distinctly verruculose.
Arcyria inermis, Racib., Myx. Crae., p. 14, f. 7 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1465.
Poland.
Position uncertain, owing to absence of information respecting the spores.
Arcyria bonariensis, Speg.
Sporangia minute, \ — f mm. long, \ — \ mm. broad, in densely crowded clusters of 5 — 20 individuals, bright citrin-yellow ; stem half as long as peridium and same colour; tubes of the capillitium springing from the hollow of the stem, equal, 3 fj. thick, densely muricate, very pale yellowish-green ; spores globose, protoplasm granular or guttulate, wall rather thick, 10 p. diameter.
Arcyria bonariensis, Speg., Fung. Arg., Pug. III., n. 90 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1471.
On old worked wood. Argentine Republic.
Allied to A. nutans, but distinct. (Speg.)
Arcyria aflmis, Rost.
Sporangia cylindric-ovate, 1 mm. high, stem of about equal length to sporangium, gregarious; mass of capillitium and spores purple-ferruginous, dull orange-red; threads of capillitium forming a network, lower meshes 3'6, upper 5'4 /* broad, mark- ings as in C. incarnata.
158 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Arcyria ajfinis, Rost., Mon., p. 276 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1463. On trunks. Sweden ; Germany.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Arcyria vermicularis, Schum., Fl. Saell., n. 1475, teste Fr.
(1803). Arcyria punicea, /3 vermicularis, Fr., 1. c., iii., p. 178 (1829).
Arcyria cinnamomea, Hazsl.
Cinnamon-colour inside and out; sporangia gregarious, at length distinct, cylindrical ; stem equal to sporangium in length, diaphonous- white ; tubes of capillitium combined into a hexa- gonal network, 3 — 4 fj. thick, with short, cylindrical, diaphonous warts ; spores cinnamon.
Arcyria cinnamomea, Hazsl., Just., Bot. Jahr., 1877, p. 156; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, 1477.
Arcyria decipiens. Berk.
Gregarious, sporangia stipitate, obovate, ochraceous, capil- litium free above, obovate, erect, with the mass of spores ochraceous ; spores globose.
Arcyria decipiens, Berk., Fung, of Darwin's Voy., Ann. Nat. Hist., v., 4, p. 447, t. 10, f. 3.
On palm stem. Rio Janeiro.
Habit of Trichia clavata, but capillitium reticulated, and thread without spirals (Berk.). No specimen exists in Berkeley's herbarium.
B. Hemiarcyria. Threads of capillitium with continuous ridges spirally arranged.
§ Spores minutely warted.
Arcyria rubiformis, Mass. (figs. 262 — 264).
Sporangia olovate-oblong, usually fasciculate on a common ridged or contorted stem of variable length, sometimes sub-globose
Arcyria. 159
and sessile on a hypothallus, rarely an irregular plasmodiocarp, brown or almost black, polished and with a metallic lustre or opaque ; mass of capillitium and spores orange-broicn ; threads of capillitium orange-brown, 8 — 9 /A thick, combined into a dense elastic net, which at maturity elongates considerably, carrying the apical portion of the sporangium at its apex, where it remains in the form of a cap, free tips numerous, usually terminated by from one to three short, smooth spines, rarely obtuse, spirals rather distant, furnished with numerous slender spines ; spores globose, very minutely verruculose, 10 — 12 fj, diameter.
a. genuina; sporangia cylindrico-turbinate, dark-brown, opaque, or with a steel lustre, seated on a common fasciculate stem.
/3. sessilis; sporangia sessile, cylindrical or sub-angular from mutual pressure.
y. plasmodiocarpa ; irregular, attached by a broad base to a hypothallus.
Hemiarcyria rubiformis, Host, Mon., p. 262; figs. 201, 230, 231; Cooke, Myx. Brit., figs. 201, 230, 231; Schroeter, p. 114; Sacc., Syll., vii., n. 1512; Kaunk., Myx. Dan., p. 63, t. 3, f. 15, t, 4, f. 6 ; Mass., Kev. Trich., p. 353, fig. 31 (in part).
Exsicc— Roum., Fung. Gall., 1686 ; Fckl., Fung. Rhen., 1438 (as Trichia rubiformis); Cooke, Fung. Brit., 612 (as Trichia Neesiana); Jack, Leiner u. Sitz. Krypt. Bad., 421 (as Trichia rubiformis) ; Sacc., Myc. Ven., 962 (as Trichia pyriformis) ; Hemiarcyria Ellisii, Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 354, f. 30; Karst., Fung. Fenn., 700.
A widespread and very beautiful species, characterized by the cylindrical or obovate-oblong, brown, fasciculate sporangia, fre- quently exhibiting metallic tints, and the dense orange-brown capillitium of spinulose threads. The spores vary in marking when magnified 1200 diameters from being almost perfectly smooth, to minutely but distinctly warted.
On rotten wood, moss, &c. Britain (Apethorpe, "Weybridge, Twycross, Birmingham, Bulmer, N. Yorks; Orton Wood, Leicester ; Wothorpe, Scarboro', Carlisle) ; France ; Germany ;
160 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Switzerland; Italy; Belgium; Denmark; Hungary; Finland; Bohemia; Venezuela; United States; Cuba; Ceylon; Australia; New Zealand.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Clathroides pyriforme, Hall, t. 1, f. 5 (1742). Trichia, Hall, t. 48, f. 5, No. 2167 (1798). Lycoperdon vesparium, Batsch, t. 30, f. 172 (1786). Stemonitis cinnabarina, Roth. Fl. Germ., 347 (1788). Lycoperdon favaceum, Schr. Fl. Bav., ii., 667 (1789). Trichia pyriformis, Hoffm. V. Cr., t, 1, f. 1, (1790). Stemonitis fasciculata, Pers. in Gmel. Sys., 1468 (1791). Stemonitis vesparia, Gmel. Sys., 1070 (1791). Trichia rubiformis, Pers. Disp., t. 1, f. 3, t. 4, f. 3 (1797);
Berk. Ann. N. H., No. 218; Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1177. Trichia rubiformis, /3 minor, Pers. Disp., 54 (1797). Lycoperdon ferrugineum, Hedw., t. 10, f. 1 — 4 (1802). Trichia chalybea, Chev. Fl. Par., t. 9, f. 24 (1827). Trichia Neesiana, Corda Ic., i., f. 288 c (1837). Trichia Ayresii, B. and Br., Ann. N. H., No. 390; Cooke,
Hdbk., No. 1179.
Arcyria paradoxa, Mass. (fig. 272).
Sporangia scattered or aggregated, sessile on a broad base, hemispherical or irregularly elongated, smooth, rather shining, dirty ochraceous, inner surface of the wall with a layer of organic particles; mass of capillitium and spores pale lemon-yellow; capillitium scanty, threads 4 — 5 fj. thick, much contorted and forming a very loose net with but few abrupt free tips, spirals very much crowded, not prominent ; spores globose, very minutely warted, 8 — 10 /x diameter.
Hemiarcyria paradoxa, Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 356, 357, fig. 35.
On wood. Weybridge ; Surrey.
Sporangia when hemispherical about *5 mm. diameter, 1 — 2 mm. when elongated. Distinguished amongst species with
Arcyria. 161
warted spores by the densely crowded spirals of the elaters, and the presence of organic particles on the inner surface of the sporangial wall.
A note by Currey, who collected the specimen, now in the Currey collection in the Kew herbarium, says, " The spores of this specimen sown in water produced de Bary's zoospores in 24 hours."
Arcyria Bucknalli, Mass. (figs. 270, 271)-1
Sporangia sessile on a broad or narrow base, seated on a very thin hypothallus, circular, reniform, or subangular from mutual pressure, wall very thin, gilw-ochraceous, soon disappearing; mass of spores dull orange ; capillitium well-developed, threads sparingly branched and combined to form an irregular open network with numerous, long, free tips, 4 — 5 /x thick, walls with annular ridges mostly crowded, but here and there scattered, and sometimes passing into a spiral, the ridges with numerous thin, straight spines 3 — 4 ju, long the free tips irregularly swollen, without spirals or rings, Imt bristling with spines, as are also certain interstitial swollen portions ; spores globose, pale yellow, minutely warted, 7 — 9 f/, diameter.
Hemiarcyria Bucknallii, Mass., Grev., v., 18, p. 27 (1889) ; Bucknall, Fungi of the Bristol district, in Bristol Nat. Soc. Proc., vol. vi., pt. II., 1889, 1890, p. 4, pi. 2, f. 5.
On wood. Bristol.
Generally crowded, about *5 mm. diameter, but extending to 1'5 mm. when isolated and elongated. Most closely allied to Hemiarcyria Wigandi, Host., but. at once distinguished by the larger sporangia, the markings on the elaters being mostly rings and not spirals, and in being furnished with numerous spines. The present species combines the characters of Rosta- fmski's genera Hemiarcyria and Cornuvia, the spirals on the threads of the capillitium pointing to the former, and the numerous free arms to the latter. The spirals technically separate this species from Ophiotheca as understood in the present work.
162 A Monograph of the l\fyxogastres.
Arcyria melanopeziza, Mass.
Sporangia sessile, creeping, subterete, generally forming rings, 1 — 2 mm. long, very Hack, scarcely or not at all shining, very smooth ; wall black, opaque, subcellular, rather coriaceous, splitting longitudinally and dehiscing in a valvate manner; capillitium yellow, protruded elastically, threads round, 4 — 5 ^ thick, combined into a loose net, everywhere covered ivith erect spines, 5 — 6 x 1 p, spirals almost obsolete ; spores elliptico-glolose, papilloso-scdbrid, 10 — 12 x 10 /u, yellow.
ffemitrichia melanopeziza, Spegazzini, Fung. Arg., Pug. IV., n. 268.
Hemiarcyria melanopeziza, Berlese, Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1520 ; Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 356.
On bark. Brazil.
Looking exactly like some black Peziza.
Arcyria calyculata, Mass.
Sporangia simple, gregarious, stipitate, globose or elliptical, dirty foxy-brown, 1 — 2 mm. diameter; stem 3 — 5 mm. long, 200 — 250 ju thick, round, glabrous, rather tough, apex dilated into a little dimidiate cup equal to the peridium, base dilated, fibrillose, colour of the sporangium ; spores and capillitium dingy yellowish -fulvous ; elaters 7 — 8 /* thick, cylindrical, yellowish, sparsely branched, free tips acute ; spirals 3 — 5, flat, not very conspicuous, separated by interspaces their own width, spinulose ; spores discoideo-lenticular, concavo-convex, margin muriculate, 10 x 3 ju diameter.
Hemiarcyria calyculata, Speg., Fung. Arg., Pug. III., n. 92 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1518 ; Mass., Revis. Trich., p. 356.
On rotten willow trunk. Argentine Republic.
It is very doubtful as to whether the spores in the normal condition present the shape described by Spegazzini; the spores of many species become concavo-convex when dry, but if soaked for a sufficient length of time, assume the usual spherical form.
Arcyria. 163
Arcyria stipitata, Mass.
Sporangia pyriform, from 2 — 5 on a common stem, or solitary, pale lemon-yellow, opaque ; stem elongated, equal, dark brown black, longitudinally rugulose; mass of capillitium and spores dingy ochre ; capillitium dense, much branched and forming a net without free tips, threads 4 — 5 /x thick, spirals very open, rather distant, thin, not prominent; spores globose, minutely warted, 7 — 8 p. diameter.
a. genuina. Sporangia single on an elongated stem.
ft. fasciculata. Sporangia fasciculate on a common stem.
Hemiarcyria stipitata, Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 354, fig. 32.
On palm stems. Java.
(Type in Herb. Berk., Kew.)
Scattered or aggregated, 3 — 4 mm. high, stem about 2 mm. long, thin, hollow. Capillitium elastic, protruding after dehis- cence. Allied to Arcyria clavata, but distinct in the dense capillitium without free tips, the loose spirals, and the long> thin, black stem.
Arcyria Wigandii, Mass.
Sporangia clavate, discoid, or irregularly subrotund, very small, almost sessile, mass of spores and capillitium bay or jlesh-colcur, verging on yellow ; elaters rarely branching, spirals one or two, Jlexuous, either separated by interspaces from three to four times their own width, or crowded and almost forming rings, tips scarcely narrowed, truncate and inflated ; spores minutely verrucidose, 10 — 11 /x diameter.
Hemiarcyria Wigandii, Host., Mon., p. 267, fig. 232; Sacc., Syll., vii, 1, no. 1517; Cooke, Myx. Brit., fig. 232; Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 356.
Germany.
(Rostafinski's Synonym.) Trichia abietina, Wigd., 1. c., p. 33, t. 2, f. 11 (1863).
164 A Monograph of the Jtfyxogastres,
§ § Spores with raised lands combined to form a network. Arcyria chrysospora, Mass. (figs. 268, 269).
Sporangia sessile on a broad base, generally closely aggre- gated, bright ochraceous yellow ; mass of capillitium and spores yellow ; threads 5 p thick, forming a loose net with many free ends, which generally terminate in slightly expanded, smooth, bent or straight conical apices, spirals four, rather close, not prominent, connected by less prominent ridges running parallel to the long axis of the thread ; spores globose, with raised flat lands forming a polygonal network, 16 p. diameter.
Hemiarcyria chrysospora, Lister, Grev., vol. v., p. 126; Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 357, fig. 37.
On larch twigs lying on the ground and on the surrounding herbage. Lyme Regis.
A fine species with the sporangia reaching to 1 mm. diameter, approaching in habit and general structure the form sessilis of Arcyria serpula, but quite distinct in the larger spores, the thinner capillitium threads without spines, and having the spirals connected by ridges parallel to the axis of the elaters. From three to five polygons on a hemisphere of the spore.
Arcyria serpula, Mass. (figs. 273, 274a).
Either a vein-like, creeping plasmodiocarp, usually anasto- mosing to form a net, or subglobose, scattered, and sessile on a broad base, wall thin, fragile, yellow, sometimes tinged brown ; mass of spores and capillitium yellow or orange ; threads of the dense capillitium 5 — 6 /x thick, forming a net with numerous free ends which usually terminate in a smooth, thin, tapering spine 8 — 10 fi long, spirals thin, not prominent, rather distant, furnished with numerous long, slender spinules; spores globose, with narrow, raised flat bands forming an irregular network, 10 — 12 n diameter.
a. plasmodiocarpa. Plasmodiocarp vein-like, usually forming a network.
Arcyria. 165
/3. sessilis. Sporangia sessile on a broad base, scattered or gregarious, capillitium orange, elastic.
Hemiarcyria serpula, Host, Mon., p. 267, figs. 200, 227, 228 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 68, figs. 200, 227, 228; Schroeter, p. 115; Sacc., Syll., vii., pt. I., n. 1514 ; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 64, t. 3, f. 16 ; Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 357, f. 34.
Exsicc. — Fuckel, Fung. Rhen., 2692 (as Hemitrichia contorta (Ditm.) Host.).
On rotten wood, branches, leaves, &c. Britain (Carlisle; specimen in Herb. Berk., from Sovverby's herbarium, no locality, called Trichia reticulata, undoubtedly British) ; Germany ; Sweden; Belgium; Italy; United States; Cuba; St. Vincent; Bombay ; N. W. Australia ; New Zealand ; Ceylon.
Distinguished amongst the clear yellow species by the very spiny elaters and the reticulate spores. The subglobose sessile form has not, so far as I am aware, been met with in Britain, but, although differing in habit and in the bright orange elastic capillitium, agrees in the structure of the elaters and the spores. The type of the form sessilis is in the herbarium of the Paris Museum, and was collected in Cuba.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Mucor serpula, Scop. Fl. Cam., t. 65 (1772).
Lycoperdon lumbricale, Batsch., f. 174 (1786).
Trichia spongioides, Vill. Fl. Dauph., 1061 (1789).
Stcmonitis lumbricalis, Gmel. Sys., 1470 (1791).
Trichia reticulata, Pers. Disp., 10 (1797) ; Ic. and Desc., 1. 12, f. 1
Trichia serpula, Pers. Disp., 10 (1797); Eng. FL, v., 320;
Cooke, Hdbk., 1189.
Trichia serpula, /3 spongioides, Pers. Syn., 181 (1801). Trichia venosa, Schum. Saell., 1456 (1803). HypOrKamma reticulatum, Corda Ic., v., 34 (1842). Trichia retiformis, Payer. Crypt., f. 574 (1850).
Arcyria clavata, Mass. (fig. 124). Sporangia varying from clavate to globose, ycllcnvish, polished,
166 A Monograph of the bfyxogastres.
stem thin, length variable, yellow, often reddish at the base, filled with large, globose, or subangular cells, which pass upwards into normal spores; mass of spores clear yellow, ochraceous- orange, or tinged with olive; threads of capillitium 4 — 5 /* thick, forked repeatedly and combined into an irregular open net, free ends not numerous, obtuse, sometimes slightly swollen, spirals thin, not prominent, rather distant ; spores globose, very minutely and irregularly reticulated, 8 — 10 \L diameter.
Hcmiarcyria clavata, Host., Mon., p. 264, figs. 205, 207, 210, 238; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 68, figs. 205, 207, 210, 238; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1513; Mass., Mon. Trich., p. 31 ; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 64; Schroeter, p. 114.
Eocsicc. — Fckl., F. Rhen., 1434; Jack, Leiner u. Sitzenb. Krypt. Badens., 621 ; Ellis, N. Amer. Fung., 523.
On decayed wood, &c. Britain (King's Clifie, Apethorpe, Scarboro', Carlisle) ; France ; Germany ; Denmark ; United States ; Cuba ; Brazil ; Ceylon ; Bonin Islands.
Scattered or gregarious, 1'5 — 2 mm. high, stem slender, often attenuated downwards and longitudinally wrinkled, sometimes very short, especially when the sporangium is almost globose.
The spores are usually covered with very thin, slightly raised ridges combined into a very fine, irregular network, but the ridires are sometimes short and distinct or even wart-like.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Clathrus pedatus, Schm. Ic., t. 33, f. 1, 17 (1776). Spliacrocarpus pyriformis, Bull., t. 417, f. 2 (1791). Stemonitis pyriformis, Gmel. Sys., 1469 (1791). Trichia pyriformis, Sibth. Fl. Ox., 406 (1794) ; Sow., 400, f. 6. Trkhia clavata, Pers. Disp., p. 11 (1797); Eng. Fl., v., 320;
Cooke, Hdbk., 1183.
Trichia citrina, Schum. Saell., 1460 (1803). Arcyria trichioidcs, Rudolph, Linnaea, p. 120 (1829). Trichia erythropus, Borszczow (1856). Trichia dbtusa, Wigand, p 30, t. 11, f. 4 (1863). Trichia Thwaitcsii, B. and Br., Ceylon Fung., No. 776 (1873).
Arcyria. 1G7
§ § § Spores smooth. Arcyrio leiocarpa, Mass.
Sporangia scattered or aggregated, obovate or pyriform, rarely almost globose, pallid, stem same colour, as long as diameter of sporangium; mass of capillitium and spores concolorous, or with a slight ochraceous tint ; capillitium sparse, forming a loose net, threads 5 //. thick, spirals thin, rather close, slightly pro- minent on the convex side of the bent threads, usually furnished with scattered, rudimentary spinules, free tips very rare or absent ; spores globose, smooth, 12 — 14 p. diameter.
Hemiarcyria leiocarpa, Cooke, Myx., U. States, in Ann. Syc. Nat. Hist., New York, xi., n. 12, p. 405; Cooke, Myx. Brit., figs. 252, 255; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1519; Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 353, fig. 33.
In Saccardo's Sylloge VII., pt. I., p. 440, n. 1519, Rostafinski is given as the author of the present species, and the reader is referred to "Rost., Mon., p. 267" for the description, but in reality the present species is not included in Rostafinski's work.
Arcyria leocarpoides, Mass.
Sporangia globose or pyriform, 0'6 — 0*8 mm. diameter, flesh- red or fulvous, often depressed and deeper coloured at the apex, not at all or only a little shining, very smooth, cortex rather thick, subcartilaginous, soon breaking away in pieces above, usually persistent, cup-like at the base ; stem rather rigid, erect, brownish or blackish, slender, even or subrugulose, about as long as diameter of sporangium; capillitium after dehiscence protruding elastically, attached at the base, very persistent, brownish-fulvous, or olive-fulvous, threads slender, cylindrical, 5 — 6 /u. thick, forming a dense net with numerous terete, abruptly rounded free arms, threads with 3 — 4 spirals, very smooth, not papillate; spores globose, 8 — 10 ju. diameter, very smooth, proto- plasm granular, fulvous-olive.
Cornuvia leocarpoides, Speg., Fitng. Arg. Pug. I., n. 264 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1546.
On rotten wood. Brazil.
168 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
\
The stipitate sporangia and elastically protruded capillitium attached at the base, as also the spiral markings on the threads prove the present species to be an Arcyria, in which genus free arms to the capillitium are frequent in several species.
Arcyria Karsteni, Host.
Sporangia effused, vermiform, sinuous, sometimes forming irregular reticulations, or hemispherical, scattered, and sessile on a broad base, varying from dirty ochraceous brown to dark chestnut ; mass of capillitium and spores dingy ochre ; threads often irregularly branched, and forming a very loose net, 3 — 4 p. thick, with scattered, inflated portions 12 — 15 p thick, and 30 — 50 p long, spirals very indistinct, a few scattered rudimentary spines now and then present, free tips not distinctly attenuated, usually abrupt or clavate; spores globose, smooth, 12 — 12 /x diameter.
Hemiarcyria Karsteni, Host., Mon. Suppl., p. 41 ; Karst., Myx. Fenn., iv., p. 142; Schroeter, p. 115; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1510 ; Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 342, fig. 36. (Specimen from Ceylon in Herb. Berk., named by Rostafinski.)
On wood. Finland ; Silesia ; Ceylon.
Characterized by the threads of the scanty capillitium being considerably swollen at intervals, and by the indistinct spirals.
Arcyria pusilla, Mass.
Sporangia rather' closely gregarious, subcylindrico-elliptical, 0'4 — 0'5 mm. high, 0'15 — 0'25 mm. diameter, rather obtuse above, abruptly subtruncate below, with only a trace of a stem or altogether without; at first Hood-red with an amber tinge, afterwards rose-colour ; capillitium rather dense, forming a rose- coloured network, threads round, 3 — 4 fx thick, spirals three or four, furnished with minute spinules ; spores rose or flesh-colour, globose, smooth, 7 — 9 ^t diameter.
H&mitrichia pusilla, Speg., Fung. Arg. Pug., IV., n. 260.
Hemiarcyria pusilla, Berldfee, Sacc., Syll., IV., 1, n. 1512; Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 352.
On bark. . Argentine Republic.
Arcyria. 169
Arcyria fuliginea, Cke. and Mass. (fig. 113).
Sporangia (?), mass of capillitium and spores smoky-olive, threads round, 6 — 7 jw. diameter, thicldy and equally covered with slender spines 3 — 4 JA long, combined to form a dense, irregular network ; spores globose, smooth, 8 fx diameter.
Hemiarcyria fuliginea, Cke. and Mass., Grev., vol. xvi., p. 74.
On living leaves. Mount Wilson, N. S. Wales.
Nothing is known of the sporangium, which had been com- pletely crushed and lost; capillitium forming a large mass spreading over the leaves. May possibly prove to be a broadly effused, plasmodiocarp form of an Ophiotheca.
Sub-sect. TRICHEAE. OLIGONEMA, Host. 4
Wall of sporangium single, dehiscing irregularly ; capillitium scanty, composed of free, simple or branched elaters, furnished with ring-like thickenings, or a single very diffuse, rudimentary spiral, tips obtuse.
Oligonema, Host., Mon., p. 291 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 77 ; Sacc., Syll., p. 436 ; Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 21.
Agreeing with the genus Trichia in having the elaters per- fectly free, but readily distinguished by the rudimentary mark- ings on their walls, never having more than a single, indistinct, very open spiral, which may be present on one portion of an elater and absent on another part, or not unfrequently altogether absent from all the elaters of one sporangium, and present on some of those from another sporangium taken from the same group. A second type of ornamentation on the walls of the elaters in the present genus consists of annular or ring-like thickenings, which present the appearance of thin, flat discs, rather larger than the diameter of the elater, and placed at right angles to its long axis. These ring-like thicken- ings are very unequally distributed, five or six being sometimes met with at unequal distances on an elater, whereas they may
170 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
be entirely absent from all the elaters next examined. These annular thickenings are also met with on the threads of the capillitium of some species of Cornuvia, Didymium, Tilmadoche, &c. In rare instances the two ends of an elater coalesce and form a closed ring, as figured by Rostafinski in Oligonema nitcns, Host., Hon., fig. 198.
Distrib. Europe ; North Africa ; North America. Species 7.
* Epispore reticulated. Oligonema nitens, Host. (figs. 193 — 195).
Sporangia densely crowded, in one or several superposed layers, when scattered, sessile on a broad or slightly contracted base, clear primrose-yellow, very smooth and shining; mass of capillitium and spores yellow; elaters scanty, 4 — 5 \JL thick, simple or sparingly branched, very variable in marking, with scattered, thick, projecting rings, or a very indistinct, open spiral on the whole or part of an elater, or a combination of both, not unfrequently perfectly smooth, tips obtuse or more or less pointed ; spores globose, with narrow raised ridges of varying thickness, forming an irregular network, 11 — 13 jut diameter.
Oligonema nitcns, Host., Mon., p. 291, f. 198 ; Cke., Myx. Brit., f. 198 ; Schroeter, p. 108 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1488 (the sporangium described as of a gilvous colour by mistake) ; Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 347, f. 29.
Oligonema bavarica, Balf. and Berl., Sacc., Syll., n. 1490.
Oligonema nitens, a bavarica, Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 347, f. 25.
Trichia nitens, Libert, PL Cr. Ard., fasc. iii., n. 227.
Exsicc. — Lib., PL Crypt. Ard., fasc. iii., n. 227 (as Trichia nitens) ; Klotzsch, Herb. Myc., (Rabeuh.) 137 (as Trichia circum- scissa)\ Fuckel, F. Rhen., 2198 (as Trichia nitcns}', de Thum., Myc. Univ., nos. 399 and 1497 (as Trichia Bavarica}.
On wood, bark, &c. Britain (Carlisle, Bristol, Birmingham) ; France; Bavaria; Germany.
Sporangia '5 — 1 mm. diameter, clear yellow, polished ; the elaters are extremely variable in marking, as is also the
Oligonema. 171
epispore, but the latter always in the markings forming a reticulation.
Oligonema flavidum, Mass.
Sporangia crowded, sessile, bright yellow, shining, mass of capillitium and spores bright yellow; elaters scanty, short, 4 — 5 p. thick, sometimes with an elliptical interstitial swelling, tips variable, subacute or inflated, densely covered with minute raised points ; spores globose, ivith thin raised bands combined to form a very irregular network, bands not punctate, 7 — 9 jj. diameter.
Perichaena flavida, Peck, 26th Annual Report of New York State Mus., p. 76 (1874).
On moss, wood, &c. United States.
The sporangia are irregular in form, circular, angular, or elongated. Forming patches of considerable extent.
Superficially resembling 0. nitens, but distinct in the elaters and spores. The elaters agree with those of 0. minutula in being rugulose or covered with small points or band-like wrinkles, but in the present species the spores are smaller and the reticulations more irregular in form and size.
Oligonema minutulum, Mass.
^Sporangia scattered, rarely aggregated, sessile on a narrow base, lemon-yellow, dull, capillitium very scanty, elaters simple, short, cylindrical, 5 — 6 iJ. thick, rugulose, and with a very open, indistinct spiral, tips obtuse, rounded ; spores globose, and with slightly raised, flattened bands forming a network of numerous, almost regular and equal-sized polygons, 12 — 14 p, diameter.
Oligonema minutula, Mass., Rev. Tricb., p. 348, fig. 20.
Type in Herb. Berk., Kew, no. 10902, marked " Trichia minutula, D. R, et Montag., Algiers," Algeria.
So far as I am aware, the present species has not been described by Montague. Related to 0. nitens, but known by the scattered, dull sporangia, and the very few, short elaters haviDg thick, rugulose walls, with an indistinct open spiral ;
172 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
in rare instances a swollen portion 15 — 20 /u. long, and 8 — 12 /x thick is present near the middle of an elater, but there is no indication of the narrow, ring-like thickenings as in 0. nitens. From 7 — 9 complete polygons present on a hemisphere of a spore.
* * Epispore warted.
Oligonema Broomei, Mass. (figs. 185, 186).
Sporangia scattered or in small groups, adnate by a broad base, hemispherico-depressed, circular or irregularly elongated, wall smooth, dark brown, dull ; mass of capillitium and spores reddish-ochre; elaters cylindrical, 3 — 4 /x thick, irregularly branched, dull-orange, furnished with narrow, ring-like thicken- ings, at regular distances, tips obtuse ; spores rather coarsely warted, dull orange or yellowish, globose, 13 — 14 /x diameter.
Oligon,ema Broomei, Mass., Rev. Trich., Journ. Roy. Micr. Soc., 1889, p. 345, pi. vii., f. 22.
(Type in Herb., Broome in Brit. Mus., marked " Trichia scrpula" (?).)
On bark. Britain (Warleigh, Somerset).
The present species is most neai4y allied to 0. aeneum, Karst., which has up to the present been only met with in Finland, and is distinguished by the crowded habit, polished sporangia with metallic tints, and smaller spores.
When circular the sporangia vary from '5 — 1 mrn., and when elongated 2 — 3 mm. long.
Oligonema aeneum, Karst.
Sporangia densely crowded, often confluent and venulose, rarely scattered, orbicular or angular from mutual pressure, depressed, shining, with copper, green, or olive metallic tints ; threads of the capillitium free, 2 — 3 /x thick, with scattered thickenings in the form of circles; spores globose, warted, rather ferruginous or pale reddish-ochre, 12 fi diameter.
Oligonema aeneum, Karsten, Myc. Fenn., iv., p. 125 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1487 ; Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 346.
Finland.
Oligonema. 173
Oligonema furcatum, Bucknall.
Sporangia scattered, globose, shining, bright chrome-yellow, as well as the capillitium and spores ; elaters cylindrical, simple or branched, slightly thickened at the obtuse ends, with a faint open spiral, 3 — 4 p. diameter ; spores globose, minutely warted, 11 — 12 ju diameter.
Oligonema furcatum, Bucknall in litt.
On a rotting trunk. Britain (Abbotts Leigh).
Superficially closely resembling Oligonema nitens, from which however it is quite distinct in the minutely warted spores, and the absence of thickened rings on the usually furcate elaters.
Oligonema brevifilum, Peck.
Sporangia crowded in effused heaps, bright ochraceous yellow ; elaters few, short, cylindrical or subfusiform; spores globose, ritgose, 11 /* diameter.
Oligonema nitens, Peck, in 31st Report of State Agric. Mus., p. 42 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1489 ; Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 346.
On mosses. United States.
Mr. Wingate of Philadelphia thinks that the present species prove to be an abnormal condition of 0. flavida.
TRICHIA, Haller (emended).
Wall of sporangium single, dehiscing irregularly ; capillitium consisting of free, simple or branched threads, having the wall furnished with raised bands arranged _in a spiral manner ; spores globose, epispore smooth, or variously ornamented.
Trichia, Haller, Helv., iii., p. 114; Rost., Mon., p. 243; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 61 (in part) ; Sacc., Syll., vol. vii., pt. I., p. 438 (in part) ; Mass., Mon. Trich., p. 328.
The genus is readily distinguished by the presence of well- developed external ridges arranged in a spiral manner on the perfectly free elaters or threads of the capillitium. The elaters are in most species unbranched, cylindrical or fusiform, and more or less attenuated at the tips. In a few species the
174 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
elaters are branched, the free ends varying from three to ten in number. The only other genus with free elaters is Oligoncma, but here the spirals are at most rudimentary and the tips obtuse.
Distrib. All temperate and tropical countries. Species 30.
A. Spores smooth. Trichia Carlyleana, Mass. (173 — 175).
Sporangia clavate or cylindric-oblong, stipitate, dark brown, often with a purple tinge, smooth ; stem usually about half as long as sporangium, equal, or slightly thickened downwards and expanded at the base into a small circular hypothallus; inner surface of sporangi-al wall and hollmv of stem with numerous rather large organic lumps, of a bright reddish-purple colour; mass of spores bright yellow ; elaters fusiform, 5 — 6 /u at thickest part, simple or frequently branched, tips running into a long, smooth, very thin, straight or flexuous spine, spirals crowded, thin, not prominent; spores globose, smooth, 10 — 12 /x diameter.
Trichia Carlyleana, Mass., Mon. Trich., p. 5, f. 15.
On wood. Britain (Carlisle).
Sporangia in fascicles of 3 — 5 ; 2 — 3 mm. high. Superficially resembling some forms of Trichia fragilis, but quite distinct in the smooth spores, and the narrow, crowded, and not at all prominent spirals of the elaters. The colouring matter in the organic lumps on the wall of the sporangium and in the stem is soluble in dilute potassic or ammonia hydrate.
Trichia heterotrichia, Balf.
Sporangia sessile in clusters, dark yellow, wall thick, tough and leathery, inner layer areolate ; elaters few, cylindrical, 7 /u, diameter (thickenings excluded), with walls of medium thick- ness, irregularly and variously thickened, either with spines often twice diameter of elaters, or with short prickles or warts, or with complete or half-rings, or sometimes with interrupted and irregular spirals leaving large intervening unthickened portions, swollen towards the extremities, and ending in a
Trichia. 175
tapered, rarely smooth, arcuate or twisted point, in length twice the diameter of elater; spores globose, pale yellow, smooth, 16 — 17 n diameter.
Trichia heterotrichia, I. B. Balfour, Grev., vol. x., p. 117; Sacc., Syll., n. 1505 ; Mass, Mon. Trich., p. 5, f. 16.
On bark. Britain (in Herb. Currey, Kew ; no locality).
A species resembling most nearly forms of Trichia varia, Pers., but the few elaters with the very varying sculpturing and the larger smooth spores sufficiently separate them. (I. B. B.)
B. Spores warted.
§ -Maters fusiform. Trichia fragilis, Rost. (figs. 7 — 10).
Sporangia varying from globose to pyriform, stipitate, solitary, or fasciculate on a common stem, wall smooth, blackish or purple-brown, pale brown or yellowish ; stem dark, longitudinally wrinkled, equal or tapering upwards, erect or curved, often twisted in the compound forms, inside of the wall often with coloured organic lumps ; mass of .capillitium and spores varying from dull orange-brown to primrose-yellow, separated from the hollow of the stem ~by a membrane; elaters fusiform, 4 — 5 ju. at thickest part, sometimes branched, spirals flat, rather broad, not very prominent, tips smooth, tapering to a thin point, spores globose, minutely warted, 11 — 14 /x diameter.
a. genuina. Sporangia pyriform, solitary or fasciculate, clear or black-brown, opaque ; mass of capillitium and spores varying from reddish-brown to dirty ochre ; stem erect.
/3. Lorinseriana. Sporangia pyriform, solitary or fasciculate, reddish- brown, polished ; mass of capillitium and spores dirty ochraceous ; stem generally curved.
y. serotina. Sporangia clavate or pyriform, solitary or fascicu- late; mass of spores and capillitium clear yellow to ochraceous; stem erect or curved.
5. lateritia. Sporangia subglobose, solitary or fasciculate, almost black ; mass of capillitium and spores dark orange-brown ; stem attenuated upwards.
176 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Trichia fragilis, Host, Mon., p. 246, figs. 203, 204, 225, 226 (in part); Cooke, Myx. Brit, p. 63, figs. 203, 204, 205, 226 (in part) ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1494 (in part) ; Balf., Gvev. v., 10, p. 116 (in part) ; Mass., Mon. Trich., p. 6, figs. 14 and 28.
Trichia lateritia, Lev., Ann. Sci. Nat., Ser. III., vol. v., p. 167; Sacc., Syll., vii., n. 1494 ; Balf, Grev., vol. x., p. 116.
Trichia botrytis, Schroeter, p. 112; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 67.
SpJutcrocdrpuA fragilis, Sow., t. 279.
Exsicc.— Cke., Fung. Brit., 612 ; Rab., Fung. Eur., 244 ; Jack, Leiner. u. Sitzenb. Krypt. Badens., 329; Erbar. Critt. Ital, 640; Ellis and Everh., N. Amer. Fung., Ser. II., 2097 and 2098 ; Fuckel, Fung. Rhen., 1437.
On wood, twigs, &c. Britain (Brighton, Kew, Gloucester, Castle Howard, Yorks ; Carlisle, Appin, N. B.) ; Europe ; United States; Canada; Chili; S. Africa; Ceylon; S. W. Australia; Tasmania ; N. Zealand.
A variable species in colour of sporangium and mass of spores and capillitium. The distinguishing characters are the fusiform elaters with long, smooth, tapering tips and flat spirals, and the warted spores. Varying from 2 — 4 mm. high ; solitary, or in more or less confluent clusters of from 2 — 7 on a common stem, which is obviously composed of several confluent' stems, and hence forming a stipitate aethalium. The elaters are sometimes branched near the tips. I have examined the type specimen of Trichia lateritia in the Paris Museum, and find that it agrees exactly with Trichia fragilis in the structure of the spores and capillitium.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Lycoperdon bombacinum, Batsch, EL, p. 153 (1783). Stemonitis botrytis, Pers. in Gmel. Syst., 1468 (1791). Trichia botrytis, Pers. Disp., p. 9 (1797); Ic. Pict., t. 12,
f. 1—2.
Trichia botrytis, /3. minor, Pers. Disp., 54 (1797). Trichia scrotina, Schrad., Journ., t. 3, f. 1 (1799) ; Engl. FL,
v., p. 310; Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1181.
Trie It i<i. 177
Sphacrocarpus fragilis, Sow., t. 279 (1803).
Trichia notata, Fl. Dan., 1680 (1823).
Trichia badia, Fr. Stirp. Femsj., 83 (1825).
Trichia pyriformis, Fr., S. M., iii., 184 (1829) ; Curr., Micr.
Journ., v., p. 129; Cke., Hdbk., n. 1178. Trichia I/orinseriana, Corda, Ic., f. 228 D (1837) ; Curr.,
Micr. Journ., v., p. 129 ; Cke., Hdbk., n. 1180. Trichia pyriformis, j3. serotina, Host., in Fckl. Symb., 2 N.,
75 (1873).
Craterium floriformc, Schu., Ann., No. 2307. Alwisia lombarda, B. and Br., Ceylon Fung., No. 784, t. 2,
f. 6 (1873).
Trichia purpurascens, Nyl. (figs. 183, 184).
Sporangia stipitate. ovate or spherico-ovate, solitary or gre- garious, purplish-red, opaque; stem longitudinally wrinkled, erect or cernuous, rather firm and thickish, expanding at the base into a small hypothallus, coloured like the sporangium, which it equals or exceeds in length ; mass of elaters and spores bright ochraceous ; elaters rather short, fttsiform, attenuated into long, tapering, smooth, straight or Jiexuous tips, simple or branched, about 5 ju, thick at the centre, spirals sharp-edged, rather pro- minent and distant ; spores globose, verruculose, yellow, 9 — 11 /x diameter.
Trichia purpurascens, Nyl., in Sallsk. pro Faun, et Flor. Fenn. notis. Ny., Ser. 11., 2, p. 126; Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 332; Sacc., Syll., no. 1508 ; Grev., v., 18, p. 27 (1889) ; Karst., Myx. Fenn., iv., p. 137.
On fir-wood, moss, &c. Britain (Carlisle) ; Finland.
Requires to be carefully distinguished from some forms of Trichia fragilis, to which species the present is closely allied. In T. purpurascens the spirals are sharp-edged, in T. fragilis flattened. The inner surface of the sporangial wall is studded with amorphous, organic purple particles ; the colouring matter is soluble in potassic or ammonic hydrate.
178 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
§ § Maters cylindrical.
* Spirals not spinulose.
Trichia varia, Host. (figs. 169—172).
Sporangia scattered or aggregated, stipitate, or sessile on a narrow or broad base, turbinate or subglobose, smooth, yellow, dirty ochraceous or tinged with olive; stem when present blackish ; mass of capillitium and spores yellow ; elaters cylin- drical, 4 — 5 /x thick, spirals distant, prominent, more especially on the convex side when curved, rarely branched, tips smooth, tapering, straight or bent, 8 — 10 /u, long, sometimes shorter; the elaters are sometimes swollen at the commencement of the taper- ing tips ; spores globose, minutely warted, 10 — 14 ju diameter.
Trichia varia, Host., Mon., p. 251, figs. 191, 202, 208, 212, 218, 237; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 63, figs. 191, 202, 208, 212, 218, 237; Schroeter, p. 112; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, no. 1497; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 65, t. 3, f. 14, t. 4, f. 3; Mass., Mon. Trich., p. 9, f. 17.
Exsicc. — Jack, Leiner u. Sitz., 419 ; Karst., Fung. Fenn., 288 and 699; Fuckel, Fung. Rhen., 1431 and 1433; Roum., Fung. Gall., 1101 and cent. xiv. 1315 ; Rab., Fung. Eur., 799, 2137 and 2138; Thum., Myc. Univ., 1999; Sacc., Myc. Van., 794.
On bark, wood, moss, &c. Britain (Kew, Bishop's Wood, Highgate ; Weybridge, Scarboro', Carlisle, Abergavenny, Appin, N. B.) ; France ; Denmark ; Germany ; Finland ; Italy ; Bo- hemia ; United States ; Tasmania ; New Zealand ; Australia.
A variable species, sometimes with a distinct, dark-coloured stem, at others quite sessile on a narrow or broad base. Characterized by the cylindrical elaters with distant, prominent spirals, and the minutely warted spores. In the specimen in Rabenh., Fung. Eur., n. 2137, the warts show a slight tendency to become elongated and flattened.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.) a. Trichia varia, v. nigripes. Mucilago minima, Mich., t. 96, f. 4 (1729).
Trichia. 179
Embolus albissimus, Hall, Herb., p. 8 (1742).
Emlolus, Hall, No. 2138 (1768).
Mucor pyriformis, Scop. Fl. Cam., 492 (1772).
Mucor pomiformis, Leers Fl. Herb., 1136 (1775).
Mucor lacteus, Leers Fl. Herb., 1132 (1775).
Stemonitis pyriformis, Willd. Fl. Ber., 409 (1787).
Einbolus lacteus, Hoff. Veg. Or., t. 2, f. 3 (1790).
Sphaerocarpus chrysospermus, Bull., t. 417, f. 4 (?).
Trichia olivacea, Pers. Obs., i., 62 (1796).
Arcyria olivacea, Kansch (1797).
Trichia cylindrica, Pers. Obs., ii., 33 (1799).
Trichia cordata, Pers. Obs., ii., 33 (1799).
Trichia nigripes, Pers. Syn., 178 (1801).
a pyriformis, /3 cordata, y cylindrical, o vulgaris; Fl. Dan., t.
1313, f. 2; Curr., Micr. Journ., v., p. 128; Cooke, Hdbk.,
No. 1185. Trichia cratcrioides, Corda, Ic., ii., f. 85 (1838).
y Trichia varia, v. genuina.
Lycogala luteum, Mich., t. 95, f. 4 (1729).
Mucor qidntus, Schff., 296 (1770).
Mucor granulatus, Schff., No. 286 (1770).
Lycoperdon vesiculosum, Batsch., 283 (1786).
Sphaerocarpus chrysospermus, Bull., t. 417, f. 4 (?).
Stemonitis varia, Pers. in Gmel. Sys., 1470 (1791).
Stemonitis vesiculosa, Gmel. Sys., 1470 (1791).
Trichia olivacea, Pers. Obs., 1., 62 (1796).
Trichia varia, Pers. Disp., p. 10 (1797) ; Eng. Fl., v., 320 ;
Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1188.
Lycoperdon luridum, Hedw. Obs., t. xi. A (1802). Trichia favoginea, Schum. Saell., 1455 (1803). Trichia applanata, Hedw., in DC. Organ, t. 60, f. 1 (1827).
Trichia nitens, Fries.
"Sporangia sessile on a broad base, crowded, hemispherical, convex above, circular or angular from mutual pressure, prim-
180 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
rose-yellow, polished, shining ; mass of spores and elaters dull- orange; elaters cylindrical, 14 — 16 ju, thick, rather short, ending in a very short, abrupt, smooth apiculus, spirals rather pro- minent, distant, without spines; spores globose, with rather large, rounded warts, 14 — 16 /x diameter.
Trichia nitens, Fries, MS.; Mass., Mon. Trich., p. 333, fig. 11.
(Specimen from Fries in Herb. Berk., Kew, and named by Fries " Trichia nitens, Fr.")
On wood. Upsala.
A very fine large species, forming dense clusters 1 in. and more across. Externally resembling Oligonema nitens, Host., distinct from T. varia in the polished, shining sporangia, and the thicker elaters, with very short, abruptly apiculate tips.
Trichia inconspicua, Rost.
Sporangia very minute, brown, shining, subspherical, collected in clusters or scattered ; hypothallus absent ; elaters cylindrical, 3 '3 /u thick, tips pointed, 6 — 7 /x long, curved, sometimes with elongated swellings near the ends, spirals 3 — 4, but slightly prominent, rather close; spores delicately vcmiculose, 10 — 12 pt diameter.
TricJiia inconspicua, Rost., Mon., p. 259 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1502 ; Mass., Mon. Trich., p. 335.
Germany; France.
Trichia proximella, Karst.
Sporangia substipitate or sessile, circular or irregularly angular from pressure, yellow or dingy ochraceous, polished ; mass of elaters and spores ochraceous; elaters cylindrical, sometimes branched, ending abruptly in a short, smooth, straight or oblique apiculus, 4 — 5 p thick, spirals prominent, distant ; spores globose, rather coarsely wartcd, 12 — 14 p. diameter.
Trichia proximella, Karst., Myc. Fenn., iv., p. 139; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, no. 1507; Mass., Mon. Trich., p. 335.
On wood. Finland.
Trichia. 181
Allied to Trichia nitens, but known by the much thinner elaters. Forming crowded patches of considerable extent.
Trichia advenula, Mass. (figs. 142 — 144).
Sessile on a broad base, densely crowded or with a few out- side scattered sporangia, circular, or subangular from mutual pressure, rather depressed, primrose-yellmu, shining ; mass of capillitium and spores orange; elaters cylindrical, 4 — 5 p thick, usually inflated at one or loth ends, and also with 1 — 3 interstitial swollen portions, the swollen ends terminating in a thin, straight, or usually flexuous slender spine, 15 — 20 p long, spirals very close, but little prominent, almost obsolete on the swollen portions ; spores globose, minutely verruculose, 12 — 14 /x diameter.
Trichia advenula, Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 336, fig. 38.
On rotten wood. Glamis, N. B.
Sporangia '5 mm. diameter, forming densely crowded patches 1 — 2 inches across. Most nearly related to Trichia minima, but distinguished by the long, slender tips to the elaters, and the interstitial swollen parts ; in T. minima the capillitium and spores are pale primrose in the mass, and not orange as in the present species.
Trichia nana, Mass.
Sporangia scattered or aggregated in small clusters, rarely exceeding '5 mm. in diameter, sessile on a broad base, smooth, pale bright ochre, opaque, wall very thin ; mass of spores and elaters pale primrose yellow; elaters cylindrical, short, 3 — 4 p. thick, spirals irregular, very distant, prominent, tips abrupt, not apiculate, the spirals usually running quite to the end;, spores globose, minutely verruculose, 6 — 8 /x diameter.
Trichia nana, Mass., Mon Trich., p. 336. (Type in Herb., Kew.)
On wood. Westbrook, Maine, U. S.
Sporangia hemispherical or sausage-shaped ; by far the smallest of known species, resembling superficially T. minima, from which it differs in the distant and prominent spirals of
182 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
the elaters ; in the latter character it agrees with T. varia, but differs in the spirals not being markedly more prominent on the convex side of the bent elaters, the abrupt tips, and smaller size of every part. The elaters are rarely more than 200 JA long.
Trichia minima, Mass.
Sporangia crowded, sessile on a broad base, circular, elliptical, or irregular from mutual pressure, pale primrose-yellow ; mass of elaters and spores same colour; elaters cylindrical, 5 — 7 /* thick, ending in smooth, tapering points about 8 — 10 /u long, spirals thin, rather distant, not prominent, without spines; spores globose, very minutely warted, 10 p. diameter.
Trichia minima, Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 336, fig. 18.
On wood. Britain (Oldham).
Sporangia '5 mm. diameter, forming dense clusters. Allied to T. scalra, but distinct in the smaller size of every part, and in the absence of spines on the spirals of the elaters.
Trichia contorta, Host.
Plasmodiocarp creeping, flexuous, subcompressed, umber or bay- brmvn ; mass of elaters and spores yellow ; elaters 2'5 — 3'5 p, cylindrical, tips usually swollen and terminated by a long, slender spine; there is sometimes an interstitial swelling ; spirals indistinct; spores globose, minutely warted, 12 — 15 p. diameter.
Trichia contorta, Host., Mon., p. 259, f. 229 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit, f. 229; Schroeter, p. 113; Sacc., SylL, vol. vii., pt. I., no. 1503; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 68, t. 3, f. 13; Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 337.
On rotten wood. Britain ; Germany ; France ; Denmark ; Sweden; Australia.
I have seen no specimen of the present species, which is said to have occurred in Britain. The cylindrico-compressed flexuous plasmodiocarp of a dark brown colour, and the elaters with long, spine-like tips and indistinct spirals mark the species. The elaters appear to agree in structure with those of Trichia
Trichia. 183
advenula, but the latter differs in every other character. The figure of the elater is copied from Rostafinski.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Lycogala contortum, Dit., in Sturm. Dent. Cr. FL, t. 5 (1817). Trichia reticulata, b., Grev. Sc. Cr. Fl., t. 266 (1827). Perichaena contorta, Fr., S. M., iii., 192 (1829). Licea cmitorta, Wallr., Fl. Cr. Germ., n. 2110 (1833). Hemitrichia contorta, Rost., ap Fckl. Syn., 2, Nach., p. 75 (1873).
Trichia subfusca, Rex.
Sporangia stipitate, simple, very rarely double or triple, generally exactly spherical, exceptionally globose-turbinate, about £ — I of a mm. in diameter. Colour of sporangia, a dull tawny brown above, shading to a dark brown at the base. Stipes uniform in diameter, and equal in height to the diameter of the sporangium, brown or brownish-black in colour, longi- tudinally rugose and separated from the cavity of the sporangia by the internal layer of the sporangium wall. Spores and capillitium concolourous, of a bright yellow colour in mass/
Elaters cylindrical 3'5 — 4 p. in diameter, terminating generally in a smooth elongated end 10 — 12 /A long, which is either sharp or blunt, straight or curved to one side. Spirals four in number, non-spinulose, winding more or less unevenly, with interspaces as wide or wider than the thickness of the spirals. Spores 11*5 — 12'5 ^ in diameter, delicately but distinctly wfirted.
Adirondack Mts., New York.
This Trichia is more nearly allied to some of the forms of Tr. fragilis than to any other species. There seem, however, to be sufficiently well-marked specific differences. In addition to the different external characters, the elaters are undoubtedly cylindrical in a majority of the specimens. Occasionally individual sporangia are found in which the elaters are a little thicker in the centre, narrowing slightly toward the ends, but even these exceptions terminate abruptly in the same form of ends as the true cylindrical elaters. Occasionally also, as with
184 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
all Trichias, sporangia will be found in which the elaters are branched or distorted, or have a tendency to bulbous expansions near the ends or in their course, but these are abnormal and exceptional. The specimens distributed under this- number (2495) were collected in August 1889, with a few exceptions. The unusually wet season had the effect of rendering many of them much darker in colour than is indicated in the foregoing specific diagnosis, which was drawn from types developed and collected under the most favourable conditions. (Rex.)
Trichia subfusca, Rex, Proc. Acad. Sci. Phil., 1890, p. 192.
Exsicc. — Ellis and Everh., N. Amer. Fung., n. 2495.
Trichia reniformis, Peck.
Sporangia gregarious or clustered, sessile, subglobose or reni- form, small, brown ; flocci few, short, sparingly branched ; spores globose, minutely echinulate, yellow-ochre, sometimes tinged with green, '0005 in. in diameter ( = 12 — 13 p}.
Peck, 26th Report of the State Museum, New York, p. 76 ; Sacc., Syll., no. 1510; Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 337.
United States.
I am not acquainted with the present species, and the inform- ation given by Peck is too scanty to insure future identification.
§ § Spirals sin Trichia erecta, Rex.
Sporangia stipitate, usually simple, occasionally double or triple and very rarely fasciculate, with a cluster 'of 6 — 8 on a single stipe. Single sporangia globose or globose-turbinate £ — § of a mm. in the transverse diameter.
Colour of sporangia a dark nut-brown, which is uniform below, but checkered or broken above into irregular patches with broad septa of a bright yellow colour.
Stipes about 1 mm. in height, rough or granular on the surface, quite thick and equal throughout their length, and dark brown in colour. Spores and capillitium concolourous, being a bright yellow colour in mass.
Trichia, 185
Elaters cylindrical, 375 — 4 /x in diameter, terminating in short, sharp, smooth ends 4 — 6 /* long. Elater spirals 4 in. number, spinulose with numerous irregular spines, coarse, wind- ing irregularly. Adjoining spirals often united with each other by interspiral branches which run either longitudinally or obliquely in the direction of the spirals.
Spores 12 — 13 //. in diameter, delicately warted when examined under a high power lens.
Shawangunk and Adirondack Mts., N. Y.
This Trichia is conspicuous for the checkering or areolation of the upper surface in the perfectly mature sporangia, showing a sharp contrast between the adjoining nut brown and bright yellow colours. In this respect it resembles Tr. fragilis, which sometimes exhibits in its var. lateritia and also in one of its simple forms, a dull mottling of the colour of the upper surface of the sporangia.
Trichia erecta, Rex, Proc. Acad. Sci. Phil., 1890, p. 193.
Exsicc. — Ellis and Everh., N. Amer. Fung., Ser. II., n. 2496.
Trichia Decaisneana, De Bary.
Sporangia pyriform, brownish flesh-colour, shining, stipitate ; stem red, then blackish-brown, very much plicate, equal ; mass of capillitium and spores yellowish flesh-colour ; inclosed in an inner membrane connate with the outer wall of the sporangium ; elaters cylindrical, inflated near the tips and ending in smooth, tapering, curved spines 3 — 6 times as long as elater, spirals 5 — 6, flcxuous, spinulose, in some cases parts of the elaters have the spirals in the form of distant ridges or wrinkles ; spores delicately warted, 10 — 11 /u. diameter.
Trichia Decaisneana, De Bary, in Host., Mon., p. 250, figs. 219, 220; Schroeter, p. 112; Cooke, Myx. Brit., figs. 219, 220; Mass., Mon. Trich, p. 338.
On Jungermannia. Germany.
According to Schroeter the spores measure from 13 — 14 p, the elaters have 4 spirals, and are 4 — 5 mm. thick. As these measurements differ from those given by the author of the
186 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
species, the question that naturally suggests itself is, has Schroeter had the true species in view? In Rostafinski's Monograph, fig. 220, the spirals of the elaters are represented as broad and flat, no spines are shown in the figure.
C. Spores with elongated, raised, flat bands not combined to form a network.
§ Sands not punctate. Trichia Balfourii, Mass.
Sporangia sessile, base broad or narrowed, crowded, hemi- spherical or angular from mutual pressure, clear primrose-yellow ; mass of elaters and spores deeper and duller yellow; elaters cylindrical, 9 — 10 fx thick, sometimes swollen near the apex, which is abruptly narrowed into from 1 — 3 short, smooth spines, generally more or less bent, spirals thin, not prominent, rather distant, furnished with scattered, rudimentary spines; spores globose, with a few broad, slightly raised, flat lands, not punctate, nor combined in a reticulate manner ; 16 — 18 /* diameter.
Trichia Balfourii, Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 339, fig. 4. (Type in Herb., Kew.)
On wood. Cape of Good Hope.
Closely allied to T. Jackii, but known by the absence of punctiform markings on the raised bands of the spores. In T. verrucosa the bands on the spores are much shorter and more numerous, the elaters of the last-named species also differ in the crowded spirals without spines and the simple stout tips.
Trichia snlphurea, Mass.
Sporangia densely crowded, subdepressed, circular, angular, or reniform in outline, pale yellow, smooth, mass of elaters and spores pale lemon-yellow; elaters cylindrical, simple, or fre- quently branched, especially near the tips, 9 — 10 jw. thick, spirals crowded, not very prominent, tips not thickened, smooth, acute, straight or slightly curved, 10 — 14 p. long; spores globose, with numerous short, slightly raised, straight or crescent-shaped flat lands, 10 — 14 /x diameter.
Trichia. 187
Trichia sulphurca, Mass., -Rev. Trich., p. 339, fig. 3. (Type in Herb. Berk., Kew, n. 10906.)
On wood. Ceylon.
A very fine, large species with sporangia up to 1 mm. diameter, forming densely crowded patches of considerable size. Characterized by the thick cylindrical elaters with crowded spirals, and the numerous short flat bands on the spores, which look like warts under a low power. Most nearly allied to T. nitens, but the spores of the latter have true rounded warts, and the spirals on the elaters are further apart.
§ Sands with minute depressions. Trichia abrupta, Cooke.
Sporangia densely gregarious, sessile on a broad base, hypo- thallus firm, usually angular from mutual pressure, pale yellow ; mass of elaters and spores orange ; elaters cylindrical, 7 — 9 /x diameter, spirals rather distant, not prominent, with scattered, rudimentary spinules, tips usually smooth and equal in thick- ness to elater for a length of 8 — 10 p, then terminating abruptly in two or three thin, straight or curved spines 8 — 10 /^ long; spores globose, with numerous slightly raised, straight or curved short lands of irregular width, furnished with minute, scattered pits, 10 — 16- ju, diameter.
Trichia abrupta, Cooke, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist., N. York., vol. xi., No. 12, p. 404; Cooke, Myx. Brit., fig. 256; Mass., Mon. Trich., p. 16, f. 2; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1511. (Type in Herb., Kew.)
On wood. Britain (Ken Wood, Hampstead ; Kew, Carlisle) ; United States.
Allied to Trichia Jaclrii, but distinguished by the more numerous and shorter bands on the spores and the different elaters; separated also from T. intermedia by the numerous hands on the spores not anastomosing, and by the absence of thin ridges parallel to the long axis of the elaters.
188 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Trichia Jackii, Rost.
Sporangia usually crowded, sessile on a narrow or broad base, hypothallus well-developed, circular, angular, or elliptical in shape, dull yellow; mass of elaters and spores yellow; elaters cylindrical, 5 — 7 n thick, tips smooth, acute, straight or a little bent, spirals not very prominent, distant, sometimes with rudimentary spinules; spores globose, with scattered, slightly elevated, irregular, broad fiat bands, slightly curved or sinuous, not combined to form a network, surface of bands with minute pits, 12 — 15 /x diameter.
Trichia Jackii, Rost., Mon., p. 258, f. 242 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., f. 242; Schroeter, p. 113; Sacc., Syll., vii. 1, no. 1500; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 69, t 4, f. 5 ; Mass., Mon. Trich., p. 16, f. 5.
On wood and bark. Britain (Brighton, Highgate, Castle Howard, Yorks ; Glainis, N. B.) ; Germany ; Italy ; Switzerland ; Denmark.
Allied to Trichia abrupta, but distinguished by the fewer and longer bands on the epispore, and the undivided tips of the elaters.
Trichia intermedia, Mass. (figs. 180 — 182).
Sporangia subglobose, sessile on a broad base, crowded, often irregular from mutual pressure, smooth, shining, bright ochre ; mass of spores and capillitium clear pale chrome-yellow ; threads simple, cylindrical, 8 — 10 p thick, ending rather abruptly in a short, smooth apiculus, spirals rather close, not prominent, sometimes branched, with a few rudimentary scattered spinules, and connected by thinner raised bands running more or less parallel to the long axis of the elater; spores globose, with a few distant raised flat flexuous bands that anastomose to form an irregular network, often leaving free ends, surface of bands with minute depressions usually arranged in a single row, 9 — 11 p diameter.
Trichia intermedia, Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 341, pi. v., fig. 1. (Type in Herb., Kew.)
On trunks. Scarborough, Epping Forest ; Finland.
Trichia. 189
The spores somewhat resemble those of Trichia Jackii, Host., but are smaller ; the raised bands are narrower and anastomose irregularly, and the minute depressions more constantly arranged in a single row. Agreeing with Trichia chrysospcrma, Host., in having the spirals on the elaters connected by ridges, but at once distinguished by the bands on the spores being furnished with minute depressions. I was at one time led to believe, from examination of a specimen supposed to be authentic, communicated by Mr. H. Wingate, of Philadelphia, who received it from the author, that the present species was synonymous with Trichia proximella, Karst., but a second authentic speci- men of the last-named species agrees with the characters given by Karsten, hence T. intermedia will remain as a distinct species.
Var. persimilis, elaters very much and irregularly branched, Ranches usually short, and as thick as the elaters; rest as in typical form.
Trichia persimilis, Karst., in Not. Sallsk. pro Faun, et Flor. ( Fenn., Forh., 1868, ix., p. 353; Karst., Myx. Fenn., p. 139; Sacc., Syll., n. 1506 ; Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 338.
On wood. Finland.
An authentic specimen from the author proves the present form to be a variety, or more probably an abnormal form, of the present species.
D. Spwes with raised flat bands combined to form a network.
* Sands plain. Trichia chrysosperma, Rost.
Sporangia crowded or scattered, sessile, base broad or narrow, yellow or ochraceous cinnamon; mass of elaters and spores bright primrose-yellow; elaters cylindrical, 5 — 7 /x thick, tips short, smooth, straight or curved, spirals not very prominent, rather distant, sometimes with a few scattered spinules, con- nected by thin ridges running parallel to the long axis of the elater; spores globose, with deep, narrow raised bands combined to form an irregular polygonal network; surface of bands not punctate, 12 — 14 /* diameter.
190 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Trichia chrysosperma, Rost., Mon., p. 255, figs. 209, 213, 240 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 65, figs. 209, 213, 240; Schroeter, p. 113; Sacc., SylL, vii., 1, n. 1498; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 69, t. 4, f. 1 ; Mass., Mon. Trich., p. 17, f. 10.
Exsicc— Rab., Fung. Eur., n. 567.
On wood, bark, moss, &c. Britain (Highgate) ; Germany.
A rare species, characterized by the deep narrow ridges forming a network on the epispore and the surface of the bands not being punctate, and by the narrow, raised lines running parallel to the long axis of the elaters.
It is amazing how Rostafinski managed to give so many synonyms for the present species, considering that the specific characters require for their elucidation at least a TVth oil immersion objective, yet this is done, and without any query as to their accuracy, although presumably not many of the types, if indeed any, were forthcoming.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Lycflpcrdon grcgarium, Retz. Obs., i., 33 (1769).
Lycoperdon favogineum, Batsch., f. 173 (1786).
Stcmonitis pyrtformis, Roth. Fl. Germ., i., 548 (1788).
fyhaerocarpus chrysospcrmns, Bull., t. 417, f. 4 (1791).
Stemonitis favoginca, Gmel. Sys., 1470 (1791).
Trichia nitcns, Pers. Obs., i., 62 (1796).
Trichia favoginea, Pers. Disp., 10 (1797).
Trichia chrysosperma, DC. Fl. Fr., 673 (1805) ; Eng. FL, v.,
320; Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1187; Fung. Britt., ii., 524, 527. Trichia turUnata, Purt. Brit., ii., 1115 (1817). Clathroides fluvcsccns, HalL t. 1, f. 7 (1742). Trichia, Hall, 2168, t. 48, f. 7 (1768). Lycoperdon aggregatum, Retz. Fl. Scan., 1627 (1769). Lycoperdon epiphyllum, Light. FL Sc., 1069 (1777). Clathrus turUnatus, Huds. Fl. Ang., 632 (1778) ; Bolt., t. 94,
f. 3.
Trichia pyriformis, Vill. Fl. Dauph., 1060 (1789). Stemonitis pyrif wtnis, Pers., in Gmel. Sys., 1468 (1791).
Trichia. 191
Trichia turbinata, With. Arr., iv., 480 (1792) ; Sow., t. 85 ;
Eng. Fl., v., 320; Cooke, Hdbk., 1186. Trichia pyriformis, Pers. Disp., 10 (1797). Trichia olivacea, Pers. Obs., i., 62 (1796), in part. Trickia ovata, Pers. Obs., ii., 35 (1796) ; Schum. Saell., 1454 ;
Fl. Dan., t. 1313, f. 1. Trichia vulgaris, Pers. Obs., ii., 32 (1799). Physarum contextum, Spr. Sys., ix., 20 (1817).
Trichia verrucosa, Berk.
Sporangia pyriform, brown or chestnut, shining, passing down- wards into a long, slender stem, simple or botryoid, scattered, springing from a thick, broadly effused Uypoihallus ; mass of capillitium and spores ochraceous; threads of capillitium not branched, cylindrical, 8 — 10 //. thick, with smooth, tapering tips of variable length, and straight or curved, spirals close, thin, not prominent ; spores globose, with narrow, raised fiat lands combined into a few large, irregular, polygonal meshes, bands not punctate, 14 — 16 JJL diameter.
Trichia verrucosa, Berk., Flor. Tasm., p. 269 ; Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 343, fig. 9.
(Type in Herb. Berk., Kew, n. 10906.)
On wood. Tasmania.
Differs from T. chrysosperma and T. dictyospora in the scat- tered sporangia springing from a stout hypothallus, and also in the characters of the elaters and spores. From 2 — 3 mm. high. Usually not more than one complete polygon is present on a hemisphere of the spore.
Trichia Kalbreyeri, Mass.
Sporangia crowded, sessile, often irregular from mutual pressure, pale yellow, smooth ; mass of capillitium and spores pale primrose-yellow; threads of capillitium cylindrical, 9 — 10 p thick, with short, smooth, tapering ends, spirals not prominent, thin, close ; spores globose, with raised, narrow flat bands form- ing an irregular, polygonal network, bands not punctate, 11 — 14 p diameter.
192 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Trichia Kalbreyeri, Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 344, fig. 8.
On wood and living leaves. New Granada.
Externally resembling T. ckrysosperma, but known by the absence of ridges between the spirals, and the bands forming more numerous polygons, 2 — 3 complete ones being present on a hemisphere of the spore.
TricMa scabra, Host.
Sporangia gregarious or scattered, attached by a broad base to a'hypothallus, circular or irregular from mutual pressure, varying from pale yellow, through dirty orange to brown ; mass of elaters and spores clear orange ; elaters cylindrical, 6 — 8 JM thick, ending in smooth, acute, straight or slightly bent tips 7 — 10 M long, spirals not very prominent, rather distant, hearing numerous short, acute, straight spines; spores globose, covered with a very fine network of raised lines, 8 — 12 /u, diameter.
Trichia scabra, Host., Mon., p. 258, figs. 214—217, 239; Cooke, Myx. Brit., figs. 214—217, 239; Mass., Mon. Trich., p. 13, fig. 13 (spore incorrectly drawn with a warted instead of a very delicately reticulated epispore); Schroeter, p. 113; Sacc. Syll., vii., n. 1500 ; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 68, t 4, f. 2.
Trichia scabra, v. aurea, Cke., Myx., U. States, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist., N. York., v. xi., No. 12, p. 403.
Exsicc— Roum., Fung. Gall., 1005; Ellis and Everh., N. Amer. Fung., 2100.
On wood, moss, &c. Britain (Queen's Cottage Grounds, Kew, Birmingham ; Taunton, Notts ; Scarboro' ; Carlisle) ; France ; Germany ; Denmark ; U. States ; Ceylon ; Australia.
Var. analogia. Spores on spirals of elaters rudimentary or absent.
Cke., Myx., U. States, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist., N. York, vol. xi., No. 12, p. 403.
Britain (Carlisle) ; U. States.
Trichia fallax, Rost.
Sporangia pyriforaa, stipitate or subsessile, ochraceous, some- times tinged olive, dull or shining; stem dark, usually longi-
Trichia. 193
tudinally wrinkled, filled with large, globose, subangular cells which become smaller upwards and pass into normal spores; elaters pyriform, simple or branched, 5 — 6 /* thick, ending in long, smooth, tapering tips, spirals rather close, thin, not pro- minent; spores globose, epispore, covered with a very fine, irregular network, 10 — 12 /* diameter.
Trichia fallax, Rost., Mon., p. 243, figs. 211, 221, 222, 233— 236; Cke., Myx. Brit, p. 61, figs. 211, 222, 233—236; Sacc., SylL, vii., 1, n. 1493; Mass., Mon. Trich., p. 8, figs. 21 and 27 (the spores incorrectly represented as warted instead of being delicately reticulated); Schrceter, p. Ill; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 66, t. 4, f. 4.
Exsicc. — Fuckel, Fung. Rhen., 1435 ; Jack, Leiner u. Sitz., 420; Rab., Fung. Eur., 1666; Mong. and Nest., 284; Roum., Fung. Sel. Gall, 42.
On rotten wood. Britain (Bristol, Kew, King's Cliffe, Norths ; Carlisle, Scarboi'o', Linlithgow, Glamis, N. B.) ; France ; Germany ; Switzerland ; Denmark ; United States ; Cuba ; Venezuela.
Distinctly marked amongst the species with fusiform elaters by the stem being filled with large cells, and the very delicately and minutely reticulated spores.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Mucor capitulis pyriformis, Fl. Dan., t. 647,' f. 2 (1770).
Mucor miniatus, Jacq. Misc., t. 299 (1778).
Stemonitis Jlavcscens, Schrank., p. 19 (1792).
Lycoperdon aggregation, Liljeb. Fl. Scan., 460 (1792).
Lycoperdon pusillum; Hedw. Abh., t. 3, f. 2 (1793).
Trichia fallax, Pers. Obs., iii., t. 4, 5 (1797); Nees, f. 113;
Corda Ic., iv., 97; Eng. Fl., v., 319; Cooke, Hdbk., 1182. Physarum pyriforme, Schum. Saell., 1448 (1803). Trichia mrcscens, Schum. Saell., 1459 (1803). Trichia cerina, Ditm., t. 25 (1817) ; Curr. Micr. Journ., v.,
p. 127; Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1184. Trichia fuha, Purt. Mid. Fl, 1534 (1817). Trichia clavata, Wigand, No. 3 (1863).
194 A Monograph of the ^Myxogastres.
Trichia furcata, Wigand, No. 4 (1863). Arcyria elongata, Bong. Herb.
* Bands with minute depressions on the surface. Trichia affinis, De Bary.
Sporangia clustered, circular or elliptical, sessile on a broad base, seated on a distinct hypothallus, clear pale yellow ; mass of elaters and spores pale yellow; elaters cylindrical, 4 — 6 fi thick, ending in short, tapering, smooth tips, spirals thin, rather close, not prominent, sometimes with short spinules; spores globose, with broad, slightly raised flat bands combined into a network, or sometimes with free ends, surface of bands pitted, 10 — 14 p. diameter.
Trichia affinis, Host., Mon., p. 257, f. 241 ; Cke., Myx. Brit, f. 241 ; Schroeter, p. 113; Sacc., Syll., n. 1499 (?); Mass., Mon. Trich., p. 20, f. 7.
On wood, twigs, moss, &c. Britain (Epping, Brandon, Scarboro', Castle Howard, Yorks ; Carlisle, Appin, N. B.) ; Europe ; United States ; Cuba ; Australia ; Tasmania.
Superficially resembling T. chrysosperma, distinguished by the presence of pits on the raised bands of the epispore, and the absence of raised ridges running parallel to the long axis of the elater.
Trichia superba, Mass.
Botryoid, rarely . simple. Sporangia broadly obovate, pale yellow, common stem more or less wrinkled longitudinally, often twisted, colour of the sporangium above, becoming orange downwards, springing from a well-developed hypothallus ; mass of capillitium and spores deep yellow ; elaters simple, cylindrical, 9 — 11 fx thick, with abruptly tapering, smooth, short ends, often more or less bent, spirals close, thin, but little prominent; spores globose, with raised flat bands combined into a polygonal network; bands with a row of minute depressions, 17 — 20 f* diameter.
Trichia superba, Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 345 f. 6.
\
Trichia. 195
(Type in Herb., Kew.)
On mosses and logs. New Zealand.
Scattered, 3 — 4 mm. high, stem about equal in length to the sporangium, thin and weak, so that the sporangia are often drooping. Allied to T. affinis, but distinct in the much larger spores, with smaller and more numerous reticulations, and the stipitate, obovate sporangia usually arranged in a botryoid manner.
Trichia Kickxii, Rost.
Sporangia spherical, sessile, in several crmvded strata, forming cakes some mm. high, and sometimes cm. long and broad; walls of single sporangia rigid, flesh-colour, polished and shining; elaters simple, either flexuous or curved into circles, 4'2 p thick, spirals two, not very prominent ; tips obtuse ; spores with an irregular network, 14 — 15 \i. diameter.
Trichia Kickxii, Rost., Mon. App., p. 40 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1504 ; Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 345.
I have no knowledge of the present species except from Rostafinski's diagnosis, which strongly suggests to my mind a species closely allied to Oligonema nitens.
Trichia pusilla, Schroeter.
Sporangia subglobose, very small, 0'3 — 0'5 mm. diameter, gregarious, scattered or collected in clusters, golden or brownish- yellow, smooth, shining, fragile ; hypothallus absent ; elaters very short, about 100 ju, long, 4 — 5 p thick, here and there thick- ened, apices rounded, often mucronate and curved, spirals 2 — 3, slightly prominent, here and there inconspicuous ; spores globose, unequally costulato-reticulate, 11 — 12/x diameter.
Trichia pusilla, Schroeter, p. 114; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1509 ; Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 345.
On bark. Germany.
LITHODERMEAE.
The most pronounced characteristic of the present section is the almost universal presence of carbonate or rarely bicarbonate
196 A Monograph of the -Myxogastres.
of lime in the form of crystals, or more frequently as minute amorphous particles. In the sub-section Phyxarae, which in- cludes the terminal members of the section, lime is present in very considerable quantity both on the sporangium and in the threads of the capillitium, whereas in the sub-section Didymeae lime is abundant on the sporangium, but absent from the capillitium, although usually present in the columella when the latter is present. The genus Cratcriachea is intermediate between the two sub-sections as regards the disposition of lime. In the genus Diadiaca lime is absent from the sporangium, although present in quantity in the columella and stem ; this genus, as explained later on, forms a connecting link between the present section and the Columelltfcrae, and as such, does not come within the diagnosis of either. Owing to rigidity due to the abundance of lime, especially in the sub-section Phywrcw, there are no marked contrivances for spore dispersion, which appears to be effected by wind on the dissolution of the sporangium, but in the Didymeae, where the capillitium is free from lime and possesses a certain amount of elasticity, the sporangium frequently dehisces in a definite manner.
BADHAMIA.
CRATERIUM.
I LEOCAIIPUS.
CIENKOWSKTA. PHVBAHUM.
. TlLMADOCHE.
CHOXDRIODERMA. Crateriachea.
I v I
DlDYMIUM. FUUGO.
I M
LEPIDODKBMA. SPUMARIA.
DlACHAEA.
LITHODERMEAE.
/ LAMPRODERMA. \ \COLUMELLIFERAE./
Lithodermeae. 197
ANALYSIS OF THE GENERA.
Sect. LITHODERMEAE.
Sub-sect. DIDYMEAE.
CHONDRIODERMA. Sporangia with a continuous porcelain- like coat of lime.
DlDYMlUM. Sporangia with a pulverulent, crystalline coat of lime.
LEPIDODERMA. Sporangia with isolated, large patches of lime.
SPUMARIA. Aethalium consisting of sporangia arranged in a dendritic manner.
DlACHAEA. Sporangia iridescent, without lime.
Sub-sect. PHYSARAE.
BADHAMIA. Threads of capillitium thick, containing lime throughout their length.
CRATERIUM. Sporangia with a well differentiated lid, or splitting in a circumscissile manner.
PHYSARUM. Capillitium with numerous large, irregular nodes containing lime, and connected by thinner portions with- out lime.
TlLMADOCHE. Capillitium with small, scattered, elliptical nodes containing lime internodes thin, elongated, with- out lime.
LEOCARPUS. Sporangia obovate, polished.
OEINKQWSKIA. Capillitium with curved, free tips.
Crateriachea. Columella present; threads of capillitium mostly without nodes, containing lime.
FULIGO. A cake-like aethalium.
Sub-sect. DIDYMEAE.
CHONDRIODERMA, Rost. (in part).
Sporangium stipitate or sessile, wall single or double, outer wall charged with lime, perfectly smooth, porcelain-like, dehis-
198 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
cing irregularly or in a stellate manner; inner wall, when present, very thin, containing no lime, often iridescent; colu- mella present or absent; threads of capillitium thin, without lime; either sparingly bifurcating, or branching and anasto- mosing to form a more or less dense net.
O
Ckondrioderma, Host., Mon., p. 167 ; Cooke, Brit. Myx., p. 36 ; Schroeter, p. 123 ; Sacc., Syll., v., 7, pt. I, p. 362.
The characteristics of the present genus are, a well-developed capillitium not containing lime, and the outer wall highly charged with lime, externally perfectly smooth and porcelain- like. Closely allied to Didymium; in fact so closely allied, that leaving out imaginary or book distinctions, the only point of difference consists in the outer surface of the wall in Didymiutn never being porcelain-like, but always more or less granular or pulverulent. Such a division is convenient from the system- atic point of view, as to whether it is of generic value or not is a question that cannot perhaps be decided in the present state of knowledge as to what constitutes affinity in the Myxogastres. The space between the outer and inner wall I do not find sufficiently constant to adopt as part of the generic character, its presence depends on the contraction of the spore forming mass of protoplasm, due to expulsion of water after the outer calcareous wall has become rigid ; in C. sublateritium, the contraction of the inner spore-mass takes place before the outer calcareous wall becomes rigid,- hence the latter also collapses and becomes normally umbilicate above. The same condition of things may sometimes be met with in species that usually have a space between the two -walls.
Distrib. Temperate and tropical regions; most abundant in the former. Species 34.
Sub-Gen. Leangium. Sporangium flitting in a stellate manner.
A. Columella present. Chondriodenna floriforme, Rost. (figs. 58, 59). t
Gregarious, springing from a well-developed hypothallus ; sporangia broadly obovate, stipitate, yellowish-brown, dehiscing
Chondrioderma. 199
in a stellate manner , the lobes becoming rcflexed ; stem longer than height of sporangium, equal, minutely longitudinally rugulose, erect, colour of sporangium ; columella clavate, stipitate, rugulose above, pale brown or ochraceous ; mass of spores blackish with purple tinge ; threads of capillitium brownish-purple, 3 /* thick, branching at acute angles and combining laterally to form an irregular network, furnished with irregular thickenings ; spores globose, dingy violet, with a few rather large conical warts, 10 — 12 //, diameter.
Chondrioderma floriforme, Host, Mon., p. 184 (excl. syn. Diderma concinnum, B. and Br., added by Rostafinski in Mon. Append.) ; Cooke, Brit. Myx., p. 41 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1285 (excl. syn. Diderma concinnum, B. and Br.) ; Raunk., p. 84.
Exsicc. — Ellis, N. Amer. Fung., 1121 ; in Fuckel, Fung. Rhen., 2496, the specimen agrees in every respect with the above description except that the spores are almost smooth. Rostafinski describes the spores as having scattered spines, which is translated by Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 41, as " rarely spinulose," and the description in Saccardo's " Sylloge " is a translation of Cooke's version, hence incorrect.
On decaying wood. Britain (Queen's Cottage Wood, Kew ; Grace Dieu, Leicester) ; Germany ; France ; Denmark ; United States.
About 2-5 mm. high, sporangia polished, wall thick ; super- ficially resembling some stipitate forms of Lepidoderma radiatum before dehiscence, but the latter is distinguished by the stem being much attenuated towards the base.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Sphaerocarpus floriformis, Bull., t. 371 (1791). Stcmonitis floriformis, Gmel., Syst., 1469 (1791). Lycoperdon floriforme, With., Arr., iv., 379 (1792). Reticularia floriformis, Poir., Ency. Didymium florifwme, Schrad., N. G., 25 (1797). Diderma floriforme, Pers. Syn., 164 (1801) ; Fr., S. M., iii., p. 99 ; Berk., Engl. Flora, v., p. 310 ; Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1105.
200 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Chondrioderma radiatum, Rost. (figs. 92—95). ••
Sporangia stipitate or sessile, subglobose or depressed, umbili- cate below, pallid or with a brown tinge, when mature splitting in an irregularly stellate manner from the apex, segments re- flexed, persistent; stem, when present, shorter than sporangium, attenuated downwards ; columella large, globose or slightly elon- gated, rugulose, pallid or with a rufous tinge ; threads of capil- litium thin, fuliginous, or almost colourless, simple below, then bifurcating at acute angles, now and then combining laterally ; spores globose, violet-brown, minutely wartcd, 9 — 12 fj. diameter.
Cliontlriodcrma radiatum, Rost., Hon., p. 182, figs. 152, 153, 155, 156, 170; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 40, figs. 152, 153, 155, 156, 170; Schroeter, p. 125.
Diderma stellare, Fries. Seler. Succ. Exs.
On wood, bark, &c. Britain (King's Cliffe, Scarboro'); Sweden ; Germany ; Denmark ; France ; United States.
Sporangia scattered or loosely gregarious, about '5 mm. diameter before dehiscence. Recognized amongst the species that dehisce in a stellate manner by the umbilicate sporangium, which is constant when the specimens are sessile, the large rugulose pale columella, and the minutely warted spores.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.) Lycoperdon radiatum, Linn., sp., 1654 (1753). Didymium stellare, Schrad., t. 5, f. 3, 4 (1797). Diderma stellare, Pers. Syn., 164 (1801). Diderma umbilicatum, Pers. Syn., 165 (1801) ; Eng. Fl., v.,
310 ; Cke., Hdbk., No. 1106. Ditlerma vrassipcs, Sdhum. Saell., 1421 (1803). Reticularia umbilicata, Poir., Ency. Didymium gcaster, Link, diss. ii., 42 (1809). Leangium stellare, Link, diss. ii., 42 (1809). Cionium stellare, Spr. Syst, iv., 529 (1827). Cionium nmbilicatnm, Spr. Syst., iv., 529 (1827). Leangium umlilicatum, Rabh. Fl. Crypt., 285 (1844). Didymiu^i complanatum, Fckl., Sym. Myc., 341 (1869).
Chondrioderma. 201
Chondrioderma geasteroides, Phil. -
Sporangia sessile or shortly stipitate, globose or broadly pyriform, ochraceous-brown, polished, dehiscing in a stellate manner into five or six unequal, acute segments which become strongly reflexed, inner surface of wall white, rough with granules of lime ; stem, when present, shorter than sporangium, thick, obscure brown; columella globose, ochraceous-brown; threads of capillitium brownish or almost colourless, repeated branching in a dichotomous manner, and anastomosing laterally to form a network; base of each bifurcation swollen and dark- coloured; spores globose, brown, minutely •. warted, 11 — 14 ju, diameter.
Chondrioderma geasteroides, Phil., in Herb.
Diderma geasteroidcs, Phil., Grev., v., 5, p. 113, t. 87, fig. 1, a— f ; Sacc., Syll., 1293.
Diderma laciniatum, Phil., Grev., v., 5, p. 113, t. 87, fig. 2, a— f; Sacc., Syll., n. 1294.
(Types in Herb., Phillips.)
On rotten wood, mosses. &c. California.
For an opportunity of examining the present and other types of Myxogastres from California, I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. Wm. Phillips, F.L.S., of Shrewsbury.
Gregarious or scattered, f — 1 mm. high. After dehiscence the present species is a very beautiful object under a low power, the snow-white inner surface of the reflexed segments standing out in contrast to the purple-black mass of spores, and the ochraceous-brown or fulvous outside colour. Distinct from C. radiatwn, its nearest ally, in the peculiar structure of the capillitium and the colour and coarsely granular inside of the sporangial wall, the spores are also larger in the present species.
Chondrioderma Lyallii, Mass. (n. sp.)>Acv»*a. mv
VAv. Uv«-»
Scattered or aggregated ; sporangia globose or broadly obovate, stipitate, wall thick, polished, whitish or pallid, splitting in an irregularly stellate manner ; stem shorter than sporangium,
202 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
thick, irregularly rugulose, expanding at the base into a small hypothallus, pale ochraceous ; columella cylindraceo-clavate, nearly Jialf the height of the sporangium, smooth, pallid ; mass of spores blackish- violet; capillitium copious, threads dingy lilac, 3 — 3'5/* thick at the base, tapering, branching irregularly and anasto- mosing laterally, furnished with numerous elongated swellings usually containing a few dark granules; spores globose, deep violet, almost opaque, coarsely warted, 13 — 15 p diameter.
On thin decorticated twigs. Fort Colville, Canada. (Dr. Lyall.)
(Type in Herb., Kew.)
From 1'5 — 2 mm. high, with the habit of Chondrioderma Oerstedii, differing in the highly developed columella and irregular mode of dehiscence.
Chondrioderma Carmichaeliamim, Cooke (figs. 245 — 247). '••
Sporangia spherical, quite sessile, splitting when mature into 4 — 5 acute segments, pale red, polished; columella sphericat, attenuated at the base, pale red ; threads of capillitium very thin, colourless, branching in a dichotomous manner, here and there laterally connected ; spores globose, dark- violet, smooth, 11 — 13 /u, diameter.
Chondrioderma Carmichaelianum, Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 42.
ChondriodcrDia radiatum, Host., Mon. Append., p. 40 (in part) ; Sacc., Syll., 1284 (in part).
Uiderma Carmichaelianum, Berk., Eng. Fl., vol. v., p. 34; Cooke, Hdbk., no. 1112.
(Type in Herb. Berk., Kew.)
On moss. Britain (Appin, N. B. ; Trifreu, Wales).
Sporangia about '5 mm. diameter; distinguished from C. radiatum in being sessile and globose, not umbilicate below, and in the smooth spores.
Chondrioderma Trevelyana, Rost. fci.
Sporangia ovate or subglobose, sessile, wall single, polished ivory coloured, splitting half way to the base into numerous
\
Chondrioderma. 203
narrow segments which become, reftexed ; columella white, minute ; mass of spores blackish-purple; capillitium dense, threads colourless, 2 — 3 /u thick, frequently forking at a wide angle, and combined laterally to form a net, slightly thicker at the point of bifurcation ; spores globose, minutely verruculose, 12 — 14 /u, diameter.
Leangium? Trevelyani, Grev., Scot. Cr. FL, pi. 132.
Chondrioderma Trevelyana, Host., Mon., p. 182, figs. 161 — 163 ; Cooke, Brit. Myx., p. 40, figs. 161—163 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1289.
In the Appendix to Rostafinski's Monograph, the present species is referred as a synonym to Chondrioderma radiatum.
On living leaves of Bryum ligulatum. Britain (Northumber- land).
Sporangia scattered ; 1 — 15 mm. diameter before dehiscence. The above description is drawn up from a specimen originally in Sowerby's Herbarium, and now in the Berkeley Herbarium, Kew, and said to be from Greville. It is certainly quite distinct from G. radiatum, in the greater number of segments (14 — 16) into which the sporangial wall splits, the colourless capillitium, and larger spores.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Leangium (?) Trevelyani, Grev., Scot. Cr. FL, t. 132 (1825).
Cionium Trevelyani, Spr., Syst., iv., 529 (1827).
Diderma Trevelyani, Fr., S. M., iii., 105 (1829); Eng. Fl., v.,
311 ; Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1111. Polyschismiu7n Trevelyani, Corda, Icon., v., p: 20 (1842).
B. Columella absent. Chondrioderma Oerstedtii, Rost. (figs. 87, 88). ^'^n
Sporangia stipitate, subglobose or broadly pyriform, when mature, splitting in a stellate manner into 4 — 6 irregular, acute segments, pallid ; stem short, usually darker than sporangium ; columella entirely absent; threads of capillitium colourless or dirty-lilac, combined to form a net, often furnished with darker
204 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
thickenings; spores globose, violet, densely covered with minute warts, 10 — 14 /x diameter.
Chondriodcrma, Oerstcdtii, Host., Mon., p. 184, figs. 154, 157; Cooke, Brit. Myx./ p. 41, figs. 154, 157; Sacc., Syll, 1286; Grev., vol. v., p. 12.
(Specimen named by Rostafinski in Herb. Berk.)
On wood, &c. Britain (Jedburgh) ; Germany.
I have not been able to observe the glistening glassy warts described by Rostafinski as present on the sporangium. Dis- tinguished from C. radmtum by the absence of columella, and from G. Carmichtielianum in the presence of a stem.
Chondrioderma lucidum, Cooke. ^
Sporangia subglobose, sessile, either scattered or crowded, splitting in an irregular stellate manner, bright reddish-yellow ; internally yellow, mass of spores globose; capillitiuui brown, irregular at the points of ramification, yellowish, spores globose, ^ violet-black, '0125 mm. ( = 12 JA) diameter, minutely echinulate.
Chondrioderma lucidum, Cooke, Myx. Brit, p. 42; Sacc., 1288.
Diderma lucidum, B. and Br., Ann. Nat. Hist., n. 938, t. 15, fig. 9; Cke., Hdbk., n. 1110.
On moss and Jungermannia. Britain.
I have seen no specimen of the present species.
According to Berkeley's figure the sporangium is sometimes furnished with a short, distinct stem thickened upwards, the sporangium may be spherical or considerably depressed ; after dehiscence the basal portion is persistent with an irregularly toothed margin ; an " obscure columella " is also present. May not this be a form of C. radiatum ?
Sub-Gen. Cltondrioderma. Sporangium irregularly ruptured.
A. Columclla jircsent.
\ Chondrioderma Michelii, Rost. (fig. 312). tu Sporangia springing from a well-developed more or less torn hypothallus, stipitate or almost sessile, circular in outline,
Ckondrioderma. 205
discoid, thin, flat or slightly convex above, rather concave below, white or cream-coloured; the wall breaking away in irregular patches above ; stem equal, pale ochraceous or whitish, longi- tudinally wrinkled, the ridges continuing on the under side of the sporangium; in some specimens the stem is obsolete, and a broadly extending plasmodiocarp, forming continuous patches, or an irregularly branched anastomosing structure is produced ; columclla flattened, dingy red ; mass of spores black with purple tinge ; threads of capillitium 1 — 2 p. thick, pale or colourless, forked, combining laterally to form a loose net; spores globose, dingy lilac, smooth, 8—9 //. diameter.
Chondrioderma Michelii, Host., Fckl., Symb. Myc., Nach. 2, p. 74; Rost., Hon., p. 172, figs. 131; 146, 149, 150; Cooke, Brit. Myx., p. 37, figs. 131, 146, 149, 150; Sacc., Syll, n. 1268; Schroeter, p. 123.
Didymium Michelii, Lib., PI. Crypt. Ard., Fasc. II., no. -180 (1832).
JExsicc.— Lib., PL Crypt. Ard., Fasc. II., n. 180; Fuckel, Fung. Rhen., 2691 ; Ellis, N. Amer. Fung., 615.
On living or dead leaves, twigs, wood, &c. ; some of the specimens were found on horse-dung. Britain (specimen from Sowerby's Herbarium ; Appin, N. B.) ; Sweden ; Germany ; France ; Belgium ; Italy ; United States ; India.
Sporangia 1—1 '5 mm. diameter. Resembling an Agaric in miniature ; the stem is sometimes obsolete, and then the sporangia frequently coalesce in series of three or four. In the Indian form there is a very thin ochraceous inner pellicle without lime ; in every other respect it agrees with the typical state of the plant.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Diderma contortum, Hoffm., t. 9, f. 2a (1795). Reticularia contorta, Poir., Ericy., vi., 182. Reticularia hemispherica, Sow., t. 12 (1797). Physarum depression, Schum. Saell., No. 1439 (1803) ; Fl. Dan., t. 1972, f. 2.
206 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Didemna physarioides, Schum., Herb. Didemia depressum, Fr., S. M., iii., 108 (1829). Diderma lenticulare, Wallr., Herb. Didymium Michelii, Lib., Exs. ii., 180 (1832). Didymium hemisphericum, Berk., Engl. Fl., v., p. 312 (1836) ; Cke., Hdbk., No. 1119.
Chondrioderma globosum, Rost. k
Sporangia globose, seated on a broad or narrow base, Tiypoihallus strongly developed, chalk-iohite, containing much lime, outer wall thick, white, at length irregularly ruptured ; inner wall cine- reous, often iridescent ; columella white, small, globose or ellipsoid ; threads of capillitium bright violet, sometimes almost colourless, forming a dense net; spores lilac with tinge of brown, minutely warted, 8 — 10 /* diameter.
Chondrioderma globosum, Rost., Mon., p. 180, fig. 138; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 39, 40, fig. 138; Schroeter, p. 370; Sacc., Syll., n. 1278.
On leaves, twigs, &c. Britain (Norths) ; France ; Germany ; Belgium ; Italy ; U. States.
Sporangia often subangular from mutual pressure, f — 1 mm. diameter. Columella pure white.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Mucilago, 7, Mich., t. 96, f. 6 (1729).
Lycogala, Hall., n. 2143 (1763).
Reticularia sphaeroidalis, Bull., 446, f. 2 (1791).
Didavna gldbomm, Pers. Disp., t. 1, f. 4, 5 (1797) ; Eng. Fl.,
v., p. 312; Cke., Hdbk., 1114.
Didymium candidum, Schrad., Nov. Gen., 25 (1797). Didymium glolosum, Chev., Fl. Par., t. 9, f. 28 (1827). Physarum sphaeroidcs, Chev., Fl. Par., 339 (1827). Cionium globosum, Spr., iv., 529 (1827).
Chondrioderma niveum, Rost. (figs. 89 — 91). tiv<v Sporangia sessile, hemispherical, elliptical or irregular from
Chondriodei 'ma. 207
mutual pressure, snow-white, polished, dehiscing irregularly ; columella large, depressed, dirty ochraceous or brownish; capil- litium dense, threads 2 — 3 /x thick at the base, remaining for some distance simple, then bifurcating and anastomosing laterally, pale and lilac-brown ; spores globose, pale lilac, very minutely verruculose, many of the warts showing a tendency to become elongated into ridges, 10 — 12 /x thick.
Chondrioderma niveum, Host., Mon., p. 170; Cooke, Myx. Brit, p. 37; Sacc., Syll., 1259.
(Specimen named by Rostafinski in Hb. Berk.)
On leaves, grass, wood. Britain (Linlithgow).
Scattered or crowded, 2 — 2'5 mm. across.
Chondrioderma virgineum, Mass. (n. sp.) (figs. 216
Gregarioiis ; regular, hemispherical, sometimes slightly de- pressed, sessile on a broad base, wall at first polished, snow-white, the outer film falling away in patches, grey or pulverulent below ; columella snow-white, depressed, rugose, extending over the greater portion of base of sporangium ; capillitium forming a . dense net, threads very thin, colourless, combining at numerous points to form large, irregular, membranaceous expansions of a pale lilac colour ; spores globose, pale lilac, very minutely verru- culose, 8 — 11 /x diameter.
Chondrioderma Cookei, Mass., in Herb., Kew.
On leaves. Britain (Hampstead).
(Type in Herb., Kew. )
Densely gregarious, but not crowded, about '5 diameter. Agreeing with Chondrioderma .Friesianum, Host., in the struc- ture of the sporangial wall, but distinct in the capillitium and spores.
Chondrioderma dealbata, Mass, i ' sf c<
Sporangia scattered or crowded, subglobose, sessile on a broad base, sometimes seated on a white hypothallus, wall very smooth, white, fragile, dehiscing in a circumscissile manner ; columella subglobose, white, sometimes almost obsolete ; capillitium dense,
208 A Monograph of the Myxoyastres.
threads often forked at acute angles, anastomosing laterally, brownish-lilac, furnished here and there with thickenings ; spores dusky violet, globose, with prominent, elongated, flcxuous ridges, 8 — 11 p diameter.
" Didymium dealbatum, B. and C.," in Herb. Berk., n. 10756.
Chond.rioderma subdictyospermum, Host., Mon. Append., p. 16; Sacc., Syll., n. 1260.
On wood, amongst moss. Venezuela.
A very fine and distinct species, sporangium pure white, polished, about '5 mm. diameter. There appears to be no good reason why Berkeley's specific name, although only a manu- script one, should have been changed by Rostafinski. The description of the present species in Saccardo's Sylloge is meaningless.
(Rostafinski's Synonym.) Didymium dealbatum, B. msc.
Chondrioderma Friesianum, Rost.
Sporangia sessile, subhemispherical, wall very much charged with lime, snow-white, after the crust has fallen away, grey; columella distinct, lenticularly depressed, yellowish-gilvous or flesh-colour ; capillitium well-developed, colourless, threads com- bined to form a network ; spores pale violet, 8 /x diameter, smooth.
CJwndriodcrma JSi'icsianum, in Fuckel's Sym. Myc., 2, p. 74 ; Rost., Mon., p. 172; Sacc., Syll., no. 1260. On bark, stems, &c. Europe.
Distinguished from Chondrioderma globosum by its irregular form, by the inside of the sporangial wall subreticulate, and the almost umber spores.
•
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.) Diderma dijforme, Sommf., Fl. Lap., p. 217; non Pers; sed
Fr., S. M., iii., p. 106 (1825).
Chondrioderma Friesianum, Rost., in Fuckel's Symb. Myc., 2, Nach., p. 74.
Chondriodenna. 209
Chondrioderma albescens, Phil. -
Sporangia globose or slightly depressed, sessile on a broad lasc> outer wall crustaceous, white, polished, becoming irregularly ruptured above, inner wall very thin, ochraceous towards base of sporangium and where it passes over the columella, colour- less and very delicate above; columella well-developed, more or less globose, ochraceous ; mass of spores blackish-purple ; threads of capillitium "fuliginous or almost colourless, about 3 jut thick at the base, remaining for some distance simple, then branching at acute angles, towards the apices anastomosing freely to form a dense, irregular net ; spores globose, lilac-brown, minutely verruculose, 10 — 13 p diameter.
Chondrioderma albescens, Phil., in Herb.
JDidernia albescens, Phil, Grev., v., 5, p. 114, t. 87, f. 3,, a — f ; Sacc., SylL, 1291.
(Type in Herb. Phillips.)
On pine bark. California.
Gregarious, or towards the margin of the clusters, scattered, 1 — 1'5 mm. diameter. After dehiscence, when the spores are blown away, the bright ochraceous columella and base of sporangium are very conspicuous. The threads of the capil- litium are sometimes furnished with scattered swollen portions.
Chondrioderma simulans, Host. kileiwMfc <\U
Sporangia spherical, narrowed at the base, adnate to a well- developed, chalk-white hypothallus composed mostly of lime, outer wall crustaceous, chalk-ivhite, inner wall cinereous or variously bright- coloured ; columella generally very small, chalk- white, spherical or conical; threads of capillitium forming a dense net, with triangular protuberances at the nodes, brownish- violet; spores dingy violet, very spinulose, 12'5 /a diameter.
Chondrioderma simulans, Rost., Mon. Append., p. 20 ; Sacc., SylL, 1279.
Chondrioderma Saundersii, B. and Br. I Sporangia scattered, sessile on a broad base, very much
210 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
depressed, circular in outline, wall very thin, chalk-white, polished, breaking away in irregular patches; columella flattened, white, small, mass of spores blackish-purple ; threads of capil- litium equal, about 2 p. thick, frequently branching and com- bined laterally to form ct dense net; spores globose, smooth, dingy violet, 9 — 10 /u diameter.
Chondrioderma Saundersii, B. and Br., in Herb. (Type in Herb. Berk., no. 10744.)
On living fronds of ferns. Java.
Resembling superficially circular forms of Chondrioderma dif- formc,but, distinguished by the columella and dense capillitiuin. Sporangia 2 — 3 mm. diameter, outline circular, often waved ; a very thin powdery layer of minute granules of lime is frequently present on the mass of spores, which then appears dark grey.
Chondrioderma affine, Host. V\<WV™OL c
Sporangia small, densely crowded on a common hypothallus, irregularly angular, depressed, surface smooth, greyish-white; columella irregular, small, white, rarely very conspicuous; threads of capillitium thin, forming a net, dirty-violet, often furnished with fusiform subviolaceous protuberances; spores sub violaceous, densely aculeate, 10 — 14 /x diameter.
Chondrioderma affine, Host., Mon. App., p. 18; Sacc., Syll., 1271.
Poland ; Germany ; France.
Appears to be very closely allied to Didymium spumarioides of the present work (Chondrioderma spumarioides, Host.) ; differ- ing in the smooth surface of the sporangial wall, the dingy colour of the capillitium, and the larger, densely aculeate spores.
* * Sporangium coloured.
Chondrioderma testaceum, Rost. I
Sporangia gregarious or crowded, sessile on a broad base, hemispherical or elliptical, rather depressed, sometimes irregular from mutual pressure, outer wall smooth, from, brick-red to almost
Ckoiidrioderma . 'ill
colourless, dehiscing irregularly, inner wall violet- grey ; threads of capillitium slender, brownish-lilac or almost colourless, fre- quently bifurcating and anastomosing, sometimes flexuous; columella subglobose or depressed, reddish or almost colourless; rugose, spores globose, brownish-lilac, minutely verruculose, 9 — 11 |* diameter.
Ckondrioderma testaceum, Host., Mon., p. 179, figs. 135 — 136 ; Schroeter, p. 135; Sacc., Syll., n. 1274; Cooke, Myx. Brit., figs. 135, 136.
JSxsicc. — Fuckel, Fung. Rhen., 1467 ; Desm., Cr. Fr., Ser. I., 706 (as Diderma testaceum} ; Ellis and Everh., N. Amer. Fung., 2093.
On mosses, leaves, twigs, &c. Sweden ; Uermany ; Finland ; Hungary; United States.
Varying from *5 — 1 mm. diameter; the colour of the spor- angium bright brick-red, but it is sometimes much paler.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Eeticularia sphaeroidalis, Var. 2, Bull. Champ., p. 94, 1 446,
f. 2, D (1791).
Didymium testaceum, Schrad., p. 25, t. 5, f. 1, 2 (1897). Diderma testaceum, Pers. Syn., p. 167 (1801). Gionium testaceum, Spr. Syst., iv., p. 529.
Chondrioderma sublateritium, Rost. t
Densely gregarious, sessile on a broad base, but rarely deformed by crowding, circular in outline, depressed, umlilicate above, pale brick-red, polished ; inner wall lead-colour ; columella small, flattened, reddish, capillitium forming a flaccid network, threads thin, sometimes flexuous, with here and there small fusiform swellings without lime ; spores globose, pale lilac-brown, minutely verruculose, 9 — 11 /* diameter.
Chondrioderma sublateritium, B. and Br., Journ. Linn. Soc., vol. xiv., p. 82.
(Type in Herb. Berk., n. 10728.)
On leaves. Ceylon.
212 A Monograph of the Myxogastres,
Closely allied to Chondrioderma testaceum, if indeed it is more than a geographical variety. Sporangia flattened, umbilicate above, frequently dehiscing in a circumscissile manner.
_, . , , ,.. 0 ,
Chondrioderma mutaDile, Schroeter.
.
Sporangia sessile, deformed, hemispherico-depressed, or elongated and curved, reniform, semicircular, &c., 1 — 3 p long, 1 mm. broad, hard, fragile, bright, greyish-brown; columclla well de- veloped, same shape as the sporangium, bright rufous-brown; threads of capitulum thin, violet, here and there thickened in a nodulose manner; spores globose, 11 — 14 /x diameter, blackish- violet, mucronulate.
Chondriodcrma mutabile, Schroeter, Kr. Fl., p. 123; Sacc., Syll., 1273.
On rotten wood. Silesia.
Chondrioderma fallax. Host. .
Sporangia spherical, sessile, yellowish-white, seated in numbers, but not crowded, on a distinct common hi/pothallus ; columella either minute and flattened, or of medium size and ovate; threads fasciculate for some distance then branching copiously, obscure violet; spores obscure violet : warted, 12 — 14 /x diameter.
Chondi&derma fallax, Host., Mon., p. 171 ; Sacc., Syll., no. 1261.
Salzburg, Tyrol.
7)'. Columella absent.
Chondrioderma difforme, Rost. (figs. 35— 38).^*^
Sporangia sessile on a broad base, convex, circular or irregularly elongated, outer wall snow-white, rather thick, breaking away in patches, inner wall separated from the outer by a space containing air, thin, without lime, brownish-ochre, sometimes iridescent ; mass of spores blackish ; columella absent or repre- sented by a small accumulation of lime at base of sporangium, which is covered by the inner wall ; capillitium scanty, some- times almost obsolete, threads springing from base of sporangium,
Chondrioderma. 213
3 — 4 jut at base, slightly attenuated upwards, forked, pale brown or colourless; spores globose, smooth, dingy violet, 10 — 13 i*. diameter.
Chondrioderma difforme, Host., Mon., p. 177, figs. 137, 164, 165 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 39, figs. 137, 164, 165 ; Sacc., Syll., 1282; Raunk., 83.
Chondrioderma Cubense (B. and C.), Host., Mon. Append., .p. 19 ; Diderma Cubense, B. and C., Journ. Linn. Soc., v. x., p. 347.
Exsicc. — Lib., PL Crypt. Ard., Fasc. III., 276 (as Diderma liceoides) ; Fckl, Fung. Rhen., 2300 (as Diderma liceoides) ; Rabh., F. Eur., 1423 (as Didymium Libertianum, De Bary); Rab.-Wint., Fung. Eur., 3172; Roum., Fung. Gall., 1311 and 2956; Rab., Herb. Myc., 456; Roum., Fung. Gall, 243 (as Diderma cand^d^^m) ; Sydow, Myc. March., 1497 ; Desm., Cr. Fr., Ser. I., 370 (as Diderma difforme'); Fuckel, Fung. Rhen., 1464 (as Leocarpus calcareus, Link) ; Ellis, N. Amer. Fung., 1217; not typical, the spores smaller than in type, and the inner wall bright grey.
On twigs, leaves, &c. Britain (Elmsted, Kew, Northampton, Rudloe, Twy cross, Carlisle, Scarboro', Linlithgow, Appin, N. B.) ; France ; Germany ; Switzerland ; U. States ; India ; Australia.
Sporangia 1 — 2 mm. across when circular, hemispherical in section.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Eeticularia angulata, Pers. in Gmel., p. 1472 (1791). Diderma difforme, Pers. Disp., p. 9 (1797); Icon. Pict., t. 12,
f. 3—5 ; Nees, f. 105. Licea caesia, Schum. Saell., 1500 (1803). Physarum difforme, Link, Diss., i., 27 (1809). Amphisporium versicolor, Fr., Gast., 19 (1818). Licea alba, Nees, in Kze., Myk., Heft., ii., 66 (1823). Lyeogala minutum, Grev., S. C. Fl., t. 40 (1823). Reticu laria pusilla, Fr., Orb. Vet., i., 147 (1825). Diderma cyancscens, Fr., S. M., iii., 109 (1829); Eng. Fl., v.,
p. 312; Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1115.
214 A Monograph of the
Physarum caesium, Fr., S. M., iii., 147 (1829).
Physarum album, Fr., S. M., iii., 147 (1829); Letell., t. 710,
f. 4; Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1140.
Didymium difformc, Duby, Bot. Gall., ii., 858 (1830). Didcrma nitens, Klotzsch, in Hook. Herb.; Eng. Fl., v.,
p. 312; Cooke, Hdbk., 1113. Didcrma Neesii, Corda, Ic., ii., f. 58 (1838). Leocarpus cyanescens, Fr., S. V. S., 450 (1 849). LeocarpiM nitens, Fr., S. V. S., 450 (1849). Didcrma Libcrtianum, Fres., Beit., t. iv., f. 16 — 27 (1850). Didymium Libcrtianum, De Bary, Mycetozoa (1864).
TT, A Chondrioderma Berkeleyanum, Rost.
Sporangia slightly scutellate, snow-white, stipitate ; stem rigid, lay at the base, becoming paler upivards; threads of capillitium slender, anastomosing to form a net ; spores dingy violet, strongly warted, 10 — 11 p diameter.
Chondrioderma Berkeleyanum, Host., Mon. App., p. 16 ; Sacc., Syll., no. 1258.
Island of Tahiti.
There is no specimen in the Berkeleyan Herbarium answer- ing to the above description, and in the " Introduction to Cryptogamic Botany," p. 335, the spores are described and figured wrlh a reticulate epispore.
(Rostafinski's Synonym.)
Tricliamplwra pczizoides, Berk., Intr. Or. Bot., p. 335, non Junh.
Chondrioderma physarioides, Rost. (figs. 59 — 62).
Gregarious, sessile on a broad base, circular or irregularly elongate^, depressed, outer cretaceous wall polished, pure white or ivory Unted, inner wall dirty ochraceous, sometimes separated from the outer wall by a space containing air ; columella obsolete ; threads of capillitium equal, about 3 p. thick, colourless, some- times rough in parts with minute particles of lime, branching
Chondrioderma. 2 L 5
irregularly and forming a flaccid net; spores globose, dingy violet, minutely verruculose, 12 — 13 /* diameter.
Chondrioderma physarioides, Host, MOD., p. 170 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 37.
Chondrioderma deplanatum, Host., Mon. Append., p. 17 ; Sacc., Syll., 1264.
On rotten wood, leaves, &c. Britain (King's Cliffe, Black- heath, Carlisle) ; France ; Switzerland.
Sporangia 1 — 3 mm. when circular, from 3 — 5 mm. when elongated ; in the elongated form the sporangium is frequently folded on itself, and sometimes it takes two or three spiral turns, leaving a minute cavity in the centre. Distinguished from Chondrioderma difforme by the warted spores and large size of the sporangia, and from C. niveum by the absence of the columella. Sometimes the whole of the outer calcareous coat breaks away in a circumscissile manner close to the adnate base.
Chondrioderma cmstaceum, Berl.
Effused or circumambient, crowded, sessile, subglobose, smooth, white, outer peridium crustaceous, like the shell of some small egg, the inner delicate, appearing cinerous to the naked eye, iridescent under the microscope ; columella none ; spores globose, black, '0005 in. in diameter ( = about 13 /x).
Chondrioderma crustaceum, Berlose, in Sacc., Syll., no. 1290.
Diderma crustaceum, Peck, in 26th Report of State Mus., N. Y., p. 74.
On fallen sticks and leaves. Memphis ; United States.
Owing to absence of information respecting the capillitium and presence or absence of markings on the epispore, the position of the species is uncertain.
Chondrioderma liceoides, Host, t (Ut*tut*>ii \\*v
Plasmodium scarcely as thick as a needle, creeping or puhinate, wall highly charged with lime, white externally, inside reddish- brown ; inner wall contiguous to outer, delicate, violet ; capil- litium fairly abundant, threads simple, or once or twice diclwto-
216 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
mous near the apex, spores smooth, obscure violet, 11 — 12 /x diameter.
Chondrioderma liceoidcs, Host, Mon. Append., p. 17; Sacc, Syll., 1262.
On rotten gourd. Carolina.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Licca macrosperma, Sz., Am. Fung., no. 2317 (1834).
Ligynota nigra, Fr., Sm. Veg. Scan., p. 459 in notam. (1849).
•
Chondrioderma reticulatum, Rost. *•
Plasmodium sessile, vein-like, flattened, arcuate, combined into an irregular network, seated on a whitish, delicate, reticulated, spreading hypoffutttus; columella absent; threads of capillitium colourless, very thin, combined to foo-m a dense net ; spores smooth, obscure violet, 7 — 8 /u, diameter.
Chondrioderma reticulatum, Rost., Mon., p. 170.
On rotten branches of pine. Switzerland.
I have not seen the present species, but the description seems to suggest, that it may possibly be a plasmodiocarp form of C. Michelii.
•%
* Sporangium coloured.
Chondrioderma ochraceum, Schroeter. ^
Sporangia sessile, irregular, globose, reniform, semicircular, &c., 1 — 2 mm. long, 1 mm. across, densely gregarimts, outer wall ochraceous-brcrwn, falling away in irregular squamules; inner wall thin, colourless; columella absent; capillitium copious, threads 2 — 3 /u thick, violet, smooth, straight or flexuous, frequently anastomosing, and here and there forming a dense reticulation; spores globose, indistinctly punctulate, blackish- violet, 9 — 11 p diameter.
Chondrioderma ochraceum, Schroeter, Kr. Fl., 124 ; Sacc., Syll., v., 7, part, I., no. 1283.
On hepatics. Silesia.
Chondrioderma. 217
Chondrioderma Sauteri, Rost. h*lt
Sporangia sessile, irregularly ellipsoid, depressed, Hood-red, shining; inner wall whitish-brown, dull; columella absent, threads of the capillitium fasciculate but not forming a net; spores pale violet, verruculosc, 8 — 12 fj. diameter.
Chondrioderma Sauteri, Host., Mon., p. 181 ; Sacc., Syll., 1281.
Tyrol.
There is some difficulty in ascertaining the exact meaning of the colour of the sporangium as given by Rostafinski, who calls it " kawowo-mleczne." It is translated in Saccardo's Sylloge as " sanguineo-lacteis."
Chondrioderma vaccinum, Rost.
Sessile, adnate, orbicular, outer wall thick, adnate, inner very thin, evanescent; columella absent; threads of capillitium hyaline, delicate; spores pale brownish-violet, 10 — 11 fj. diameter, minutely warted.
Chondrioderma vaccinum, Rost., Mon., p. 180 ; Sacc., Syll., no. 1275.
Diderma vaccinum, Dur. et Mont., Fl. Alg., p. 407, t. 22 bis., f. 1 ; Mont., Syll., n. 1071.
(Type in Herb. Mus., Paris.)
On fallen branches of Opuntia. Algeria.
Externally bearing a close resemblance to Chondrioderma testaceum, but easily recognized by the absence of a columella ; Chondrioderma sublateritium is separated from the present species in having the upper surface of the sporangium broadly um- bilicate, and in the presence of a columella.
Chondrioderma simplex, Schroeter. thic
Sporangia sphaeroid, slightly flattened, scattered, simple, rigid, fragile, bright chestnut ; columella absent ; tubes of capil- litium radiating, repeatedly dichotomous, violet ; spores smooth, bright violet, 7 — 9 n diameter.
Schroeter, Kr. Fl. Schles. Pilze, p. 123; Sacc., Syll., 1272.
On dead trunks. Silesia.
218 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Chondriodenna calcareum, Rost. ^'
cowvaT\;\*i \-»i
Sporangia sessile and variable in form, ovate, elongated and curved, &c., convexo-depressed, glaucous and hyaline when moist, opaque and reddish or pale when dry, very fragile, at length rupturing irregularly, leaving a brown impression of the base after falling away; spores 9 — 11 p. diameter, mixed with a few black threads.
Chondrioderma calcareum, Host., in Fckl. S. Myc., 2 Nch., p. 74; Rost, Mon., p. 179; Sacc., Syll., 1280; Schroeter, p. 124.
On diy stems. Germany.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Leocarpus calcareus, Link, Diss. I., 1. c., p. 23 (1809). Diderma liceoides, FT., 1. c., in., p. 107 (1829). Diderma clialyleum, Wein., 1. c., p. 592 (1836). Diderma deplanatum, Fckl., S. M., p. 341 ; Non. Fr. (1869). Chondrioderma calcareum, (Lk.) in Fckl., S. M., ii., Nch., p. 74 (1873).
Chondrioderma Stahlii, Rost>
SporSngia spherical, slightly flattened below, either dull whitish-brown or shining and dingy brown ; dehiscing by a central pore, a long slit, or irregularly; stem brown, shining; columella absent ; threads of capillitium either simple or more or less repeatedly bifurcate above, net combining to form a network ; spores pale violet, minutely verruculosc, 9 fx diameter.
Chondrioderma Stahlii, Rost., Mon., p. 185, f. 168; Cooke, Brit. Myx., fig. 168; Sacc., Syll., 1287.
Germany.
DIDYMIUM, Schrad. (in part).
Sporangia stipitate or sessile, wall single or double, surface covered with lime, either in the form of a pulverulent stratum of amorphous particles or crystals, or compacted into a granular (but not porcelain-like) crust; columella present or absent;
Didymium. 219
capillitium usually well-developed, threads thin, without lime, coloured or colourless, either radiating from the columella or base of sporangium as simple or furcate threads, which usually combine laterally towards the apex, or combine throughout their length to form a dense, irregular network, with the angles more or less triangular and flattened. Spores lilac or violet- brown.
Didymium, Schrad., Nov. pi. gen., p. 20. Host, Mon., p. 160 (in part) ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 30 (in part) ; Sacc., Syll., v., 7, pt. I., p. 376 (in part) ; Zopf, p. 150.
The leading idea of the genus as defined above is, the wall of the sporangium with lime outside, the thin threads of the capillitium not containing lime, either radiating, subsimple or bifurcating, or anastomosing irregularly throughout their length and forming a net as in the subgenus Hcmididymium, the species of which are distinguished from those of Tilmadoche by the absence of well-defined, small, usually fusiform knots containing granules of lime. Thickenings are not uncommon in the capillitium of various species of Didymium, but lime is never present.
Distrib. Temperate and tropical regions. Species 50.
Sub-Gen. Didymium.
Threads of capillitium almost simple, or bifurcating at acute angles, here and there connected laterally, but not forming a uniform net throughout the capillitium.
A. Sporangium stipitate. (Sessile forms occur in D. squamulosum and D. farinaceum.)
* Spores warted.
Didymium farinaceum, Schrad. (figs. 29—35). t meWo^ww1
Sporangium hemispherical, usually a little depressed, more or less umbilicate below, at first white with a continuous crust of lime, which soon becomes broken up into white glistening granules scattered on the inner dark, wrinkled wall ; stem
220 A Monograph of the frfyxogastres.
variable in length, "blackish or rufous, wrinkled longitudinally, equal or slightly attenuated upwards, expanding at the base into a rudimentary hypothallus; columella hemispherical or depressed, covered with the .inner dark Irown wrinkled skin; lacunose, the cavities filled with amorphous masses of lime; capillitium copious, threads springing from the columella, 2 — 3 p thick, almost equal, dividing in a dichotomous manner, and becoming attached to the inner wall of the sporangium, the branches often connected laterally, and often more or less studded with very minute granules of lime, varying from colour- less, through pale brown to dingy violet ; spores globose, dirty brownish-purple, minutely warted, 10 — 13 /u diameter.
a. genuinum. Stem blackish or brown, as long or longer than the height of the sporangium.
/3. subsessile. Stem short, almost or altogether concealed in the umbilicus of the sporangium. Sporangia solitary or more or less confluent.
y. nigrum. An abnormal form without lime, hence the sporangium from the first blackish. Stem short.
Didymium farinaceiim, Host., Mon., p. 154, figs. 128, 171, 174; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 31, figs. 128, 171, 174; Sacc., Syll., 1039 ; Schroeter, p. 121 ; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 89.
Didymium lobatum, Fr. (specimen named by Fries, in Herb. Berk., n. 10753).
E'xsicc. — Jack, Leiner u. Sitzenb., 424; Cooke, Fung. Brit., Ed. II., 521; Fuckel, Fung. Rhen., 1461; Klotzsch., (Rab.) Herb. Myc., 138; Rab., Fung. Eur., 369.
On wood, bark, leaves, living moss, &c.
Britain (Chislehurst, Kew, Carlisle, Scarboro', Durham, Lin- lithgow, Appin) ; Sweden ; Germany ; Bavaria ; France ; United States; S. W. Australia; Bonin Islands.
Sporangia *5 — 1 mm. across, sometimes lobed, a character which gave origin to the spurious species D. lobatum; some- times two or several sporangia coalesce, the stems remaining distinct. The stem varies considerably in length, even in the same group, thus showing the small amount of value to be attached to Rostafinski's forms; in some specimens the stem
Didymium. 221
is three times as long as the height of the sporangium, in others so short as not to project beyond the umbilicus or depression at the base of the sporangium. The threads of the capillitium are often flexuous. The columella is at first dusky owing to being covered with the dark inner skin of the spor- angium, but in old plants this pellicle frequently disappears, leaving a white mass of lime, hence the columella appears white.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Sphaerocephalus niger, Hall, t. 1, f. 2 (1742).
Trickia, Hall, No. 2160, t. 48, f. 2 (1768). '
Mucor sphaerocephalus, Batsch., p. 157 (1783).
Clafhrus sphaerocephalus, Rehl..(1786).
Trichia glolosa, Vill., Fl. Dauph., 1061 (1789).
Eeticularia hemispherica, Bull., t. 446, f. 1 (1791).
Trichia compressa, Trent, p. 229 (1797).
Trichia sphaerica, Trent, p. 230 (1797).
Trichia depressa, Trent, p. 231 (1797).
Physarum melanospermum, Pers. Disp., p. 8 (1797).
Didymium farinaceum, Schrad., t. 3, f. 6 (1797) ; Engl. Flor.,
v., 313; Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1123; Fung. Brit., Ed. II., 521. Trichia sphaerocephala, Sow., t. 240 (1799). Trichia farinacea, Poir., Encycl., viii., 53. Physarum farinaceum, Pers. Syn., 174 (1801). Physarum cinerascens, Schum. Saell., 1426 (1803). Physarum depressum, Schum. Saell., 1439 (1803). Physarum globosum, Schum. Saell., 1442 (1803). Physarum oxyacantJiae, Schum. Saell., 1427 (1803). Physarum cinereum, multis ? Physarum clavus, Link, Diss., i., 27 (1809). Physarum sinuosum, Link, Diss., i., 27 (1809). Physarum capitatum, Link, Diss., i., 27 (1809). Diderma muscicola, Link, Diss., i., 27 (1809). Didymium capitatum, Link, Diss., iii., 27 (1816). Didymium lobatum, Nees, f. 104 (1817); Cooke, Hdbk., No.
1129.
222 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Didymium physarioides, Klotzsch.
Strongylium minor, Fr., Cast., p. 9 (1817).
Physarum melanopus, Fr., Gast., p. 23 (1817).
Conium lobatum, Spr., Syst., iv., 529 (1827).
Didymium marginatum, Fr., S. M., iii., 116 (1829).
Didymium melanopus, Fr., S. M., iii., 114 (1829); Berk., Ann.
N. H., No. 382; Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1118. Didymium hemispheric/urn, Fr., S. M., iii., 115 (1829). Physarum nigrum, Fr., S. M., iii., 146 (1829); B. and Br.,
N. H., No. 1598; Grevillea, v., p. 12. Cionium farinaccum, Link, Hdbk., iii., 416' (1833). Didymium filamentosum, Wallr., 2187 (1833).
Didymium affine, Raunk. ^vMnv*1
Sporangia spherical-hemispherical, stipitate. Stein thin, of equal length or longer than the sporangium, expanded into a circular hypothallus at the base, bright brown. Wall grey, without lime, under the microscope colourless. Columella glo- bose-semiglobose, with the colour of the stem or brighter. ThreaTfe of the capillitium nearly hyaline, expanded into numer- ous shortly fusiform, brownish-violet swellings. Spores smooth or delicately warted, 8 — 9 /i diameter.
Didymium affine, Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 109 (in English), Tab. 5, figs. 3, 4.
On germinating seeds in laboratory.
Copenhagen.
An unusual Didymium certainly in the wall being without lime. Possibly abnormal.
Didymium Fuckelianum. Rost.
Sporangia hemispherical, umbilicate below, stipitate, stem whitish with gilvous or brownish shades, strongly plicate longi- tudinally, lime on the wall in the form of stellate crystals, after removal of the lime the wall is covered with unsymmetrical brown or violet spots separated by colourless veins; stem entering the sporangium as a distinct clavatc or applanatc brownish columella,
Didymium. 223
not at all adherent to lower part of the sporangial wall, surface covered with protuberances which give origin to the threads of the capillitium, threads violet, with numerous irregular pro- tuberances; spores lilac, delicately warted, 9 — 11 p. diameter.
Didymium Fuckelianum, Rost., Mon., p. 161, f. 134; Cooke, Myx. Brit., f. 134; Sacc., Syll.,No. 1307.
On twigs and pine leaves. Germany.
•(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Didymium styuamulosum, Fckl., Symb. Myc., p. 341, non A.
et. Sz. (1569). Didymium Fuckelianum, Rost., Fckl., S. M., 2, Nach., p. 73
(1873).
Didymium praecox, De Bary. ^. id \)(tVYW \o*\)m ^t
Sporangia irregularly hemispherical, wall double, the outer white, strongly rugulose, after maturity breaking away in small colourless patches, covered with minute stellate crystals; inner wall greyish lead-colour, rigid, with small irregular granules of lime, yellowish flesh-colour after removal of the lime ; stem generally short, yellowish Jlesh-colour, with delicate oblong striations, passing into the peridium as an irregularly spherical, often applanate yellowish flesh-coloured prolongation ; threads of capillitium very delicate, solid, colourless, or some violet with many irregularly spherical protuberances below the acute angles of the bifurcations, combined constantly by the branches and transverse threads to form a network ; spores subviolet, mem- brane very rigid, with a few scattered short spines, 8 — 9 /u, diameter.
Didymium praecox, De Bary, in Rab., Fung. Eur., n. 367; Rost., Mon, p. 163; Sacc., Syll., 1306.
Germany.
Didymium squamulosum, Fr. (figs. 46 — 52).
Sporangia subglobose, slightly flattened below, and more or less umbilicate, stipitate or sessile, coat of lime at first consist- ing of a continuous white crust of minute granules, which soon
224 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
becomes broken up into large, irregular, persistent patches ; mass of spores brownish-black; stem white, equal in length to spo- rangium or much shorter, slightly rugulose ; columclla white or dirty ochraceous, large, subglobose ; threads of capillitium pale or colourless, about equal throughout their length, 2 — 3 f* thick, branching at acute angles and connected laterally, forming a net, sometimes flexuous ; spores globose, dingy violet, minutely verrucose, 8 — 11 /x diameter.
Didymium hypnophilum, Mass., Journ. R. Micr. Soc., v., 5. p. 7571
Didymium ncglectum, Berk., Linn. Soc. Journ., v., 14, p. 83 ; Sacc., 1325.
a. genuinum. Sporangia stipitate, stem elongated or short, and almost lost in the umbilicus of the sporangium.
/3. scssilis. Sporangia sessile, distinct, or sometimes several confluent, when the columella becomes elongated.
Didymium squamulosum, var. genuinum, Host., Mon., p. 159, f. 148; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 33, f. 148; Schroeter, p. 122; Raunk., p. 88 ; Sacc., Syll., 1301.
Exq&.— Syd., Myc. March., 1387, 1388; Cke., Fung. Brit., Ed. II, 613; Rab., Fung. Eur., 813; Rab.-Wint., Fung. Eur., 2969; Roum., Fung. Gall., 1212; Fuckel, Fung. Rhen., 2497; Syd., Myc. March., 396 (as Didymium farinaceuni) ; and 492 (as Didymium lierbarum, Fr.) ; Ellis, N. Amer. Fung., 1216 ; Roum., Fung. Gall., 1684 (as Didymium farinaceum) ; Klotzsch (Rab.), Herb. Myc., 455 (as Didymium hemisphericum).
On rotten wood, leaves, moss, &c.
About 1 mm. high, distinguished by the calcareous crust of the sporangium becoming broken up into large irregular patches, separated from each other by the blackish inner layer and the pale columella. Most closely allied to Didymium virgineum. For distinctive characters see under the latter.
Britain (Kew, Wothorpe, King's Cliffe, Norwich, Scarboro', Carlisle, Glamis, Appin, N. B.); France; Italy; Germany; Switzerland; Belgium; U. States; Cuba; Ceylon; Australia; Tasmania; New Zealand.
Didymium. 225
Far. costatum, Mass.
Sporangia covered uniformly with minute particles of lime, not becoming broken up into large, distinct patches; stem white, variable in length, expanding at the base into a small hypo- thallus with prominent radiating ridges. Stem sometimes very short, sunk in the umbilicus or entirely absent.
Didymium squamulosum, ft. leucopus, y. costatum, Host., Mon., p. 159 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 33 ; Sacc., Syll, no. 1301.
JExsicc. — Rab., Fung. Eur., 367 (as Didymium praecox, De Bary) ; Fuckel, Fung. Rhen., 2690 (as Didymium squamulosum y. costatum} ; Rab.-Wint., Fung. Eur., 2675 (as Didymium Nea- politanum, Ces.).
On leaves, wood, &c.
Distinguished from the type by the white crust of the pileus not becoming broken up into patches, and by the markedly costate hypothallus. Somewhat resembling Didymium depres- sum, Fr., which however is readily distinguished by the much larger and more coarsely warted spores.
Britain (Epping Forest, Chiselhurst, Kew, Carlisle) ; France ; Germany; Austria.
(Rostafmski's Synonyms.)
Eeticularia hemispherica, Bull., p. 93 (1791). Diderma sguamulosum, A. and S., t. 4, f. 5 (1805). Didymium globosum, v. stipitatum, Schwarz., Ac. Holm., p.
114 (1815).
Licca stipitata, D. C., Fl. Fr.;No. 670 (1815). Tubulina pedicellata, Poir., Ency., v., p. 373. Cionium farinaceum, Spr., Syst., iv., 528 (1827). Didymium herbarum, Fr., S. M., iii., 120 (1829). Didymium leitcopus, Fr., S. M., iii., 121 (1829); Cooke, Hdbk.,
No. 1127.
Didymium costatum, Fr., S. M., iii., 118 (1829). Didymium liceoides, Duby, Bot. Gall., ii., 864 (1830). Didymium Jilamcntosum, Wallr., Fl. Germ., No. 2187 (1833).
226 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Didymium squamulosum, Fr., S. M., iii., 118 ; Eng. Fl., v.,
312; Cke., Hdbk., No. 1122.
Didymium neglectum, B. and Br., Ceylon Fungi, No. 747. Didymium australe, Berk., Hdbk., Flor. Nov. Zealand, p. 191.
Var. virgineum, Mass.
Scattered, or in clusters of two or three ; sporangia subglobose, flattened and slightly umbilicate below, external crust of lime pure white, rugulose and crumpled but continuous ; stem white, stout, equal to sporangium or shorter, expanding at the base into a small wrinkled hypothallus; mass of capillitium and spores blackish; columella subglobose or hemispherical, white or ycllmvish, rugulose; threads of capillitium copious, radiating from the columella to the wall of the sporangium, 3 — 4 p. thick at the base, a little thinner upwards, often flexuous, sparingly branching at an acute angle, and sometimes connected laterally, with scattered, small, elliptical swellings, pale dingy violet or brownish, sometimes almost colourless ; spores globose, epispore rather thick, brownish -violet, minutely verruculose, 10 — 13 JA diameter.
On leaves, wood, &c.
Britain (Scarborough, Carlisle, Epping Forest) ; Italy. (Type in Herb., Kew.)
Sporangia 1 — ] '5 mm. diameter. The outer coat of lime is very much crumpled, with prominent irregular ridges, but does not become broken up into detached particles as is usual in the genus Didymium.
Didymium microcarpon, Rost. (figs. 44, 45). b.ni<|r<fes
Sporangia globose, at first with an external continuous white crust of lime, which soon becomes broken up into minute glistening particles, resting on the inner dark membrane, more or less umbilicate below, stem slander, slightly attenuated upwards, blackish or rufous, longitudinally rugulose, expanding at the base into a small subcircular hypothallus, straight or slightly curved above, generally about twice the length of the sporangium ;
Didymium. 227
columella small, spherical, pale ochraccous, internally traversed by irregular strands giving it a cellular appearance, cavities containing crystals of lime; capillitium radiating from the columella to the wall of the sporangium, threads about equal, 2 — 3 p. thick, repeatedly forked and joining laterally, sometimes flexuous and rough in parts with minute granules of lime, varying from colourless, through pale brown to dirty violet; spores globose, very minutely vcrrnculose, brownish-purple, 5 — 7 /x diameter.
a. nigripes. Stem blackish.
/3. rufipes. Stem rufous or yellowish.
Didymium microcarpon, Host., Mon., p. 157, f. 133, 177 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 32, f. 133, 177 ; Sacc., Syll., 1316 ; Eaunk., p. 87.
Exsicc. — Ellis, N. Amer. Fung,, 1393 (as Didymium micro- carpon, Fr.), var. nigripes; Ellis, N. Amer. Fung., 412 (as Didymium xanthopus},
On twigs, leaves, living mosses, &c.
Plants 2'5 — 3 mm. high, lumps of lime on the sporangium in the form of stellate crystals; umbilicus at base of spor- angium sometimes very slight; columella small but rather prominent; the capillitium varies considerably, sometimes copious, anastomosing, various, inclined to be rough here and there with minute granules of lime, or even nodulose ; at other times scanty, colourless, and threads very thin. So far as I have had an opportunity of ascertaining, the pale-stemmed form is confined to living mosses.
Britain (Kew, King's Cliffe, Carlisle, Shere, Forden, Edin- boro', Glamis, N. B.); Sweden; Denmark; France; United States; Ceylon.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Lycoperdon stipitatum, Retz., Vet. de Handl. (1769). Trichia hemispherica, Trent., p. 228 (1797). Physarum nigripes, Lk., Diss., 1, 27 (1809) ; Ditm., t. 42. Trichia alba, Purt., Midi. Fl., iii., 1113 (1817). Cionium xanthopus, Ditm., t. 43 (1817); Nees, f. 106. Physarum microcarpon, Fr., Gast., p. 23 (1818).
228 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Didymium lobatum, /3. stipitatum, Somm., Fl. Lapp., 210
(1825). Didymium nigripes, Fr., S. M., iii., 119 (1829) ; Eng. Fl., v.,
313; Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1124. Didymium xanthopus, Fr., S. M., iii., 120 (1829); Berk., Ann.
N. H., iii. ; Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1126. Didymium iridis, Fr., S. M., iii., 120 (1829). Didymium microcephalum, Chev., Byss., f. 11 (1837). Didymium melanopus, Wallr., Fl. Germ., 2184 (1837). Didymium Wallrothii, Rabh., Fl. Or., 2289 (1844). Didymium porphyropus, D. R. and M., Fl. Alg., 409 (1846). Didymium megalosporum, B. and C., Grev., No. 318.
Didymium macrospermum, Rost. I, .tq\»awM»\Oiv«>
Sporangia spherical or hemispherical, very much flattened vertically, umbilicate below, grey, stipitate, membrane of spor- angium colourless or pale brownish; stem generally longer than peridium, dilated at the base into a distinct discoid hypothallus, attenuated above, strongly plicate longitudinally, srwi'Mvhite or yellmoish-white ; columella versiform, discoid, &c., threads of capillitium simple, rarely branching, at acute angles, colourless or pale brown ; spores subviolaceous, strongly aculeate, 12 — 13 jx diameter.
Didymium macrospermum, Rost., Mon., p. 166; Schroeter, p. 122; Sacc., Syll, n. 1304.
On trunks. Germany.
Gregarious; stem three or more times longer than the sporangium, thinner above, much wrinkled, ridges membran- aceous, pellucid, peridium thin, sometimes dehiscing by be- coming ruptured at the base, and almost, all disappearing; at other times torn into shreds which persist. Appears to be allied to Didymium squamulosum, var. costatum, and distin- guished by the flattened sporangium, long stem, and larger' spores.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.) (?) Trichia alata, Trent., 1. c., p. 228 (1797).
Didymium. 229
(?) Physarum alatum, Fr., 1. c., iii., p. 132 (1829). Didymium costatum, Fckl., Sym. Myc. I., Nach., p. 339.
Didymium discoideum, Rost.
Sporangia discoid, almost sessile, umbilicate, inferior part of wall violet, superior spotted, with irregular pellucid veins, breaking away after maturity in small patches ; stem from its shortness scarcely apparent, hid in the umbilicus, dilated at the base into a circular hypothallus ; columella discoid or hemi- spherical, like the stem yellowish flesh-colour ; threads of capil- litium flexuous, rarely forking, bay, tips colourless; spores strongly warted, blackish-violet, 11 — 13 /u, diameter.
Didymium discoideum, Rost., Mon., p. 162; Sacc., Syll., no. 1305.
Germany.
* * Spores smooth.
Didymium radiatum, B. and C. (figs. 68 — 72). ti.
Scattered, sporangia vertically compressed, not umbilicate, but sometimes slightly depressed below, dark grey, with crowded, small, white, innate patches of lime, dehiscing irregularly ; stem longer than height of sporangium, slightly attenuated upwards, white or pale grey, expanding into a small, circular hypothallus, longitudinally costate, the ribs passing in a radiate manner into the hypothallus; columella brownish, much com- pressed ; capillitium abundant, radiating from the columella to the wall of the sporangium, threads thin, brownish-lilac, some- times forked; spores globose, lilac, smooth, 8 — 10 jot diameter.
Didymium radiatum, B. and C., Journ. Linn, Soc., vol. x, p. 348 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1328.
(Type in Herb. Berk., Kew, no. 10765.)
Didymium commutabile, B. and Br., Journ. Linn. Soc., v. xiv., p. 83; Sacc., Syll., n. 1300; Rost., App., p. 21.
(Type in Herb. Berk, n. 10766.) .
Didymium lotryoides, Berk, in Herb.
/. gcnuinum. Simple, scattered ; stem usually longer than sporangium.
230 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
f. fasciculatum. Three to five sporangia confluent, supported on a common stem.
On wood, leaves, moss, &c. Cuba ; N. Zealand ; Ceylon.
Remarkable for the circular, sharply limited hypothallus with prominent, regularly radiating ribs, resembling the hy- menium of a small agaric. Resembling superficially some forms of Didymium squamulosum, var. costatum.
Didymium clavus, Rost. (figs. 53, 54).
Sporangia very much depressed, slightly convex above, plane below, lime sprinkled in fine crystals on the surface of the dark membrane ; stem short, blackish-brown, more or less longitudinally rugulose ; columclla absent ; mass of spores blackish ; threads of capillitium 3 — 4 /* thick at base, slightly tapering, sparingly forked at acute angles, and sometimes laterally connected and furnished with small ring-like dark-coloured thickenings, pale brown to dirty violet ; spores globose, smooth, dingy lilac, 6 — 8 fx diameter.
Diftymium clavus, Rost., Hon., p. 153; Cpoke, Hdbk., p. 30; Raunk., p. 87 ; Schroeter, p. 121 ; Sacc., Syll., 1299.
On twigs, leaves, &c. Britain (Wey bridge, Kew, Orton Wood, Leicester; Epping Forest, Forden, Linlithgow); France; Bel- gium ; Germany ; United States ; Canada ; Egypt ; Ceylon.
Sporangia scattered, 1 — 1*5 mm. across when circular, some- times irregular and larger. Remarkable for the much flattened, pileus-shaped sporangia.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Reticularia hcmispheriea, Bull., t. 446, f. 2 (1791). Physarum davws, A. and S., t. 2, f. 2 (1805). Didymium mclanopus, ft. clamis, Fr., S. M., iii., 114 (1829); B. and Br., Ann. N. H, No. 110 ; Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1118, /3. Didymium hemispJiericum, Wallr., Fl. Germ., 2192 (1833). Didymium claims, Rabh., Fl. Crypt., 2282 (1844). Didymium clavus, Berk., Eng. FL, v., p. 314.
Didymium. 231
Didymium neglectum, Mass. (nov. sp.) ; (fig. 207). '
Sporangia globose or slightly depressed, flattened or some- times slightly umbilicate below, stipitate ; wall single, at first with a continuous, rugose, white crust of lime, which at maturity becomes broken up into minute, persistent particles; stem equal to or longer than height of sporangium, erect, slightly attenuated upwards, black, longitudinally wrinkled, expanding at the base into a small hypothallus; columella circular in outline, much depressed, placentiform, with a distinct margin, covering the base of the sporangium, ruguloee, pale brownish- lilac, capillitium dense, threads radiating from the columella, lilac-brown, becoming colourless towards the tips, bifurcating, now and then anasmosing laterally; spores globose, smooth, 1 — 9 //. diameter.
On wood. Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, U. S.
Solitary or in scattered clusters of 2 — 6 specimens, about
1 mm. high; superficially resembling Didymium farinaceum, but quite distinct in the smooth spores, which only show vague indications of roughness when magnified 1200 diameters. The columella is very characteristic, being broad and flattened with a distinct margin ; at maturity the sporangium falls away except a minute frill round the lower edge of the columella, which, with the stem, in this condition resembles a little table. The original specimens were found mixed with specimens of Tilmadochc oblonga, communicated by Mr. Harold Wingate, of Philadelphia.
Didymium Barter!, Mass. (n. sp.). V
Gregarious ; sporangia spherico-depressed, slightly umbilicate below, stipitate, cretaceo^(,s layer pure white, rugulose, for a long time persistent, then breaking away in small granules; stem elongated, slender, attenuated upwards, pure white, strongly wrinkled longitudinally ; columella small, globose, white ; mass of spores blackish-purple; capillitium copious, threads about
2 i*. thick, equal, sometimes flexuous, forked at an acute angle
232 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
and combined laterally to form a flaccid, irregular net ; spores globose, smooth, pale dingy lilac, 10 — 11 JJL diameter. (Type in Herb., Kew.)
On moss. W. Africa (Niger Expedition, Barter).
A very beautiful and distinct species, known at once by the snow-white sporangium, stem, and columella, and the smooth spores. Plant 3 mm. high; stem 2'5 mm. high, sporangium '5 mm. high, a little more in diameter.
B. Sporangium sessile.
(In D. spumarioides and D. physarioides, a very short stem is sometimes present.)
Didymium Alexandrowiczii, De Bary and Rost.
Sporangia sessile, deformed, not truncate, several often collected in little clusters, rugulose, granulose; columella absent; threads brownish, colourless at both ends, simple or bifurcating and laterally connected ; spores smooth, obscure violet, 10 — 12 /u, diameter.
Didymium Chondrodcrma, De Bary and Rost., in Alex. Stroz., p. 89.
Chondrioderma Alexandrowiczii, Rost., Mon., p. 169, f. 176 ; Sacc., Syll., 1253; Cooke, Myx. Brit., f. 176.
On wood Britain (Kew) ; Poland.
Didymium spumarioides, Fr. I x
Sporangia substipitate or sessile, scattered or densely crowded on a well-developed, white or pale flesh-coloured hypothallus con- taining much lime ; wall of sporangium white or grey, crust of lime pulverulent; columella variable, smooth or irregularly rugulose, white or pale flesh-colour, sometimes almost obsolete ; threads of capillitium about equal, 1*5 — 2 p. thick, repeatedly bifurcating and connected laterally to form a net, colourless or dingy lilac, spores globose, minutely ivarted, 9 — 12 /x diameter.
Didymium spumarioides, Fr., Symb. Gast., 20.
Chondrioderma spumanoides, Rost., Mon., p. 173, f. 142 — 145,
Didymium. 233
151 ; Cooke, Myx., p. 38, f. 142—145, 151 ; Schroeter, p. 123 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1269.
Chondrioderma stromateum, Rost., Mon. Append., p. 18, f. 151.
Diderma farinaceum, Peck, 26th Report State Mus., N. Y., p. 74.
Exsicc. — Fckl., F. Rhen., 2495 (as Carcerina spumarioides, Fr.) ; Rab., F. Eur., 432 (as Carcerina spumarioides, Fr.) ; Cke., F. Brit, Ed. II., 825 ; Roum., Fung. Gall, 1682.
On living or dead leaves, moss, &c.
Britain (Highgate, Shere, Scarboro') ; France ; Germany ; Sweden ; Belgium ; Italy ; United States ; Australia.
The present species was placed by Rostafinski in the genus Chondrioderma, from which it differs, according ta our inter- pretation of the genus, in the pulverulent, instead of porcelain- like coat of lime. Very variable in colour and size of the columella, but well marked by the highly-developed hypo- thallus, which sometimes becomes so thick as to suggest the idea of a stroma. Sporangia from *5 — 1'5 mm. diam., circular or irregularly angular from mutual pressure, sometimes the stroma, when very thick, forms a short stem-like projection; the colour of the stroma and columella varies from chalk-white through pale tints to pale flesh-colour.
(Rostafmski's Synonyms.)
Spumaria physarioides, Pers. Syn., 163 (1801).
Physarum didermoides, Fries, Herb.
Spumaria alba, Schum. Saell., No. 1414 (1803); Fl. Dan.,
t. 1798, f. 2.
Didymium spumarioides, Fr., Symb. Gast., 20 (1818). Physarum stromatium, Link, Hdbk., iii., 409 (1833). Carcerina spumarioides, Fr., S. V. S., 451 (1849). Diderma spumarioides, Fr., S. M., iii., p. 104 ; Eng. FL, vol. v.,
p. 311; Cke., Hdbk., No. 1109.
Didymium physarioides, Rost. '*yn» *
Sporangia cylindric-oblong, often crowded arid deformed, seated on a well-developed hypothallus, sessile or with a short
234 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
stem, wall dark grey, at first with granules of lime ; columella irregular, more or less confluent and common to all the sporangia ; threads of capillitium 2 — 3 \J. thick at base, with but few bifurcations, with numerous fusiform or discoid dingy purple thickenings, spores globose, brownish purple, ivartcd, 12 — 14 /* diameter.
Didymium physarioides, Host, Mon., p. 158, fig. 147 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit, p. 33, f. 147 ; Sacc., Syll., no. 1311. •
On nioss and wood. Britain (King's Cliffe, Carlisle); Ger- many ; Sweden ; United States ; Cape of Good Hope.
Often superficially resembling Physarum didermoidcs.
Didymium serpula, Fr. (figs. 55—57)1-
Sporangia sessile on a broad base, much adpressed, circular in outline, or variously elongated and flexuous, and sometimes the branches combine to form an irregular network, wall dark grey, sparingly sprinkled with minute white particles of lime ; columella absenj^ mass of spores blackish ; threads of capillitium branched and connected laterally, forming an irregular network, dirty brown to colourless, plentifully furnished with dark- coloured, ring-like, or irregularly-shaped thickenings; spores globose, very minutely verruculose, 7—9 p diameter.
Didymium serpula, Rost., Mon. Append. ; Cooke, Hdbk., 30, figs. 166, 180; Schroeter, p. 121 ; Sacc., Syll., no. 1297.
Didymium complanatum, Rost., Mon., p. 151, figs. 166, 180.
On leaves, &c. Sporangia when circular "5 — 1 mm. diameter ; when elongated often several mm. in length. Sometimes the lime on the sporangium is more abundant, forming a white crust ; but the species cannot be mistaken if attention is paid to the much flattened sporangia, the well-developed capitulum having the threads furnished with numerous, variously-shaped, dark brown thickenings, and the very minutely verruculose spores.
Britain (Kew, Batheaston, Scarboro', Carlisle); all Europe; United States.
Didymium. 235
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Lycoperdon complanatum, Batsch, t. 170 (1786).
Didymium serpula, FT., S. M., in., 126 (1829); Eng. Fl., v.,
314 ; B. and Br., Ann. N. H., No. 1035 ; Cke., Hdbk.,
n. 1134. Physarum confluens, Fckl., Symb. Myc., p. 342 (1869), non
Pers.
Didymium confluens, Rost. tj.savav*
Sporangia sessile, sometimes scattered and then hemispherical, at others densely crowded on a well-developed hypothallus, hemispherical reniform, or irregularly angular from mutual pressure ; columella distinct, yellowish, or with a pink tinge ; threads of capillitium very slender, forked at acute angles, pale brownish-lilac ; spores globose, rather coarsely warted, dingy purple-brown, 10 — 15 ju diameter.
Didymium confluens, Rost., Mon., p. 164.
Didymium crustaceum, Sacc., Syll., no. 1303.
On leaves, wood, &c. Britain (Castle Howard, Yorks); France; Italy; Russia; Finland.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Didymium complanatum, Schrad., Nov. Plen. Gen., p. 24, t. 5,
f. 5 (1797). Physarum confluens, Pers. Syn., p. 169, et v., a truncigerum
(1801).
Physarum confluens, /3 muscigemlm, A. et Sz., 1. c., p. 9 (1805). Didymium crustaceum, F., 1. c., iii., p. 124 ; Excl. Syn. (1829). Cionium complanatum, Lk. ap. Wallr., 1. c., no. 2176 (1833).
Var. olducens, Karst., Not. Sallsk., pro. faun, et flor. Fenn., ix., p. 356 (1880).
Sporangia irregular (plasmodiocarp), flattened, often umbili- cate, concave below, solitary or gregarious, sometimes densely crowded; stem short or almost obsolete, irregular, broadening out below into the common hypothallus. Remainder as in type.
236 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Didymimn effusum, Rost. b-sqoo
Sporangia densely aggregated or scattered, sessile on a broad base, circular or irregular in outline, depressed, wall grey, pruinose with numerous minute crystals aggregated in masses; columella hemispherical, white or pallid, rugulose ; threads of capillitium very slender, colourless or pale fuliginous, furnished with scat- tered coloured protuberances, combined to form an irregular dense net; spores globose, brownish-purple, minutely warted, 10 — 12 jx diameter.
Didymium effusum,, Rost, Mon., p. 163 ; Sacc., Syll., no. 1302.
On leaves, wood, &c. Britain (Cornwall) ; Finland ; Sweden ; France; Germany; United States; Ceylon.
About '5 mm. diameter, characterized by the white columella, the capillitium threads furnished with numerous well-defined projections in the form of thickened plates or pyriform swellings, and the dense meal of crystals on the wall.
(Rostafmski's Synonyms.)
D&crma effusum, Link, Obs. I, p. 42 (1809). Didymium effusum, Fr., 1. c., in., p. 124 (1829). Physarum conftuens, Fr., Excl. Syn., 1. c., iii., p. 146 (1829).
Sub- Gen. Hemididymium.
Capillitium usually dense, threads branching and anastomosing to form an irregular network throughout the capillitium, angles usually flattened and more or less triangular.
The species included in 'the present sub-genus are distin- guished from those belonging to the sub-genus Didymium by the absence of the simple or bifurcating threads at the basal portion of the capillitium.
A. Sporangium stipitate.
* Spores smooth. Didymium longipes, Mass. (n. sp.) (fig. 226). P^ •'
Sporangia small, globose, snow-white, frosted with a few scattered granules or crystals of lime; stem very long and
Didymium. 237
slender, erect, snow-white, very slightly attenuated upwards, almost smooth, expanding at the base into a small, circular, white hypothallus; columella absent ; capillitium well-developed, threads very thin, colourless, branching and anastomosing irregu- larly to form a network, nodes usually triangular; spores globose, dingy lilac, smooth, 8 — 10 jot diameter.
(Type in Herb. Berk., Kew, with Tilmadoche nutans.}
On bark and wood. Britain (Yorks) ; Lower Carolina.
A very distinct species, characterized by its snow-white colour throughout, 2*5 — 3 mm, high, sporangium very small. Spores perfectly smooth under a TV objective.
Didymium Mvellum, Mass. (n. sp.) (fig. 232). D.\M(\rip «
Sporangia spherical,' very little or not at all umbilicate, stipitate, outer cretaceous coat pure white, composed of minute granules which fall away in the form of powder, inner wall with- out lime, rather tough, bright fulvous ; stem slender, elongated, straight or slightly curved above, attenuated upwards, same colour as inner wall of sporangium, much wrinkled longitudin- ally, expanding at the base into a similarly coloured circular hypothallus ; columella brown, not very prominent ; mass of spores blackish with a purple tinge ; capillitium copious, threads repeatedly forked, 2 — 3 /u, thick, rather broader at the base of each bifurcation, combined laterally to form an irregular net- work, colourless ; spores globose, smooth, pale dirty lilac, 8 — 10 p. diameter.
On fallen oak leaves; scattered or gregarious.
United States.
(Type in Herb., Kew.)
Sporangium 1 mm. diameter, stem about 2 mm. high.
Didymium australis, Mass. (fig. 208). 7ricW»*^ViDva. yez»'x.o»<W3
Sporangium globose or slightly flattened above and below, slightly umbilicate, at first with a thick, white layer of crystals which soon breaks up into large, persistent, irregular patches; stem thin, bright brown, slightly attenuated upwards, often bend-
238 A Monograph of ttie Myxogastres.
ing under the weight of the sporangium; columella absent; mass of spores blackish-purple; capillitium copious, threads colourless, 3 — 4 p thick, branching at wide angles and anasto- mosing irregularly; spores globose, smooth, dingy lilac, 9 — 10 /* diameter.
Didymium australis, Mass., Grev., vol. xvii., p. 7. (Type in Herb., Kew.)
Gregarious, on an old decayed species of Auricularia.
Brisbane, Australia.
Plant about 2 mm. high, stem equal or a little longer than sporangium. Resembling Didymium squamulosum, in the wall of theNjroorangium breaking up into large detached patches, but readily distinguished by the absence of a columella, and the thin, coloured stem.
Didymium proximum, B. and C. (figs. 227 — 229).V).^<\vip«s
Sporangium globose, white or pallid, sprinkled with lime, mostty in the form of stellate crystals ; stem more or less longi- tudinally wrinkled, snibequal, rufous, erect, expanding at the base into a small hypothallus; columella subclavate, whitish, reaching one-third the height of the sporangium; capillitium dense, threads colourless, sometimes rough with projecting granules ; 3 — 4 mm. thick at the base, bifurcating and anasto- mosing laterally to form an irregular reticulation, often dilated and flattened at the axils; spores globose, pale dirty lilac, smooth, 9 — 12 fx diameter.
Didymium proximum, B. and C., Grev., vol. ii., p. 52 (1873) ; Rost, Mon. App., p. 23 ; Sacc., Syll, no. 1308.
Didymium pusillum, B. and C., Grev., ii., p. 53.
On dead pine leaves and on herbaceous stems. Carolina. (Types in Herb. Berk., nos. 10760 and 10764.)
Scattered, 2 — 2'5 mm. high, columella large, usually more or less clavate, sometimes irregularly fusiform. Owing to a slip of the pen, Berkeley says, in describing D. pusillum, " columella nulla," yet the large columella is shown in Berkeley's sketch, and the type specimen is identical with that of D. proximum.
Didymium. 239
Spores smooth, or with sometimes the slightest suggestion of granulation under a T\. objective.
Didymium pezizoideum, Mass. TncW^^oro. y
Sporangia stipitate, discoid, pezizaeform, greyish-white, wall single, becoming furfuraceous ; stem subulate, curved above, brownish, smooth, expanding at the base into a small, shining, closely adnate hypothallus ; threads of the capillitium combined to form a net, spores smooth, violet, 8 — 9 JJL diameter.
Tricham'pliorcL pezizoidea, Jungh., Fl. Cr., Java, p. 12, t. 2, f. 9.
Chondrioderma2)ezizoideum,Rost.,M.on.,ip. 424, f. 122; Cooke, Myx. Brit, fig. 122; Sacc., Syll., 1256.
On rotten trunks. Java.
>
Didymium platypus, Hanzl. *>
Greyish-white, primrose, sporangia scattered, convex above, deeply umbilicate below ; stem cylindrical, dilated in a discoid manner at the apex ; spores globose, smooth, blackish, 8 /* diam., capillitium scanty, formed of black tubes connected in a reticulate manner, columella absent.
Hanzl. Ein neue Myxog. typus in Just. Bot. Jahresbericht, 1872, p. 155 ; Sacc., Syll., 1326.
Agaricus platypus, Bischoff (sec. Hanzl.).
On putrid plant stems. Hungary.
* * Spores warted. Didymium echinospora, Mass. (n. sp.).tWp**»*v TC»
Sporangia globose, usually with a shallow umbilicus below, wall membranaceous, almost colourless, with a dense coat of white amorphous particles of lime, upper portion breaking away in flakes during dehiscence, and leaving a permanent cup-like basal portion with torn edges; stem elongated, slender, erect, very slightly attenuated upwards, white, rugulose below; colu- mella absent ; capillitium very dense, threads lilac-brown, about 2 /A thick, bifurcating, and towards the apex freely anastomosing
240 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
to form a dense net, with the angles usually triangular ; spores dingy purple, globose, warted, 12 — 14 p. diameter.
(Type in Herb. Berk., Kew., with Tilmadoche nutans.)
On bark. Ceylon.
Scattered, 1*5 — 2 mm. high. Bearing a superficial resem- blance to Tilmadoche nutans, but distinct in the capillitium, which contains no trace of lime, and in the spores.
Didymium zeylanicum, B. and Br. TvicWw»|VK»«i«i
Sporangium hemispherico-depressed, with a shallow umbilicus below, wall thin, colourless, frosted with white granules of lime ; stem elongated, attenuated upwards, or almost obsolete, brown or yellow, longitudinally wrinkled, filled with small grains of lime, expanding below into a spreading hypothallus ; capillitium forming a dense irregular net, threads colourless, very thin; spores dark purple, globose, very minutely verruculose, 7 — 9 /* diameter.
Didjymium zeylanicum, B. and Br., in Journ. Linn. Soc., vol. xiv., p. 84.
Chondrioderma zeylanicum, Host., Mon. App., p. 15 ; Sacc., Syll., no. 1254.
Ctwndrioderma exiguum, Racib., Hedw., 1889, p. 118. (Type in Herb. Berk., no. 10770.)
On decayed wood. Ceylon ; Poland.
The species described as Chondrioderma exiguum cannot be separated from the present species; the points of difference given by Raciborski only apply to certain individuals which, from an examination of the type, is a variable species.
Didymium obrusseum, B. and C. v*t o\>«-<
Sporangium white or pale yellow, almost globose, sometimes slightly umbilicate below, wall very thin, with little or no lime, often iridescent when empty ; stem attenuated upwards, flattened and distorted below, weak and drooping, bright yellow, expanding at the base into a very thin, irregular hypothallus of the same colour; columella absent; capillitium rather scanty, threads
Didymium. 241
thin, colourless, repeatedly forked and joined laterally to form a loose, irregular net ; spores globose, dingy lilac, very minutely verruculose, 8 — 10 JJL diameter:
Didymium obrusseum, B. and C., Grev. (1873), vol. ii., p. 53.
Physarum obrusseum (B. and C.), Sacc., Syll., 1195 (in part). ' (Type in Herb., Kew.)
Exsicc. — Fung. Cubenses Wrightiani, 532.
On twigs, leaves, &c. Cuba ; United States.
Gregarious, stem flaccid, irregular and flattened below, very thin above, about 2 mm. long, hypothallus very thin and shining.
Didymium pertusum, Ber^^V?
Scattered. Sporangium globose or depressed, generally more or less umbilicate, white, frosted with minute crystals of lime ; stem elongated, slightly attenuated upwards, rufous; columella entirely absent ; threads of capillitium very thin, colourless, vari- ously branched and combined to form a net; spores globose, dirty lilac, verruculose, 10 — 13 //. diameter.
Didymium pertusum, Berk., Eng. Fl., vol. v., p. 313 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 35 ; Sacc., Syll., 1317.
(Type in Herb. Berk.)
On dead herbaceous stems. Appin, N. B.
Scattered, varying from 2'5 — 3 mm. high. There is no trace of a columella, although after dehiscence the basal persistent portion of the sporangial wall falls down, and this under a pocket-lens might be mistaken for a columella. The threads of the capillitium anastomose freely and form a very irregular, scanty network. The stem is more or less longitudinally rugulose, and filled with amorphous particles of lime.
Didymium eximium, Peck.
Sporangia subglobose, slightly or not at all umbilicate below, grey, frosted with stellate crystals of lime ; stem elongated, erect or slightly curved above, almost eqiijol, slender, pale yelloivish- brown, darker towards the base, which expands into a minute hypothallus, slightly rugulose, filled with amorphous particles
242 A Monograph of the ' Myxogastres.
of lime, as is also the orbicular, depressed, pale columella ; capil- litium colourless, threads very slender, combined into a dense irregular net; spores globose, brownish-lilac, minutely ivarted, 8 — 11 JM diameter.
Didymium eximium, Peck, in 31st Rep. N. York State Mus., p. 41 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1314.
Exsicc. — Ellis and Everhart, N. Amer. Fung., Ser. II., 2089. (Authentic specimen from author in Hb., Kew.)
On dead leaves, herbaceous stems, &c. U. States.
Scattered or gregarious, from 1 — 1'5 mm. high, stem twice or more the length of the sporangium. Threads of capillitium often more or less dilated at the angles, and rarely with a slightly thickened interstitial portion, which does not however contain lime.
Didymium flavicomum, Mass. (figs. 76 — 78).
Sporangium depresso-globose, minutely umbilicate below, pab 'yellow, at first frosted with a few scattered crystals of lime ; stem elongated, slender, erect or slightly curved near the apex, snbequal or attenuated upwards, yellowish-rufous, often darker at the base, which expands into a minute hypothallus, longi- tudinally wrinkled and containing amorphous granules of lime ; columella absent; capillitium pale yellow, threads variously combined to form a rather dense net, dilated at the nodes, which are without a trace of lime ; spores almost colourless, very minutely veii'uculose, 9 — 10 p diameter.
Physarum flavicomum, Berk., Hook. Journ. Bot., vol. iv., p. 66; Sacc., Syll., n. 1193 (in part).
Physarum Berkeleyi, Host., Mon., p. 105.
(Type in Herb. Berk., n. 10,782.)
On decorticated wood. Australia (Swan River).
Gregarious, 2'5 — 3 mm. high, stem slender, three to four times as long as the sporangium. The present very distinct species has been hopelessly confused by Rostafinski and by Berlese in Saccardo's SyUoge, and the mistakes committed by both can be traced to the modern pernicious system of paying attention to books rather than specimens, always a mistake, and
Didymium. 243
more especially so when dealing with diagnoses of microscopic species described half a century ago. The following synonyms by Rostafmski, although absolutely worthless from a scientific standpoint, may be historically interesting.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Pliysarum ftavicomum, B., Hook. Journ., p. 66, n. 63 (1845). Stylonites fulviceps, Fr., Fung. Natal, p. 33 (1848). Physarum cupriceps, B. et Rav., Fung. Car. Exs. iii., n. 76
(1855). Ophiotheca 1 ...... Roussel. Antil. (1872).
Physarum cupripes, B. and Rav., Grev., p. 65, ri. 355 (1873). Physarum roseum, B. et Br., cfr. Grev., p. 65 (1873).
Didymium elegantissimum, Mass. (n. sp.).^-WH
Sporangia scattered, stipitate, hemispherico-depressed, with a broad, shallow umbilicus below, snoiv-white, with a dense coat- ing of stellate crystals ; stem elongated, equal, rather stout, longitudinally rugulose, bright orange-brown, passing into a small hypothallus of the same colour; capillitium absent; threads 3 — 4 //, thick at the base, forking at acute angles, here and there anastomosing to form irregular portions of network, most of the main branches with numerous small nodulose swellings at regular intervals, giving a moniliform appearance, pale and lilac-brown below; spores globose, 8 — 10 p. diameter, minutely warted, pale lilac.
Physarum striatum, Fr., Syd. Myc. March., 490 (Kew copy).
On twigs and leaves. Britain (Scarboro') ; Germany.
About 1*5 mm. high. Stem two or three times as long as sporangium. Bears a superficial resemblance to Didymium pertusum, Berk., from which it is readily distinguished by the denser capillitium and the moniliform thickening of the threads.
B. Sporangium sessile.
Didymium leptotrichum, Mass. ?- Sporangia venulose or irregular, depressed, wall single,
244 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
covered with minute squamules of lime ; columella absent ; threads of the capillitium very slender (08, 3 \t. diam.), forming a flaccid, very dense net; spores blackish-brown, verruculose, 12, 5—13, 2 \i diameter.
Chondrioderma leptotrichum, Racib., Myx. Crac., p. 7, f. 4; Sacc., Syll., 1267.
Poland.
Removed from Chondrioderma on account of the furfuraceous and not porcelain-like wall of the sporangium.
Didymium Listeri, Mass. (figs. 97—101).'
Plasmodium pulvinato-compressed, in large, irregular, scattered patches; outer wall white, with a thick layer of stellate crystals of lime, rather fragile, breaking away in irregular patches ; inner wall very thin ; columella absent ; capillitium dense, threads parallel, without free ends, often forming acute-angled dichoto- mies and connected by transverse bars, dark brown, usually branched near the paler tips that are attached to the wall'; spores globose, dingy lilac, minutely warted, 8 — 10 ft diameter.
" Didymium dubium, Rost.," Lister in Herb., Kew.
On dead leaves. Britain (Lyme Regis).
The present species superficially resembles D. dubium, but is quite distinct in the copiously anastomosing threals of the capillitium which are entirely destitute of free, curved, spine- like branches. Plasmodia 3 — 7 mm. across.
Didymium Tussulaginis, Mass. '
Sporangia sessile on a broad base, hemispherical or irregular and plasmodiocarp, wall thin, pinkish-grey, more or less iri- descent, with minute, scattered crystals of lime, dehiscing irregu- larly ; capillitium well-developed, springing from the base of the sporangium, threads repeatedly branching in a dichotomous manner, rarely anastomosing, with scattered, small swellings usually con- taining one large or two to four small crystals of lime ; spores black-brown in the mass, pale brown with a lilac tinge by transmitted light, globose, very minutely verruculose or quite smooth, 12 — 14 /x diameter.
Didymium. 245
Didymium Cookci, Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 109, t. 5, f. 5.
Physarum tussilaginis, B. and Br., Ann. Nat. Hist., n. 1597; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 16.
Chondrioderma Cookci, Host, Mon. App., p. 17.
Exsicc. — Cke., Fung. Brit., Ser. I., 526 (as BadJiamia capsu- lifer); Cke., Fung. Brit., Ser. II., 206; Thura., Myc. Univ., 1100; Vize. Micro-fungi Brit,, 1 and 101. (Type in Herb., Kew.)
On the under surface of living leaves of colts-foot, Tussilago farfara. Britain (Cheshire) ; Denmark.
A very remarkable species, not agreeing in important points with any established genus, scattered or in groups of 2 — 4, 1'5 — 3 mm. across. Apparently quite normal in its develop- ment, and not accompanied by any other species, it occurred in abundance for several years in succession in Cheshire, and has also been found in Denmark. In a note attached to the specimens in the Kew Herbarium, Mr. A. Lister says, "The whole appearance conveys the impression that it may not be a stable form, and the habit is so peculiar." Of course it is a matter of opinion as to whether the appearance described above can afford any clue as to stability, but certainly many species occur on living plants.
The presence of lime in the capillitium prevents the present species from, being a typical Didymium or Chondrioderma ; the lime is too scanty and the capillitium too slender for a Physarum.
Didymium anomalum, Mass./
Plasmodium venulose, arcuate or variously contorted, very convex, surface minutely granulose ; columella very strongly de- veloped, with a broad base resting on the substratum, arcuate, following the shape of the plasmodiocarp ; threads of capillitium very delicate, thin, colourless, flaccid, forming a dense net ; spores minutely verruculose, yellow, 11 — 13 p diameter.
Chondrioderma anomalum, Rost., Mon., p. 169 ; Sacc., Syll., 1263.
Russia.
246 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
The granulose wall of the sporangium separates the present species from the genus Chondriodcrma.
Didymium dubium, Rost. (fig. 102).
Plasmodium pulvinate, arcuate, in crowded clusters, the outer wall white, with stellate crystals of lime, breaking away from inner wall in irregular pieces; threads of capillitium rigid, rarely forking, forming a loose net, furnished with curved spines, spores obscure violet, minutely vcrruculosc, 10 — 11 /x diameter.
Didymium dubium, Rost., Mon., p. 153; Sacc., Syll., n. 1298.
Britain (Lyndhurst) ; Bohemia.
Sub-Gen. Atriclia.
Capillitium obsolete ; columella absent.
The two species constituting the present subgenus are un- doubtedly degenerate species of Didymium, characterized by the^very rudimentary condition, or entire absence of the capillitium.
Didymium sinapinum, Cooke (figs. 167, 168). K
Clavate, subcylindrical, or more or less irregular, wall brittle with lime, at first compact, then breaking up into bright yellow, easily detached particles, becoming irregularly ruptured at the apex, basal attenuated stem-like portion darker, often with a purple tinge; hypothallus spreading, thin; mass of spores blackish-purple ; spores globose, dingy lilac, minutely warted, 7 — 9 fi diameter.
Dulymium sinapinum, Cooke, Brit. Myx., p. 33, fig. 245 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1319.
(Type in Herb., Kew.)
On leaves. Wales (Forden).
Growing in isolated patches, gregarious or crowded, springing from a common hypothallus, sporangia 1 — 1 '5 mm. high, usually more or less clavate, now and then irregularly lobed and form- ing a small aethalium consisting of two or three sporangia, bright sulphur-yellow ; in rare instances a few very thin, bifur-
Didymium. 247
eating threads are present, but in most sporangia there is no trace of a capillitium.
Didymium flavidum, Peck. K c \ tri n c \
Sporangia globose, or broadly obovate, sessile on a broad or narrow base, wall brittle with lime, rugulose, sulphur-yellow, sometimes with a tinge of orange, becoming irregularly ruptured at the apex, or the apical portion breaking away in an irregu- larly circumscissile manner, basal half persistent ; mass of spores blackish-violet, spores globose, dingy lilac, very minutely ver- ruculose, 10 — 12 p. diameter.
Didymium flavidum, Peck, 28th Report State Mus., N. Y., p. 54.
Physarum flavidum, Peck, Berl., Sacc., Syll., n. 1215. (Authentic specimen from Peck, in Herb., Kew.)
On wood. United States.
Scattered or gregarious, about '5 mm. diam., springing from a very thin hypothallus; capillitium consisting of a few scat- tered, very thin, bifurcating threads, or most frequently entirely absent.
Owing to imperfect diagnoses and absence of type specimens, the following cannot be arranged in their respective sections.
Didymium tenerrimum, B. and C. var. o\>r\>t*eu«v»
Sporangium globose, white, venulose, umbilicate below ; hypo- thallus obsolete ; stem elongated, thickened below, pallid, hyaline; threads of capillitium colourless ; spores black.
Didymium tenerrimum, B. and C., Linn. Soc. Journ., vol. x., p. 348.
Didymium obmsseum, Sacc., Syll., n. 1195 (in part).
On leaves of grass, nearly allied to D. obrusseicm, B. and C. Cuba.
The present species is given as a synonym of D. olrusseum, B. and C., in Saccardo's Sylloge, but as the authors considered the two species to be distinct,' and as no specimen exists in Berkeley's Herbarium, I have considered it advisable not to
248 A Monograph of the Myocogastres.
combine the two, as the present species appears to differ in the absence of a hypothallus.
/I Didymium Weinmanni, Fr. •
Sporangia turbinate, very fragile, covered with grey meal, stem short, with a yellow tinge, columella absent; spores blackish.
Didymium Weinmanni, Fr., S. M., iii., p. 121 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1331.
On living herbaceous stems. Russia.
Minute, closely gregarious, and often arranged in lines ; stem equal, expanded at the base ; sporangia membranaceous, oblong or pyriform, covered with grey meal. (Fr.)
U. mcljtvUSbCTWrxvlrn.
Didymium humile, Hanzl.
Sporangia applanate, grey, pruinose, apex slightly, below deeply umbilicate ; stem cylindrical, brown, short ; capillitium of simple, tortuous, smooth, brown threads ; spores brown, 6 — 7 /* diameter.
Hanzl. Ein neue Myx. types, in Just. Bot. Jahresb., 1872, p. 155 ; Sacc., Syll., 1324.
Hungary.
Didymium fulvipes, Fr. ,
Stem compressed, sulcate, foxy-vermilion ; sporangium globose, delicately villose, grey.
Didymmm fidvipcs, Fr., Stirp. Femsj., p. 83 ; Fr., Gast, p. 24 ; Sacc., Syll, 1323.
Sweden.
Stem and hypothallus resembling those of Hemiarcyria rubi- formis, very unequal, compressed, subconfluent, longitudinally sulcato-rugose, 2 mm. and more in length ; sporangium globose, or slightly depressed, obtuse, often confluent, with a very delicate grey villose covering ; columella absent ; threads brown. (Fr.)
The villose covering of the sporangium alluded to by Fries would in all probability consist of a very subtle coating of a pulverulent nature.
Didymium. 249
Didymium versipelle, Fr. i-«f»Ao<
Sporangia lenticular, umbilicate below, at first white, pruinose, becoming polished, chestnut, stem conical, rugose, pallid fulvous ; columella brown ; spores smoky-black.
Didymium versipelle, Fr., Syst. Myc., iii., p. 117 ; Sacc., 1330.
Sweden.
Stem about 2 mm. long, conical, wrinkled, sporangium de- pressed, umbilicate, wall thin, whitish-pruinose, then naked and shining, chestnut, dehiscing by a longitudinal fissure like a
bivalve ; columella large, globose, brown. (Fr.)
t
Didymium Fairmani, Sacc. ^.'W\eWM»»cpc
Sporangia scattered, sessile, with stellate crystals; columella subglobose, brownish ; threads of capillitium hyaline, forming a loose reticulation ; spores smooth, 8 — 10 JM.
Didymium Fairmani, Sacc., Journ. Myc., vol. v., p. 180 ; I.e., vol. v., p. 78.
On leaves of Smilacina Hfolia. Syndonville, Orleans County, N. Y.
The diagnosis is altogether inadequate, and it is much to be regretted that the seventeenth century style of description should be resuscitated at the present day. Professor Saccardo's description is thoroughly bad, inasmuch as it does not describe anything.
J o
Didymium erythrinum, Berk. Vlwidtv
Stem equal, vermilion, as is the globose sporangium, spores black, flocci white.
Berk., Grev., vol. ii., p. 52 ; Sacc., Syll., 1322.
The pulverulent matter with which the peridium is clothed soon rubs off.
As there is no specimen of the above species in Berkeley's Herbarium, I am unable to add to the above meagre description.
Didymium angulatum, Peck, ti . aq v
Sporangia delicate, subglobose, whitish, externally mealy with numerous granules and crystals of lime; stem short,
250 A Monograph of the^Myxogastres.
whitish ; coluinella subglobose, white or pale yellow ; capillitium sparse, delicate, whitish or slightly coloured; spores irregular, angular, blackish in the mass, '00035' — -0005' long.
Didymium angulatum, Peck, 31st Report, State Mus., p. 41 ; Sacc., Syll., 1312.
Fallen leaves. Adirondack Mountains. Aug.
I have no knowledge of the present species except from the above description from Peck.
Didymium Paraguayense, Speg. CraAreYO
M«
Sporangia at first globose or elliptico-elongated, "5 — 1 x "5 mm., sessile, rarely shortly substipitate, deep violet, springing from a brown, mucedinous, very thin hypothallus, then hemispherical or reniform, 1 — 2 mm. long by '8 — 1 mm. high, sessile, sub- repens, wall white, thick, cracked or breaking up in flakes; mass of spores fulvous or pale luff; threads of capillitium very thin, hyaline, not evanescent; spores globose, perfectly smooth, pale jjlive brown, or tobacco-colour, 7 — 8 /* diameter. Granules of lime very numerous, minute, hyaline, globose, or irregularly angular.
Didymium Paraguayense, Spegazzini, Fung. Guaranit., n. 320.
On fallen leaves and decayed wood. Guarapi.
Didymium daedaleum, B. and Br.
Sporangia connate, sinuous, fcn-ming a dacdalioid mass, reddish- brown inclining to orange like the stem, sprinkled with white meal; stem connate, as if composed of a bundle of little flat membranes ; capillitium white, very variable in vridth, being in parts broad, flat, membranous; spores violet-black, globose, smooth.
Didymium daedaleum, B. and Br., Ann. Nat. Hist., n. 385, p. 336 (1850); Cooke, Hdbk., n. 1131; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 35 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1313.
In a cucumber frame. Britain.
There is no specimen of the present species in the Berkeley Herbarium, hence I am unable to add anything to the above . somewhat imperfect description.
Lepidoderma. 251
Didymium connatum, Peck. .
Peridium depressed or subglobose, cinereous, furfuraceous, stipitate; stems mostly connate at the base, tapering upward, longitudinally wrinkled, whitish or cream-colour; spores sub- globose, black, '0004 in. in diameter.
Didymium connaht,m, Peck, 26th Keport, N. Y. State Mus., p. 74.
Physarum polymorphism, Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1196.
Decaying fungi. Portville, U. States.
The subfasciculate mode of growth is characteristic of this species. (Peck.)
Unknown to me. In Saccardo's Sylloge the present species is given as a synonym of Physarum polymorphum, but the description above does not justify this, and it is very doubtful whether the type specimen has been examined by Berlese.
-vp i
Didymium flavidum, Peck. F, ^
Peridium subglobose, sessile, thin, yellow, clothed with a minute yellow mealiness ; spores subglobose, black, '0004' in diameter.
Didymium flavidum, Peck, 28th Report, N. York State Mus., p. 54.
Physarum flavidum, Berlese, Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1215.
Bark of dead balsam trees, Abies lalsamca. North Elba ; U. States.
LEPIDODERMA, De Bary.
Sporangia sessile or stipitate or a plasmodiocarp, wall fur- nished externally with large scales consisting of bicarbonate of lime, superficial or enclosed in lenticular cavities of the mem- brane ; columella generally present.
Host., Mon., p. 187; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 43; Sacc., Syll., vol. vii., p. 386.
Closely related to Didymium, and differing only in the fact that the external coating of lime is broken up into large, per- sistent patches, instead of forming a pruinose coating consisting
252 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
frequently of stellate crystals. Ckondrioderma differs in having the external wall of lime forming a polished, porcelain-like crust. 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. The same change takes place in Physarum granulatum, Balf. fil, and Air. Harold Wingate, of Philadelphia, has remarked the same conversion of carbonate of lime into the bicarbonate in Chondrioderma Michelii, and adds, " I feel positive it takes place after the plant has matured, and possibly after it has been dry and again subjected to moisture."
Distril. Europe ; West Indies ; Ceylon ; Java. Species 8.
A. Spores smooth.
Lepidoderma stellatum, Mass. (figs. 223 — 225).
Spqjangia spherical, stipitate, slightly or not at all umbilicate below, blacJcish-brown, variegated with rather large white scales, ruptured at maturity nearly to the base in a stellate manner, into 4 — 6 acute, irregular segments; stem rather thick, erect or rarely curved, striate, white; columella hemisplierical or rnl- davate, rather prominent, whitish or tinged yellow ; threads of the capillitiuin very slender, branching at acute angles, hyaline, flexuous; spores smooth, dingy violet, globose, 10 — 12 /u, diam.
Grevillea, vol. xvii., March (1889).
On rotten wood. Dominica (Ramage).
A very fine and distinct species, 2'5 — 3'5 mm. high ; scattered or gregarious. When young the sporangia are pure white, the outer coat becoming broken up into large white distinct scales as the sporangium expands. Readily recognized by the white stem, colourless capillitium, whitish columella and smooth •spores ; the mode of dehiscence is also characteristic.
Lepidoderma reticulatum, Mass.
Sporangia gregarious, sessile on a broad base, convex, circular or elongated, often flexuous and anastomosing in a reticulate
Lepidoderma. 253
manner, wall thick, brown with a tinge of purple, famished with large, scattered, innate, yellow patches of lime ; columella absent; mass of spores purple-brown; capillitium very scanty, threads 1 — 2 inm. thick, colourless; spores globose, smooth, 11 — 12 /A diameter.
Licea reticulata, B. and Br., Journ. Linn. Soc., vol. xiv., p. 86 (1873).
Did.ymium reticulatum, B. and Br., in Herb. Berk.
On bark and mosses. Ceylon.
Distinguished from Lepidoderma Chailletii by the absence of a columella, and from L. Carestianum by the smooth spores and yellow patches of lime on the wall of the sporangium.
Lepidoderma fulvum, Mass. (n. sp.) (figs. 39, 40).
Sporangia stipitate, hemispherical, depressed, umbilicate beneath, fulvous, with scattered, large, superficial white or yellowish scales ; stem stout, equal, or very slightly attenuated upwards, straight or a little bent, longitudinally rugulose, fulvous, hypo- thallus well developed ; columella large, hemispherical, brownish ; capillitium copious, threads slender, branched at acute angles, jlexuous, brownish-violet ; spores globose, smooth, brownish-purple, 10 — 12 // diameter, some few much larger.
On mosses, twigs, &c. Britain (Yorks.); France. (Type in Herb. Berk., 10,783.)
In groups of 2 — 4, springing from a firm, well-developed hypothallus, 2'5 — 3 mm. high. Differing from Lepidoderma stellatum, the only other stipitate, smooth-spored species, in the coloured columella and stem. The calcareous scales on the pileus very thin, glistening, not so regular and distant as in L. fulvum.
B. Spores warted.
Lepidoderma tigrinum, Host. (figs. 41 — 43).
Sporangia hemispherical, depressed, stipitate, umbilicate beneath, blacldsh-brown, and furnished with rather distant, large yelloivish scales ; stem erect, thick and equal, or slightly attenu-
254 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
ated upwards, brownish rust colour or dingy ochre, wrinkled longitudinally ; columella brown, globose or hemispherical ; threads of capillitium thin, brownish-violet, branches forming acute angles, sometimes united laterally ; spores globose, brown- ish-purple, minutely wartcd, 10 — 13 p. diam.
Host., Hon., p. 187, figs. 159, 160; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 44, figs. 159, 160 ; Sacc., SylL, vii., p. 386.
On mosses, wood, &c. Britain (Teesdale, Yorks. side ; New Pitsligo) ; France ; Germany ; Finland ; Sweden ; Ceylon.
Superficially resembling Lepidoderma stellata before dehi- scence, but known at once by the warted spores, which also separate the present species from L. fulva.
Scattered or gregarious, 2 — 2*5 mm. high, the base of the stem expanding into a small, irregular hypothallus. Threads of capillitium sometimes with slight granular swellings.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Didymium tigrinum, Schrad., t. 6, f. 2, 3 (1797) ; B. and Br.,
N. H., 383; Cke., Hdbk., n. 1121. Physarum tigrinum, Pers., Syn., 174 (1801); Fl., Dan., t.
1434, f. 2.
Physarum squamulosum, Pers., Syn., 174 (1801). Trickia tigrina, Poir., Ency., viii., 53. Trichia squamulosa, Poir., Ency., viii., 53. Cionium tigrinum, Lk., Hdbk., iii., 410 (1833). Didymium rujipcs, Fr., S. M., iii., 116 (1829). Leangium squamulosum, Fr., Stirp. Femsj., 13 (1825).
Lepidoderma obovatum, Mass. (n. sp.) (figs. 45 — 47).
Broadly obovatc, stipitate; wall dirty ochraceous, thick and firm, studded with large, innate whitish patches of lime ; stem short, thick, dark brown, wrinkled ; mass of spores blackish with purple tinge; columella absent; capillitium springing from the base of the sporangium, threads dingy violet, 3 — 4 /x thick, equal, repeatedly branching in a dichotomous manner, fiimished with a swelling at the base of each dichotomy, the whole com-
Lepidoderma. 255
bined into an irregular net; spores globose, dingy violet, minutely warted, 11 — 13 /* diameter.
On grass and twigs. Sweden.
(Type in Herb., Kew.)
Plant 1*5 mm. high, 1 mm. diameter; characterized by the obovate sporangium and the swelling at the base of each bifurcation of the capillitium. The minute warts on the spores often show a tendency to become elongated.
Lepidoderma Chailletii, Rost.
Sporangia hemispherical, adnate lyy a broad base to a hypo- thallus, blackish-violet, with numerous shining brown pro- tuberances ; columella very small, brownish ; threads of the capillitium subviolaceous, with scattered swollen portions, forming a dense net ; spores subviolaceous, warted, 10 — 12 //, diam.
Host., Mon., p. 189, fig. 179 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., p. 387 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., fig. 179.
France; Germany.
Lepidoderma Carestianum, Rost.
Plasmodiocarp broadly effused, pulvinate, flattened, wall mem- branaceous, fragile, greyish brown, with numerous rather small white squamules of lime ; threads of capillitium brownish grey, yellowish, or almost colourless, branched, and sometimes slightly rough with minute granules of lime; spores globose, warted, brown with tinge of purple, 14 — 15 p diam.
Rost., Mon., p. 188 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., p. 387.
Rcticularia Carcstiana, Rabenh., MS., and in Rab., Fung. Eur., n. 436.
On twigs. Italy ; Belgium.
A peculiar species surrounding thin twigs like a cushion, 1 mm. thick, and extending for 1 cm. or more in length.
Section doubtful. Lepidoderma Kurzii, Berk. Sporangium globose, stipitate, nodding, obscure yellowish-
256 A Monograph of the Myxogaslres.
green with sulphur-coloured patches of lime ; stem slender, attenu- ated upwards and curved, sulphur-coloured, or whitish, becoming brownish towards the base; hypothallus spreading; spores blackish-brown, globose.
Berk., in Herb., n. 10,785.
On palm. Java.
The above description, accompanied by sketches, is in Berke- ley's Herbarium, but the specimen has disappeared, hence I am unable to supplement the diagnosis.
SPUMARIA, Pers.
Aethalium consisting of numerous crowded, irregularly branched sporangia, the whole at first surrounded by a common friable cortex containing granules of lime ; sporangia dendritic, the thin walls containing granules of lime; coluraella central, not containing lime, sending off branches into the lobes of the sporangium; threads of the capillitium forming a dense network, extending from the columella to the walls of the sporangium.
Spumaria, Pers., Disp., t. 1, figs, a, b,c; Host., Mon., p. 191 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 45 ; Sacc., Syll., p. 338; Zopf, 153.
The present genus, along with Diachaea, form a transition from the Lithodermeae to the Columelliferae-; showing affinity with the former in the presence of granules of lime in the sporangial walls, and with the latter in the central, elongated columella.
Distrib. Europe ; United States ; Canada ; Australia ; S. Africa; Ceylon. Species 1.
Spumaria alba, D. C.
Common cortex whitish, ileciduous ; sporangia numerous, dendritic ; columella empty, branched, shorter than the branches of the sporangium, capillitium springing from the columella and passing to the wall of the sporangium, branches 2 — 4 /A thick, forming a dense irregular net, widened at the angles, obscure violet or brownish ; spores globose, verruculose, obscure purple, 10 — 13 n diameter.
Spumaria alba, D. C., Flor. Fr., ii., 261 ; Host., Mon., p. 191,
Spumaria. 257
i
figs. 158, 172, 175; Cke., Myx. Brit, p. 45, figs. 158, 172, 175; Schroeter, p. 120 ; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 89 ; Sacc., Syll., 1338.
Exsicc.— Rab., Fung. Eur., 1323 ; Lib., PI. Crypt. Ard., Fasc. II., 179 ; Karat., Fung. Feun., 497 ; Fckl., Fung. Rhen., 1471 ; Syd., Myc. March., 397; Desm., Cr. Fr., ser. I., 768; Kunze, Fung. Sel., 198.
On wood, bark, leaves, twigs, grass, &c. Britain (Kew, Scarboro', Carlisle, Capel Curig, Aboyne, N. B.) ; Germany ; France ; Belgium ; Italy ; Hungary ; Denmark ; United States ; Canada; Australia; S. Africa; Ceylon.
The plasmodium often creeps up the stems of grasses for a distance of several inches, forming aethalia 'varying from ^ — 2 inches or more in length, at first covered with the thick, white, common cortex, which soon falls away, leaving the numerous, crowded, branched sporangia arranged in a dendritic manner, and of a bluish-grey colour. Mass of spores blackish, very copious and pulverulent.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Mucilago, 2, Mich., t. 96, f. 2 (1729).
Mucorii, Gled. Meth., p. 160 (1753).
Mucilago Crustacea alba, Batt., t. 40, f. 9, H. I. (1755).
Mucilago, Hall, n. 2129 (1768).
Byssus bombycina, Retz., V. Handl., 251 (1769).
Mucilago filamentosa, Bonamy., t. 3 (1772).
Beticularia alba, Bull, t. 326 (1791).
Spumaria mucilago, Pers., Disp., t. 1, f. a, b, c (1797).
Rcticularia ovata, Var., With. Arr., iv., 1978 (1803).
Spumaria comuta, Schum., Saell., 1415 (1803); Fl. Dan.,
t. 1978, f. 1. Spumaria alba, D. C., Fl. Fr., ii., 261 (1805) ; Fr., Syst.
Myc., iii., 25; Eng. FL, v., 310; Cooke, Hdbk., n. 1103. Spumaria alba, a. laminosa, /3. cornuta, Fr., S. M., iii., 95
(1829).
Didymium spumarioides, Fr., S. M., iii., 95 (1829). Diderma spumariaeforme, Wallr., Fl. Germ., 2208 (1833).
258 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
DIACHAEA, Fr.
Wall of sporangium without lime externally, but sometimes containing scattered granules on its inner surface, thin, usually with metallic tints ; columella either thick and elongated, rigid with amorphous lumps of lime, or more or less rudimentary and represented by an accumulation of lime at base of spor- angium; capillitium forming a dense net, springing from the columella or base of sporangium, threads usually coloured, without lime, thickest at the point of origin.
Diachaea, Fries, Syst. Orb. Veg., i., p. 143 ; Fr., Syst. Myc., iii., p. 155; Host, Mon., p. 190; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 44; Sacc., Syll., p. 387.
Although placed in a different order by Rostafinski, Lampro- derma approaches the present genus so closely, that it is open to doubt whether the two genera, as at present understood, should not be merged into one. The generic diagnoses of the two, as given by Rostafinski, illustrate the two poles of the genus in the larger sense, and read very distinct, but when a complete sequence of the species included in the two genera are examined, then the difficulty of " drawing the line " becomes only too apparent, and the only character that remains is, the presence of lime in the columella and stem in Diachaea, and its absence in Lamprodcnna. In Lamproderma violacea, Fr., the columella is filled with large vesicles as in Trichia fallax, •and in Lamprodcrma suboeneus, B., well-developed granules of lime are by no means rare in the threads of the capillitium ; lime is by no means always absent from the capillitium of several species of Stemonitis, and other genera belonging to the order Amaurochaete, the most important feature of which consists in the absence of lime.
Diachaea is as far from being a typical member of the Calcareae, owing to the entire absence of lime on the surface of the wall of the sporangium, as it is from being typical of the AmaurocJuieteae on account of the lime contained in the columella and stem.
Distrib. Europe; United States ; W. Indies; Brazil; S.Africa; India ; Australia ; New Zealand. Species 5.
Diachaea. „ 259
Sub- Gen. Diachaea.
Columella well developed, elongated, . rigid with amorphous masses of lime.
A. Spores smooth.
Diachaea confusa, Mass. (n. sp.).
Gregarious, springing from a thin, irregular, yellowish hypo- thallus ; sporangia elliptico-cylindrical, stipitate, obscure purple, iridescent, stem equal to, or a little shorter than the sporangium, pale ochraceous, subequal, slightly wrinkled longitudinally; columella two-thirds the height of the sporangium, dirty pale ochraceous, subclavate, filled with masses of lime, very brittle; threads of the capillitium springing from the columella, much branched and irregularly anastomosing to form a very dense net, about 3 /A thick near the columella, tapering, pale olive or smoky; spores at first in clusters of 6 — 8, smooth, globose, 5 — 6 /z diameter, dingy lilac.
(Type in Herb., Kew.)
Sporangia 2'5 — 3 mm. high ; distinguished by the ochraceous subequal stem and the small spores in clusters of 6 — 8. The capillitium is very dense, and the columella so very brittle that it requires care to see it intact.
On living geranium leaves. Jamaica.
Diachaea leucopoda, Rost. (figs. 165, 166).
Gregarious, springing from a spreading white hypothallus; sporangia elliptico-cylindrical, stipitate, brownish-purple, some- times iridescent, often subumbilicate below ; stem shorter than sporangium, white, thin above, expanding considerably downwards, smooth ; passing upwards as a thick, equal or slightly tapering columella about two-thirds the length of the sporangium, white, aud filled with granules of lime ; mass of spores blackish ; capillitium dense, threads springing from the columella where they are 3 — 4 /x thick, much branched and irregularly anasto- mosing to form a dense net, becoming thinner and attached
260 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
to the wall of the sporangium, dusky or almost colourless ; spores globose, minutely verruculosc, lilac, 7 — 9 p. diameter.
DiacJiaea leucopoda, Host., Mon., p. 190, f. 178; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 44, f. 178 ; Sacc., Syll, n. 1335.
Exsicc.— Rab., Fung. Eur., 434 and 1071; Roum., Fung. Gall., 3174; Klotzsch (Rab.),- Herb. Myc., 36 ; Syd., Myc. March., 1900; Rav., Fung. Car., 80; Desm., Or. Fr., Fasc. ii., 261; Fckl., Fung. Rhen., 1451 ; Westendorp, Crypt. Belg., 1260.
On leaves, twigs, &c. Britain (King's Cliffe, Carlisle, Lin- lithgow) ; France ; Germany ; Belgium ; United States ; Cuba ; Brazil ; S. Africa ; India ; E. Australia.
Varying from 1'5 — 2 mm. high, characterized by the white, acutely conical stem, and smooth spores not produced in clusters.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Trichia leucopoda, Bull., t. 502, f. 2 (1791).
Sttinonitis elegans, Trent, in Roth., Cat., 220 (1797).
Stemonitis leucostyla, Pers., Syn., 186 (1801).
Stemonitis leucopoda, D. C., Fl. Fr., ii., 257 (1805).
Diachaea elegans, Fr., Stirp. Femsj., p. 84 (1825) ; Fr., S. M.,
iii., 156; Berk, Ann. N. H., n. 112; Cooke, Hdbk.,
n. 1154, f. 131. Diachaea leucopoda, Rost., Mon., p. 190 (1875).
Var. cylindrica, Mass.
Sporangium cylindrical, elongated, stem cylindrical. Exsicc.— Ellis, N. Amer. Fung., 336. On pine wood lying on the ground. United States. Differs from the type form in its larger size, 2'5 — 3 mm. 'high; the longer cylindrical stem, and elongated, cylindrical sporangium.
Diachaea Hookeri, Mass.
Sporangia spherical, slightly flattened or umbilicate below, wall thin, pale ochracevtis or with a flesh tinge, slightly iridescent, with minute granules in detached patches on the inside ; stem
Diactiaea. 261
about equal to sporangium, stout, expanded at the base into a circular hypothallus, longitudinally rugulose, colour of spor- angium ; columella pale, cylindrical, about half the height of the sporangium, containing irregular masses of lime ; threads of capillitium springing from the columella, irregularly branching and anastomosing to form a dense net, attached by its ultimate branches to the wall of the sporangium, threads 3 — 4 fj. broad near the columella, flattened, tapering, pale dirty lilac to colourless ; spores globose, minutely warted, brownish lilac, 11 — 14 fj. diameter.
Diderma HooJceri, Berk., Fl., New Zealand, p. 191, T. CV., f. 12.
Lamproderma HooJceri, Host., Mon. Append., p. 24. (Type in Herb., Kew.)
Gregarious on living fronds of Hymenophyllum. New Zealand.
A true Diachaea, as the genus is at present defined, and well marked by the pale coloured globose sporangium, and the large spores.
(Rostafinski's Synonym.) Diderma HooJceri, Berk., FL, New Zeal., p. 191, T. CV., f. 12.
Sub-Gen. Hemidiachaea.
Columella short or obsolete, and represented by a few lime granules at base of sporangium.
B. Spores with irregular, raised lands.
Diachaea splendens, Peck (figs. 37, 38).
Sporangia spherico-depressed and umbilicate leloiv, or reniform, solitary or fasciculate on a common stem, deep peacock-blue or purple, iridescent ; stem equal to or shorter than sporangium, white, expanding into a vague hypothallus; columella white, cylindrical or reniform, containing lime ; capillitium dense, threads brown, anastomosing to form a network extending from the columella to the sporangial wall; spores globose, purple-
262 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
brown, with scattered, broad, irregularly-shaped raised lands of various lengths, 8 — 11 p. diameter.
Diachaea splendens, Peck, 30th Report, State Mus. Nat. Hist., p. 50; Sacc., Syll., 1336.
On leaves, &c. United States.
For specimens of the present very distinct and beautiful species, I am indebted to Mr. Harold Wingate, of Philadelphia.
Gregarious, about 1'5 mm. high, evidently allied to Diachaea leucopoda, but abundantly distinct in the spore marking, and the short reniform sporangia and columella.
Diachaea subsessilis, Peck.
Gregarious or crowded ; sporangia subglobose, sessile, or with a very short white stem, the walls delicate, iridescent with various metallic tints; columella obsolete; capillitium and mass of spores violet-brown ; spores globose, rough, '0004' — '0005' in diameter ( - about 12*5 n ).
Dilfahaea subsessilis, Peck, 31st Report, State Mus., p. 41.
Fallen leaves. Adirondack Mountains, U. States.
This is a most singular species, and apparently very rare. In its lack of a distinct columella, it departs from the generic character, bat it cannot be placed in the genus Lamproderma, for the same objection would hold there, and besides that, another is found in the presence of lime granules in the stem. Even when no distinct stem is present, a small whitish mass of granules can generally be seen at the point of attachment. The capillitium appears to originate at the base of the spor- angium. The spores are larger, but less rough than those of D. splendens. (Peck.)
I have had no opportunity of examining the present species, hence can add nothing to the vague description of the epispore.
Snbord. PHYSARAE.
CRATERIUM, Trent.
Sporangia usually distinct and stipitate, wall consisting of two or three distinct layers, dehiscing by a sharply-differentiated
Craterium. . 263
apical lid, or by an irregularly circumscissile separation of the undifferentiated apical portion of the sporangium, basal portion of sporangium persistent after dehiscence ; capillitium of stout threads attached at numerous points to the sporangial wall, combined to form an irregular, rigid network, containing a large quantity of lime which is usually localized in swollen, irregular, often more or less flattened portions ; these towards the base of the sporangium are compacted to form an irregular columella.
Craterium, Trent., Obs. Bot. ; Host., Mon., p. 118; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 18 ; Zopf, p. 146 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, p. 355.
The species of Craterium are more or less gregarious in habit, but rarely crowded, although now and again specimens occur with the sporangia more or less confluent, the stems remaining distinct. The sporangia persist for a long time after dehiscence, owing to the rigidity qf the wall and capillitium, and in this stage resemble in shape miniature wine-glasses. Craterium is closely allied to JBadhamia, differing more especially in the double wall and the presence of a columella, and the circum- scissile dehiscence.
Distrib. Europe; Algeria; Natal; Ceylon; Tasmania; Brazil; United States. Species 13.
A. Dehiscence ~by the separation of a distinct lid at apex of sporangium.
Craterium confusum, Mass. (fig. 289).
Sporangia variable in form, cyathiform, infundibuliform, or pyriform, stipitate or rarely subsessile, varying in colour from bright brown, through ochraceous to nearly white, lid sharply differentiated from wall of sporangium, flat or slightly convex, usually chalky-white, rarely ochraceous, deciduous ; stem variable in length and depth of colour ; capillitium abundant, knots of lime large, irregular, white or yellowish, usually by aggregation forming a more or less distinct columella ; spores globose, dirty violet, very minutely verruculose, 8 — 11 /x diameter.
Craterium vulgare, Host., Mon., p. 118, figs. 94, 96; Cke., Brit. Myx., p. 18, figs. 94, 96.
264 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Crater ium pyriforme, Rost., MOD., p. 120; Cke., Brit. Myx., p. 19; Sacc., Syll, n. 1234.
Craterium minutum, Rost., Mon., p. 120, f. 95; Cke., Myx. Brit, p. 19, f. 95 ; Raunk, Myx. Dan., p. 79.
Craterium pedunculatum, Sacc., Syll., 1233 ; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 79.
Exsicc. — Cke., Fung. Brit., Ed. II, 208 (as C. minutum); Fckl., Fung. Rhen., 1453; Roura., Fung. Gall., 2957; Syd., Myc. March, 489; Desm, Cr. Fr, Ser. L, 369; Fckl., Fung. Rhen., 1454 (as Craterium pyriforme).
On leaves, twigs, bark, moss, &c. Britain (Kew, Weybridge, Penzance, Apethorpe, Bungay, Lyme Regis, Shere, Scarboro', Carlisle, Abergaveimy, Appin, Glamis, N. B.); Germany; Hungary; France; Italy; Finland; Belgium; Bavaria; Sweden; United States ; Cuba ; Brazil ; N. Zealand ; Australia ; Natal ; Tasmania.
After a careful examination of numerous specimens from Europe and other parts of the world, I find that the only course left is' to combine the three species and five varieties acknow- ledged by Saccardo, into one species characterized by the sharply- differentiated operculum, which is usually chalk-white, and flat or slightly convex, and the dull-coloured sporangium. In the above idea I am confirmed, or rather anticipated, by Mr. A. Lister, who, during a critical examination of the Myxogastres in the Kew Herbarium, has attached the following note to the specimen-sheet of (7. vulgare. " I have added to the col- lection some specimens of Craterium vulgare, representing a few varieties in form and colour from a heap of dead leaves in my grounds at Lyme Regis. The white form is abundant in such localities, and given in several of the Kew specimens, is the result of age and exposure, on originally more deeply coloured, but pale sporangia. I have cultivated a large number of sporangia from orange-yellow plasmodium, and gathered many thousands of the ripe fruits during the last three years from this particular heap. Among them I find all the characters given in the description of Rostafinski's three species, C. vulgare, C. pyrifwim, and C. minutum, with (as it
Craterium. 265
appears to me) all shades of intermediate form. From careful observation of sporangia developed from plasmodium, both in the open air and under 'bell-jars, I believe that while varying in form and colour, they belong specifically to one species. The plasmodium appears to be always ultimately, of a more or less orange-yellow, though in some stages it is often dirty brown from the quantity of foreign matter held in suspension. The differences in form and colour of the sporangium are the only characters by which these three species (?) are separated, and these characters vary so much in sporangia rising simul- taneously, and apparently from the same plasmodium, that, I venture to submit, they cannot be considered as specific.
" In all varieties the wall of the cup consists of two or three layers, the outer smooth, with granules of lime equally dis- tributed throughout its more or less coloured substance, the inner white, and heavily charged with lime, though the lime differs in amount even in sporangia of the same cluster. The lid is deciduous, and usually paler than the cup, and in most instances distinctly marked off from the rim. In abnormal forms, caused by rapid drying, the lid is often sunk below the rim.
" The capillitium is white, consisting of large knots of lime connected by scanty hyaline threads; these threads are some- times yellow, when the colour extends over the inner wall. A central aggregation of lime knots or columella is sometimes present. Spores smooth, 5 — 9 ju, bright violet or violet-brown."
The appearance of the epispore depends on the amount of magnification. I find in Mr. Lister's own specimens that under a power magnifying 1200 diameters the epispore is distinctly warted.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.) (Under C. vulgare.)
Fungoides infundibiliforme, pendulum, pediculo donatum,
Mich., Nov. PL Gen., p. 205, n. 10, t. 86, f. 13 (1729). Craterium pedunculatum, Trent., I.e., p. 244 (1797).- Craterium vulgare, Ditm., I.e., t. 9; Nees, Syst., f. 120; Chev, Fl. Par., t. 4, f. 26 (1817).
266 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Craterium leucocephalum, Desm., Cat. 27, non Auct. (1823).
(Under C. $>yriforme.} Craterium pyriforme, Ditm., l.c., p. 19, t. 10 (1817).
(Under C. minutum.)
Peziza minuta, Leers., Fl. Herbor., n. 1085 (1775).
Cyathus minutus, Hoff., Veg. Crypt., p. 6, t. 2, f. 2 ; Sow.,
Eng. Fg., t. 239 (1790). Trichia minuta, Relh., Teste Fr. (1786). Nidularia minuta, With. (1792).
Sphaerocarpa operculata, Schum., Fl. Saell., n. 1503 (1803). Physarum turbinatum, Schura., Fl. Saell., n. 1450 (1803). Craterium leucocephalum, Grev., Fl. Scot., t. 65 (?) (1824). Craterium minutum, Fr., l.c., iii., p. 151 (1829). Craterium turbinatum, Fr., l.c., iii., p. 152 (1829). Arcyria leucocephala, Auct.
Craterium Oerstedtii, Rost.
Sporangia pyriform, along with the stem Uackish-lrrovm, lid convex, snow-white; columella distinct; spores pale violet, 8 — 10 p diameter, smooth.
Craterium Oerstedtii, Rost., Mon., p. 120, fig. 99; Cke., Myx. Brit., fig. 99; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1235.
On wood. Denmark.
Unknown to me. Appears to differ from C. confusum in the darker-coloured stem and sporangium.
Craterium Friesii, Rost. (fig. 265).
Sporangia cyathiform, stipitate, wall smooth, shining, orange- red, lid distinct from cup, whitish, flattened, stem very thin, equal, longer than sporangium, red; capillitium dense, knots of lime large, joined by short, hyaline internodes ; spores globose, brownish-violet, smooth, 10 — 11 \i diameter.
Craterium Friesii, Rost., Mon., p. 122, f. 105; Cooke, Brit. Myx., f. 105.
Craterium nutans, Sacc., SylL, 1237.
Crate num. 267
On mosses, decaying lichens, &c. Britain (Lyndhurst, Haw- thornden, Edinboro') ; Sweden ; Germany.
From 1*5 — 2 mm. high, sporangia and stem varying from orange to deep blood-red, stem elongated, slender.
B. Apex of sporangium not differentiated into a distinct lid. Craterium leucocephalum, Rost. (figs. 298 — 301).
Sporangia stipitate, conico-cylindrical, pyriform or subglobose, apex rounded and eventually breaking away in a circumscissile manner, upper portion of sporangium whitish and rough with minute, innate particles of lime which eventually fall away, leaving minute pits in the wall, basal portion of sporangium dark reddish-brown, much wrinkled; capillitium dense, knots large, irregular, numerous, usually aggregated in the centre to form a columella, granules of lime colourless, yellow or brownish ; spores globose, dull violet or brownish, minutely warted, the wart often with a tendency to form anastomosing lines, 8 — 11 p diameter.
Craterium leucocephalum, Rost., Mon., p. 123, f. 98, 100 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 19, f. 98, 100; Kaunk., Myx. Dan., p. 80, t. 4, f. 12; Sacc., Syll., 1238.
Exsicc. — Syd., Myc. March., 1500; Fuckel, Fung. Rhen., 1452; Roum., Fung. Gall., 1679; Rab.-Winter, Fung. Eur., 2674.
On leaves, twigs, bark, &c. Britain (Jedburgh, Chiselhurst, Epping, Gloucester, Wanstead Park, Scarboro', Carlisle, Appin, N. B.) ; Germany ; France ; Italy ; Denmark ; United States ; Brazil.
Plasmodium yellow. Gregarious or scattered, 1*5 — 2 mm. high, variable in form and length of stem, the upper convex portion of the sporangium breaks away in a circumscissile manner, there is not a differentiated lid as in C. vulgare. The present species is best characterized by the pale upper portion of the sporangium being incrusted with minute particles of white or yellowish lirne, and also by the presence of numerous circular discs sunk in the substance of the wall; these discs vary
268 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
in size from 10 — 50 /u, diameter, have the margin more or less grooved, and show indications of lines radiating from the centre to the circumference. These discs occur also rarely in the capillitium threads.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Fun^oides minimum infundibiliforme, albicans, pediculo dona- turn. Mich., Nov. PL Gen., p. 205, n. 13, t. 86, f. 14 (1729).
Peziza convivalis, Batsch., Elenoh. Fung., p. 121 (1781) (not convivalvis, as erroneously quoted by Rostafinski and Cooke).
Stemonitis leucocephala, Pers., in Gmel., Syst. Nat., p. 1467, n. 9 (1791).
Stemonitis cyathiformis, Schrnk., I.e., p. 19 (1790).
Trichia cinerea, Trent., l.c., p. 227 (1797).
Arcyria leucocephala, Hoffm., Fl. Cr. ger., t. 6, f. 1 (1795).
Physarum pedunculatum, Schum., FL Saell., n. 1453 (1803).
Trtchiae aureae affinis, FL Dan., t. 1314, f. 2 (1810).
Cyathus cinereus, Purt., Brit., iii., n. 1561, t. 35 (1817).
Craterium leucocephalum, Ditm., I.e., t. 11, Grev., FL Scot., t. 65 (1817).
Craterium vulgare, Chev., Fl. Paris, 340, non Ditm. (1826).
Physarum leucostictum, Chev., Fl. Paris, p. 336, t. 9, f. 29 (1826).
Craterium leucostictum, Fr., l.c., iii., p. 152 (1829).
Cupularia leucocephala, Lk., Hdbk., iii., 421 (1833).
Physarurn xanthopus, Wallr., in Sched. (1833).
Craterium xanthopm, Walk, Fl. Germ., ii., 358 (1836).
Craterium deoperculatum, Fr., in Wein., I.e., p. 597 (1836).
Cupularia xanthopus, Rabh., FL Cr. Germ., n. 2226 (1844).
Craterium pruinomm, Corda, Icon., vi., p. 13, t. 2, f. 33 (1854).
Craterium cylindricum, Mass. (n. sp.) (fig. 213).
Scattered or gregarious, stipitate, sporangium cylindrical, elongated, apex rounded, smooth, even, lower portion pale clear red, white above, upper portion breaking away in a circum-
Craterium. 269
scissile manner; stem thin, elongated, red, like base of spor- angium ; capillitium dense, nodes very large, irregularly angular, filled with yellowish granules of lime, connected at various points by long, very thin internodes not containing lime, com- bined at the base of the sporangium to form a short columella ; spores dirty lilac, globose, smooth, 9 — 10 /a diameter.
Exsicc. — Ellis, North Amer. Fung., exs., n. 1400 (as Craterium leucocepha luni).
On twigs, &c. United States.
Stem about two-thirds the length of the sporangium, 2 — 2'5 mm. high. Allied to G. leucocephalum, but .distinguished by the elongated, narrowly cylindrical sporangium; the long, thin internodes of the capillitium, and the smooth spores.
Craterium aureum, Eost. (figs. 257 — 261).
Sporangia elliptic-oblong, subglobose, or pyriform, stipitate, wall thick, brittle, rugulose, from bright lemon-yellow to reddish- orange, upper convex portion breaking away in an irregularly circumscissile manner; stem usually shorter than sporangium, orange-yellow, subequal, expanding at the base into a small hypothallus; capillitium dense with numerous large, irregular knots with yellow or white granules of lime, connected ~by elon- gated, thin, empty internodes; knots aggregated in the centre towards the base to form a columella ; spores globose, brownish- lilac, minutely verruculose, 8 — 10 p diameter.
Craterium aureum, Host, Hon., p. 124; Cooke, Brit. Myx., p. 20 ; Sacc., Syll., 1239.
Craterium mutabile, Fr., S. M., iii., p. 154.
On leaves, bark, twigs, moss, &c. Britain (Kew, Carlisle, Lyndhurst, Appin, N. B.) ; Sweden ; Germany ; Algeria ; United States.
Plasmodium clear lemon-yellow. Scattered, T5 mm. high, distinguished by the rugulose, bright yellow, rigid sporangium, and the long slender internodes in the capillitium, in which respect the present species approaches the genus Physarum.
270 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Trichea aurea, Schum., Fl. Saell., 1461 (1803). Craterium mutalile, Fr., I.e., iii., p. 154, non S. Gast. (1829). Cupularia mutabilis, Rab., Fl. Germ., Cr., n. 2225 (1844). Physarum Durieui, M., Herb.
Craterium rnbiginosum, Mass. (figs. 309, 310).
Sporangia globose, broadly elliptical, or obovate, stipitate, dehiscing in a more or less regular circumscissile manner, lower portion of sporangium permanent, reddish-brown, often with a purple tinge, lid or apical portion paler, sometimes whitish ; stem about equal in length to sporangium, stout, dark red- brown, passing downwards into a spreading hypothallus; capillitium dense, white, threads aggregated in the centre to form a dark-coloured columclla ; spores dingy violet, globose, minutely warted, warts sometimes more or less arranged in lines, 10 — 13 n diamercr.
Badhamia rubiginosa, Host., Mon. App., p. 29 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., n. 1158.
Scyphium rulriginosum, Rost., Mon., p. 148, fig. 115; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 29, fig. 115.
Exsicc.— Ellis, N. Amer. Fung., 1215.
On wood. Britain (Appin, N. B.) ; Germany ; France ; United States.
Gregarious, 2'5 — 3 mm. high.
(Rostafinski's Synonym.)
Physarwn rubiginosum, Chev., Fl. Par., 338 (1826) ; Eng. Fl., v., 315; Cke., Hdbk., n. 1137.
Craterium dictyospermum, Mass. (figs. 305, 306).
Sporangia globose or obovate, dehiscing in a circumscissile manner or irregularly, lower portion of sporangium permanent, reddish-brown, becoming paler or whitish at the apex; stem about equal in length to the sporangium, rather stout, dark
Cratei'ium. 271
brown ; capillitium dense, white, threads aggregated in the centre to form a brownish columella; spores violet with usually a brown tinge, globose, covered with irregular simple or branched ridges, which here and there combine to form an imperfect network, 10 — 14 \i diameter.
Badhamia dictyospora, Host., Mon. App., p. 4 ; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 82.
On wood, moss, &c. Britain (Carlisle) ; United States.
Gregarious, 2 — 3 mm. high ; indistinguishable from C. ru- biginosum, except by the nature of the markings on the epispore. May possibly prove to be a form of the last-named species.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Physarum canum, Klotzsch., Hb. Hook. Physarum rubiginosum, Berk., Eng. Fl., v., p. 315.
Craterium lilacinum, Mass. (figs. 307, 308).
Sessile, aggregated, globose, smooth, reddish-lilac, capillitium threads variable in diameter, clustered together in the centre and forming an irregular columella ; spores purple, sometimes tinged with brown, globose, epispore furnished with short, irregular ridges, which sometimes combine to form an irregular network, 12 — 16 ju. diameter.
Badhamia lilacina, Host, Mon., p. 145, figs. 108, 109; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 27, figs. 108, 109 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., n. 1156.
Exsicc. — Syd., Myc. March., 1297 (as Leocarpus vernicosus).
On rotten wood, bark, twigs, &c. Britain (Carlisle); Ger- many ; United States.
Usually crowded, sporangia seated on a broad base, wall generally smooth, but sometimes rather rough. The present species may eventually prove to be a sessile form of C. dictyo- spermum.
(Rostafinski's Synonym.) Physarum lilacinum, Fr., I.e., iii., p. 141 (1829).
272 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Craterium Curtisii, Mass.
Gregarious, sessile, obovate, fixed by a point to a very thin hypothallus, umber-brown, wall thin, smooth or sometimes rugu- lose, soon disappearing at the apex; capillitium dense, nodes large, irregular, separated only by sJwrt constrictions, everywhere containing pale brown granules of lime, the nodes become confluent towards the base and form an irregular columella ; spores brown with indistinct lilac tinge, globose, minutely warted, 7 — 8 n diameter.
Badhamia Curtisii, Host., Mon. App., p. 3; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1159.
Didymium Curtisii, Berk., Grev., vol. ii., p. 65. (Type in Herb. Berk., n. 10,758.)
Scyphium Curtisii, Host, Mon., p. 149.
On leaves, grass, &c. United States.
Sporangial wall very thin, shining, containing very little or no linjE. About 1 mm. high.
Craterium Fuckelii, Mass. (n. sp.).
Sporangia perfectly globose, contracted below into a short, stout stem, every part brmvnish-ochre, upper portion breaking away in an irregularly circumscissile manner; nodes of capil- litium large, angular, combining towards the base to form an irregular columella; spores dirty lilac, globose, rather coarsely warted, 12 — 14 p diameter.
Craterium mutabik, Fr., in Fuckel's Fung. Uhen., Exs., n. 1455. (Kew copy.)
On wood. Germany.
Distinct from C. aureum in the globose, differently-coloured sporangia, the absence of the long, thin internodes of the capillitium, and the larger, coarsely-warted spores.
Craterium minimum, B. and C.
Sporangia broadly elliptical, apex convex, breaking away in an irregularly circumscissile manner, pale yellow, becoming
Physarum. 273
brownish towards the base, as is also the very short, equal stem ; nodes rather scanty, large, irregularly angular, connected at various points ~by rather long, thin internodes ; spores globose, dirty lilac, 7 — 8 /u, diameter, smooth.
Craterium minimum, B. and C., Grevillea, vol. ii., p. 67 ; Host., Mon., p. 125 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1240.
(Type in Herb. Berk., Kew, n. 10,827.)
On herbaceous stems, &c. Lower Carolina.
Usually growing in lines on slender, dead herbaceous stems, •5 up to nearly 1 mm. high ; the long, thin internodes of the capillitium are unusual in the genus.
Craterium minutum, Kickx.
Sporangium stipitate, campanulate, rounded and umbilicate below, 1 — 1'5 mm. long, of a yellowish clay-colour, tinged brownish or reddish towards the base, 'sprinkled with very minute, wart-like, paler spots. Operculum the same colour as the upper part of the sporangium. Filaments whitish. Spores globose, black. Stem 2, rarely 3 mm. high, attenuated towards the apex, wrinkled, often compressed, russet-brown or reddish", springing from a blackish- brown indistinct hypothallus.
Craterium minutum, Kickx, Flor. Flanders, ii., p. 23.
On rotten wood.
The present species is considered as a species of Tilmadoche by Rostafinski, but as his description differs very materially from that of Kickx, the latter is given above. There is no reason, judging from the description alone, to show why Kickx was not quite correct in considering his specimen as a Craterium.
PHYSARUM, Pers.
Sporangia solitary, plasmodiocarp, or combined to form an aethalium, wall single or of two distinct layers; threads of capillitium springing from all parts of the sporangial wall, combined to form an irregular network, with the numerous nodes or angles very much and irregularly swollen and filled
274 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
with granules of lime, the internodes thin and without liine ; dehiscence irregular, or by a longitudinal fissure iu the plas- modiocarp form.
Physarum, Pers.
Rost., Hon., p. 93; Cke., Brit. Myx., p. 11; Sacc, Syll., vii., p. 336 ; Zopf, p. 144.
The principal characteristic of the present genus is the presence of numerous large, irregularly swollen nodes, or points of junction of capillitium threads, filled with granules of lime, the internodes, or threads connecting the nodes, being thin and free from lime. Physarum passes by numerous transitional forms into Tilmadoche, which in the typical condition differs in the much fewer and smaller lime-containing nodes of the capillitium.
Distrib. Europe ; Africa ; Himalayas ; Ceylon ; Java ; Japan ; W. Australia ; N. Zealand ; Tasmania ; S. America ; W. Indies ; U. States. Species, 70.
A. Sporangia stipitate. (Some species included in the present section have sessile forms.)
* Epispore warted.
Physarum psittacinum, Ditm. (figs. 200, 291).
Scattered, gregarious, or fasciculate, sporangia stipitate, globose, slightly rugulose, lime scanty, green, often with orange and deep violet tints; stem elongated, subequal or attenuated upwards, expanding at the base into a small hypothallus, longi- tudinally rugulose, orange-red ; capillitium abundant, consisting of irregularly anastomosing, rather thin threads, connecting numerous large irregular nodes filled with lime, either colourless or usually some shade of orange; columella absent; spores globose, broumish-purple, very minutely verruculose, 7 — 9 ^ diameter.
Physarum psittacinum, Ditm., Sturm, t. 62 ; Rost., Mon., p. 104, figs. 75, 76 ; Cooke, Brit. Myx., figs. 75, 76 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1179 (Excl. Syn. Didymium, Ravenslii, B. and C.) ; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 74.
Physarum. 275
Didymium crythrinum, Cke., Grev., 1873.
On bark, &c. Britain (Neatishead, Norths); Germany; Sweden; France; Italy; Denmark.
Distinguished amongst the red-stemmed species by the green sporangium, and the capillitium consisting of thin, elongated internodes, some of the nodes are flattened, with one or more perforations and contain no lime, numerous others are filled with lime which is usually tinged orange; from 2 — 2'5 mm. high.
Care must be taken not to confound the present species with the green forms of Tilmadoche mutabilis.
(Rostafinski's Synonym.) Physarum psittacinum, Ditm., I.e., t. 62 (1817).
Physarum Schumacher!, Host. (figs. 287, 288). 1
Scattered or gregarious; sporangia globose, stipitate, warted with granules of lime, yellowish-olive, often with a tinge of green; stem erect, subequal, usually longer than the spor- angium, filled with lime, longitudinally rugulose, expanding at the base into a small hypothallus, pale yellow; columella cylindrical, whitish; capillitium dense, forming an irregular net, with numerous rather small knots containing yellowish granules of lime ; spores globose, dull violet, minutely verruculose, 7 — 9 \j. diameter.
Physarum Schumacheri, Host, Mon., 99 ; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 11 ; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 74.
Physarum citrinum, Sacc., Syll., n. 1176.
Physarum chrysopeplum, B. and C., in Herb.
Exsicc. — Ellis, N. Amer. Fung., n. 1395.
On bark, leaves, &c. Britain (Neatishead, Carlisle) ; Ger- many ; Italy ; Finland ; Ceylon ; United States ; S. America.
About 2 mm. high.' Capillitium dense, rather flaccid, inter- nodes long, thin, many of the angles flattened and not contain- ing lime, others irregularly branched and filled with yellow granules ; columella prominent. The above description applies
276 A Monograph of the Myocogastres.
to the typical form, but Rostafinski has given as forms of this species a heterogeneous collection, varying considerably in habit, colour, and size of spores, but all agreeing in having a colu- mella; how many of these forms are British I do not know, fi. chrysopus, which appears to be the same as Physarum citri- num, Schum., has been collected in Yorkshire, and a specimen probably corresponding to y. aurantiacum has been met with at Neatishead.
The following are Rostafinski's forms.
Var. a. genuinum. Sporangium yellow or greenish-yellow, £ mm. wide, stem yellow ; spores 7 — 8 \j. diameter ; granules of lime yellow. This variety is the one described above as the type form.
ft. chrysopus. Sporangium 1 mm. diameter, with the stem golden-yellow; spores 10 /* diameter; granules of lime golden- yellow.
y. aurantiacum. Sporangia | mm. diameter; stem brown; sporefi orange, 11 ft diameter; granules of lime brown.
8. rujipcs. Sporangium yellow or orange, sometimes iridescent ; stem orange-red ; granules of lime yellowish.
e. compactum. Plasmodiocarp veinlike, creeping, short, yellow or golden ; columella absent, disappearing with the stem.
Didymium melleum,, B. and C., given as a synonym of the present species by Rostafinski, although a Physarum, is quite distinct, as shown by an examination of the type specimen in the Berkeley collection in the Kew Herbarium.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Physarum titrinum, Schum., SaelL, i., 436 (1803).
Pkysarum aurantiacum, ft. rufipes, A. and S., Cons., 262 (1805).
Physarum vcmwosum, Link, Herb.
Physarum compactum, Ehr., Syl. Ber., p. 21 (1818).
Physarum SchumacJicri, Spr., Syst., iv., p. 528 (1827).
Diderma citrinum, Fr., S. M., iii., 100 (1829); Cooke, Hdbk.,
n. 1107.
Diderma rujipcs, Fr., S. M., iii., 101. Diderma compactum^ Wallr., Herb.
Physarum. 277
Physarum aureum, ft. chrysopus, Lev., Ann. Sc. Nat. (1846),
p. 166.
Physarum flavum, Fckl., Syn., p. 343 (1869). Didyniium melleum, B. and C., Ceyl. Fung., 751. Didymiuin chrysopeplum, B. and Br., N. A. Fung., 348.
Physarum virescens, Ditm.
Sporangia stipitate, sessile and crowded, an irregular plas- modiocarp, or an effused aethalium, wall rough, yellow, with green or olive tints, stem when present yellow, wrinkled, equal to or shorter than the sporangium ; columella , absent ; capil- litium scanty, knots of lime few, small ; spores globose, dingy lilac, very minutely verruculose, 7 — 9 /u, diameter.
Physarum virescens, Ditm., in Sturm, t. 61 ; Host., Mon., p. 103 ; Cooke, Brit. Myx., p. 13 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1183 ; Schroeter, p. 128.
Physarum thejoteum, Fr., Gast., p. 21.
Physarum Ditmari, Host., Mon. Append., p. 13.
Didymium croceo-flavium, B. and Br., Fung. Ceylon, n. 757.
Exsicc. — Fckl., F. Rhen., 1460 (as Physarum anceps, de By).
a. genuinum. Sporangia sessile on a broad base, crowded, rarely scattered.
/3. stipitatum. Sporangia stipitate, stem stout, longitudinally wrinkled, yellow.
y. confl'iuens. Sporangia sessile, plasmodiocarp or confluent, and forming a cake-like aethalium.
On leaves, moss, &c. Britain (Chiselhurst, Bristol, N. Wales, Carlisle) ; Sweden ; Germany ; Madras ; Ceylon ; United States.
Usually sessile and crowded, sporangia subangular from mutual pressure, varying from clear yellow through olive to greenish-yellow, the last being most frequent, and with the scanty eapillitium with very few small knots containing lime, marks the species in all its forms.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Physarum virescens, Ditm., t. 61 (1817). Physarum thejoteum, Fr., Gast., p. 31 (1818).
278 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Physarum anceps, Fckl, Sym. Myc., 343 (1869). Didymium nectriaformv, B. and C., Grev., 353. Didymium eroceo-flavium, B. and Br., Fung. Ceylon, n. 757. Didymium lateritium, B. and Br., MSS.
Physarum melleum, Mass.
Sporangia stipitate, hemispherical, flattened below, wall thin, yellowish-olive or honey-coloured, sprinkled with minute particles of lime ; columella small, white ; capillitium very dense, snow- white, nodes numerous, very large, angularly stellate, separated from each other by constrictions only, lime in the form of granules present in every portion; spores globose, pale lilac, minutely verruculose, 6 — 7 /* in diameter; stem about equal to the sporangium in length, rather thick, equal, white, longitudinally wrinkled, filled with particles of lime, hypothallus absent.
Didymium melleum, Berk, and Broome, Ceylon Fung., n. 751, in Journ. Linn. Soc., vol. xiv., p. 83.
^ (Type in Herb. Berk., Kew, n. 10,810.)
Physarum Schumachcri, Host., Mon., p. 99 (in part).
Physarum citrinum, Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1176 (in part).
On dead leaves. Ceylon.
About 2 mm. high. Distinct from P. Schumacheri in the dense Badhamia type of the capillitium, smaller spores, and absence of the hypothallus.
Physarum citrinellum, Peck.
Sporangia subglobose or slightly attenuated at the base, sub- stipitate, wall thin, pale yellmo, sometimes with a greenish tinge, rough urith numerous crystals of lime, becoming irregularly ruptured at the apex; the very short stem is rufous, longi- tudinally wrinkled, and expands into a minute hypothallus; columella absent; capillitium rather dense, nodes irregularly stellate-angular, large, containing colourless granules of lime, intcrnodes elongated, very thin, colourless, without lime; spores globose, pale lilac, minutely warted, 7 — 8 jx diameter.
Physarum citrinellum, Peck.
On mosses. United States.
Physarum. 279
From £ — f mm. high. A very fine specimen named as above was sent to me by Mr. H. Wingate, of Philadelphia. It appears to differ from Physarum chrysotrichum only in the white nodes of the capillitium and the very short stem.
Physarum rufibasis, B. and Br. f K^<
Scattered or gregarious, stipitate ; sporangia globose, dull yellow or tawny, even, sprinkled with minute particles of lime, dehiscing irregularly; stem elongated, slender, tapering upwards, longitudinally furrowed, expanding at the base into a small, circular hypothallus, bright brown, filled with minute granules of lime; columella absent; capillitium dense, forming an irregular network, nodes incrassated, irregularly angular, large, numerous, filled with bright yellow granules of lime, connected at various points by rather thin, long internodes ; spores pale lilac, globose, very indistinctly verruculose, 10 \JL diameter.
Physarum rufibasis, Berk, and Broome, Fungi of Ceylon, Journ. Linn. Soc., vol. xiv., p. 85.
Tilmadoche hians, Host., Mon. Append., p. 14 (in part).
Tilmadoche minuta, (Kickx) Berlese, Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1251 (in part).
(Type in Herb. Berk., Kew, n. 10,800.)
On twigs. Ceylon.
A very fine species, about 2-5 mm. high, resembling a Tilma- doche in the small sporangium and long, slender stem, but the nodes of the capillitium are large and stellately angular.
Physarum flavum, Fries, (fig. 215). 9-s\i\lpVvr€\jw\ W^
Scattered or gregarious, but not crowded ; sporangia globose or slightly depressed ; wall rugulose, rigid, bright lemon-yellow, sometimes with a tinge of green, breaking away in irregular patches ; stem stout, about equal to sporangium, or shorter, bright yellow, very much longitudinally wrinkled, containing amorphous masses of lime, expanding at the base into a small hypothallus ; columella absent; capillitium rather dense, nodes irregularly
280 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
angular, internodes rather long, thin ; spores globose, pale lilac, very minutely verruculose, 10 p. diameter.
Physarum Jlavum, Fr., Sym. Gast., p. 22; Rost., Mon., p. 100; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1186.
(The above description drawn up from a specimen named by Fries.)
On mosses, &c. Britain (Wales) ; Sweden ; Germany.
Usually growing on living mosses, scattered, 1'5 — 2 mm. high; stem stout. Very closely allied to Physarum Ditmari, Host., of which the present may possibly prove to be a stipitate form ; however, in the absence of such evidence, it is well for the present to retain it as a species.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Physarum Jlavum, Fr., Symb. Gast., p. 22, I.e., iii., p. 135
(1818).
Physarum citrinella, Fries, in Herb. ; Kunze. Cratcrium Jlavum, Fr., Sm. Veg. Sc., p. 454 (18491).
Physarum Schroeteri, Rost. \. •: ••'
Sporangia stipitate, hemispherical, depressed ; stem conical, thick, golden, shining, continued as an obtusely conical columella ; threads of capillitium slender, combined to form a dense net- work, furnished with nodes containing lime; spores spinulose, blackish-brown, 10 — 12 p diameter.
Physarum Schroeteri, Rost., Mon. App. I., p. 419; Karst., Myc. Fenn., iv., p. 102; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1172.
On leaves and twigs of Alnus. Finland.
Physarum brunneolum, Phillips (figs. 221, 222). N
Scattered or gregarious, but not crowded, sessile ; sporangia globose or subdepressed, wall single, thick, smooth and polished, Irifjlit ^yellow-brown, dehiscing in a stellate manner, the segments becoming rcftexed, snow-white inside; columella absent; capil- litium very 4ense, snow-white, nodes very large and numerous,
Physarum. 281
irregularly angular, filled with lime, connected at several points by very thin, short internodes ; spores globose, dirty lilac, very minutely verruculose, 6 — 7 p diameter.
Physarum 'Irunneolum, Phil., in Herb.
Diderma brunneolum, Phillips, Grev., v., p. 114, t. 87, f. 3, a—./; Saca, SylL, vii., 1, 1292.
(Type in Herb., Phillips.)
On oak bark. San Francisco.
A very beautiful and remarkable species, reaching up to 1 mm. in diameter. Intermediate between the genera Chon- drioderma and Physarum, agreeing with the former in the polished, porcelain-like sporangial wall dehiscing in a stellate manner, and with the latter in the structure of the capillitium, whereas the very large and numerous nodes of the capillitium separated from each other by constrictions rather than by true internodes, suggests affinity with the genus Badhamia.
Physarum Ravenelii, Mass. (figs. 234, 235). fc \>v
Scattered, stipitate ; sporangia perfectly spherical, not um- bilicate, dirty brown, sometimes rugulose ; stem elongated, rather slender, equal or slightly fusiform, coloured like the sporangium, filled with granules of lime ; columella absent ; capillitium copious, forming an irregular net ; nodes small, filled with yellow granules of lime, internodes thick, elongated, colourless, empty; spores dingy lilac, globose, very minutely verruculose, 6 — 7 /x diameter.
Didymium Ravenelii, Berk, and Curt., Grev., vol. ii., p. 53 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1318.
(Type in Herb. Berk., n. 10,771.)
On wood. Sulphur Springs, N. Carolina.
From 2'5 — 3 mm. high. Remarkable for the dirty brown colour of sporangium and stem. In form and size almost identical with Physarum. Kalchbrenneri. The knots of the capillitium are small and usually elliptical, resembling those characteristic of Tilmadoche, but the capillitium is altogether too robust to admit of the present species being placed in the
282 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
last-named genus. Sometimes two or three sporangia are seated on a common stem, forming a plasmodiocarp.
Physarum scyphoides, Cke. and Balf. (fig. 231).
Sporangia globose or broadly obovate, stipitate, upper portion of wall whitish, rough with amorphous lumps of lime, basal portion bright brown, persistent as a very shallow, irregular cup ; stem almost equal to sporangium in length, bright brown, erect, usually attenuated upwards, irregularly wrinkled and often compressed and twisted, expanding at the base into a minute, brown hypothallus; capillitium dense, knots of lime white or yellowish, very numerous, large, irregularly branched, connected by short, thin, colourless portions, becoming concentrated towards the base to form a columella ; spore globose, pale lilac- brown, minutely warted, 7 — 9 p diameter.
Physarum scyphoides, Cke. and Balf., in Rav., Fung. Amer., Exs., 480 (without description) ; Mass., Journ. Mycol., vol. v., p. 18# t. 14, f. 7 (1889).
On living leaves, grass, &c. Darien, Georgia ; (Rav., 2407). (Type in Herb., Kew.)
A very fine species, about 1 mm. high, scattered or gregarious ; the upper portion of the sporangium is whitish, with sometimes a suggestion of pink, falling away in patches when mature, and leaving the small, thicker, basal portion in the form of an irregular shallow cup or disc, which, with the character of the capillitium, suggest a leaning towards the genus Craterium.
Physarnm Reader!, Mass. (n. Bp.).fi«uU«
Sporangium stipitate, spherico-depressed, plane or slightly umbilicate below, greyish, covered with distinct but closely arranged white, innate flakes of lime ; stem equal to or longer than the sporangium, very thick, equal, brown, longitudinally rugulose, expanding into a broad, dark-brown hypothallus, filled with masses of lime and organic matter; capiUitium absent, but when the sporangium is empty a brown spot is seen at the base which corresponds to the apex of the stem; capillitium
Physarum. 283
dense, nodes few, large, angularly stellate, filled with colourless granules of lime, internodes elongated, slender; spores dirty lilac, globose, very minutely verruculose, 15 — 16 jx diameter. (Type in Herb., Kew.)
On wood. Melbourne.
Scattered ; 2'5 — 3 mm. high ; allied to Physarum leucophaeum, but quite distinct in the larger spores, thicker, equal stem, and in the large well-developed nodes of the capillitium.
Physarum polymorphum, Rostf.f o\y<s<^
Gregarious, stipitate, rarely sessile, sporangia compressed, grey, simple or more or less confluent, obovate, obcordate or lenti- form, margin lobed or waved ; stem filiform, subulate, or several confluent and forming a membranaceous, sulcate cone, yellowish ; threads of capillitium forming an irregular network, white, here and there with angular dilatations ; spores subglobose, violet- brown, spinulose, 9 — 11 /* diameter.
Physarum polymorphum, Host., Hon., p. 107; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1196.
On bark. Cuba ; United States.
Sporangia variable in form, often confluent, dark grey, trun- cate ; stem, subulate, strongly longitudinally wrinkled, yellowish- pink, rarely simple, usually fasciculate, curved or procumbent ; eapillitium strongly developed with angularly-globose dilatations containing lime (Sacc., Syll., I.e.). Unknown to me.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Didymium polycephalum, Mout., Ann. Sci. Nat., p. 361 ; Syll.,
n. 1074 (1873).
Didymium luteo-griseum, B. and C., Grev., p. 65 (1873). Didymium polycephalum, Rav., cfr. Grev., p. 53 (1873).
Physarum affine, Rost.
Sporangia spherico-depressed or subreniform, white; stem snow-white, opaque, about equal in length to the sporangium ;
284 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
capillitium well developed, snow-white; spores pale brownish- violet, epispore thick, warted, 10 — 12 /u, diameter.
Physarum ajfine, Rost., Mon., p. 94; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1200.
On rotten wood. Germany ; Poland.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.) (?) Trichia nivea, Fl. Dan., t. 776, f. 4 (1782). (?) Trichia rugosa, Trent., I.e., p. 288 (1797).
Physarum glaucum, Phillips. P-Co™ ^rcsi«
Sporangia subglobose, and depressed or irregularly lobed, more or less umbilicate below, grey, covered densely at first with snow-white particles of lime; stem much shorter than height of sporangium, blackish, thick, longitudinally wrinkled, expanding into a common, firm, pale hypothallus; columella absent; capillitium very dense, snow-white, nodes numerous, large, Angularly stellate, connected by very short internodes; spores bright violet, globose, rather coarsely warted, 12 — 14 /x diameter.
Physarum glaucum, Phillips, in Herb.
Physarum lividum, Cke., Myxomycetes of the United States, in Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist., of N. York, vol. xi., n. 12, p. 384.
Didymium glaucum, Phillips, Grevillea, vol. v., p. 113, t. 88, f. 6, a — e; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1315.
(Type in Herb., Phillips, examined.)
On dead branches. California.
Scattered or gregarious, up to 1 mm. across, stem sometimes obsolete. Certainly not synonymous with Physarum lividum as supposed by Cooke, but much more nearly allied to Physarum nephroideum, from which it is distinguished by the very dense capillitium of numerous large nodes only separated from each other by constrictions, hence every portion contains granules of lime as in the genus Badhamia,
Physarum cupripes, Berk, and Rav. 9-iUt\cov*uir\ Sporangia* subglobose, umbilicate below, dark grey, often ivith
Physarum. 285
a purple tinge; stem elongated, slender, attenuated upwards, straight or slightly bent above, copper-colour, longitudinally wrinkled, filled with masses of lime and organic matter, usually expanding at the base into a small, circular hypothallus; colu- mella absent; threads of capillitium numerous, thin, combined to form an irregular, dense net, swollen elliptical portions con- taining yellowish granules of lime, numerous, small, either formed at the angles of bifurcation or . interstitial ; spores globose, pale lilac, minutely wartcd, 9 — 12 ^ diameter.
Physarum cupripes, B. and R., Grev., vol. ii., p. 65. (Type in Herb. Berk., Kew, n. 10..779.)
Physarum Bcrkeleyi, Host., Mon., p. 105 (in p&rt).
Physarum flavicomurn, Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1193 (in part).
JExsicc. — Rav., Fung. Car., n. 76 (under the name of Physarum cupriceps, B.).
Berkeley's type specimen is a portion of the same gathering issued in Ravenel's Exs., quoted above, and possibly Berkeley in sending Ravenel the name, wrote cupriceps instead of cupripes ; however this may be, it is certain that the two names refer to the same species. The present species has been hope- lessly confused with others by Rostafinski.
The following note accompanied Ravenel's specimen to Berkeley.
"At first a yellowish-green mucus, spreading on the surface 12 — 18 in. square, interlaced with veins. On these veins small clavate pedicels arise of the same colour, the heads becoming thicker and assuming finally the subspherical form, changing to lilac-blue."
On dead wood. United States.
Gregarious, 2 — 2'5 mm. high.
Physarum nefroideum, Rost. I lOWheCtui* Ucte
Sporangia longitudinally compressed, circular in outline, but owing to the umbilicus at the base, reniform, minutely cinereo- furfuraceous, scarcely 1 mm. broad; stem f — 1 mm. long, cylindrical, slightly striate, Iroivn ; columella almost obsolete;
286 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
threads of capillitium hyaline, here and there with irregular swellings containing lime, internodes long, slender, some of the nodes empty ; spores globose or angularly subglobose, 11 — 13 /* diameter, blackish-violet, minutely verruculose.
Physarum nefroideum, Host., Mon., p. 93, figs. 80 — 82 ; Cke., Brit. Myx., figs. 80—82.
Physarum compressum, Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1167.
On leaves, rotten wood, &c. Britain (Lyndhurst, New Forest) ; Germany ; Italy.
Closely allied to P. Phillipsii, but differing in the structure of the capillitium, the nodes containing lime are much smaller, the internodes long and slender, and many of the nodes are empty and collapsed, or contain air only and not lime.
Physarum candidum, Host,
Sporangia strictly or irregularly globose, sessile or stipitate, dehiscj»g irregularly, wall charged with lime, snow-white ; stem white, elongated, plicate, 1 mm. high, rigid, crustaceous, capillitium with snow-white roundish nodes containing lime; spores pale violet, muricate, 12 — 15 p diameter.
Physarum candidum, Host., Mon., p. 96; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1170.
On rotten wood. Juan Fernandez.
Physarum simile, Rost.
Gregarious, stipitate, sporangia globose, grey, densely covered with small white lumps of lime, rigid ; stem usually twice as long as sporangium, equal, or slightly thickened below, and passing into a small, orbicular hypothallus, yellmvish, sometimes with a pink tinge, rigid, filled with particles of lime, usually longitudinally wrinkled ; columella subcylindrical, whitish, one- fourth the height of the sporangium or less; capillitium dense, threads thin, colourless, forming an irregular network, swellings of nodes or interstitial parts small, elliptical or triangular, with colourless or yellowish granules of lime ; spores dingy lilac, very minuted vcmiculose, 7 — 8 /* diameter.
Physarum. 287
Physarum simile, Rost., Mon. Append., p. 6 (species founded by Rostafinski on a specimen in Herb. Berk.) ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n, 1175.
Physarum Petersii, var. Farlowii, Rost., Mon. Append., p. 6 (specimen named by Rostafinski in Herb. Berk.).
Exsicc.— Ellis, N. Amer. Fung., n. 1120.
On wood, moss, &c. United States.
Closely resembling P. Petersii, differing in the grey sporangium. About 1.5 mm. high.
Physarum leucopus, Rost. (figs. 60 — 62). V-^u..
Sporangia globose, broadly ellipsoid or a little depressed, stipitate or sessile, rarely elongated and flexuous or anasto- mosing, wall at first covered with a continuous, snow-white coat of lime, which soon becomes broken up into smooth, innate patches ; stem variable in length, white, containing lime, straight, brittle, slightly thinner upwards, longitudinally rugose, passing into a more or less evident hypothallus ; columella absent ; capillitium strongly developed, snow-white, with numerous large, irregularly branched knots, containing lime in small granules; spores globose, dingy lilac, rather coarsely warted, warts almost black, 9 — 12 11 diameter.
/. stipitatum. Stem present, length variable, in the typical form, equal to, or longer than, the sporangium.
/. sessile. Stem very short or entirely absent, when the sporangia are sessile on a broad base, sometimes confluent, elongated, sinuous, or anastomosing irregularly.
Physarum leucopus, Rost, Mon., p. 101 ; Cke., Myx. Brit., 12; Schroeter, p. 129; Karsten, Myc. Fen., p. 102; Sacc., Syll., vol. vii., pt. I., n. 1188.
Physarum leucophaeum, y. fl,exuosum, Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 15.
Exsicc. — Rab., Fung. Eur., 335 (as Physarum albipes'} ; Cooke, Fung. Brit., Ed. II., 519.
On wood, moss, &c. Britain (Highgate, Carlisle) ; Germany ; Finland ; Sweden ; S. Africa ; S. America ; Ceylon ; Australia.
A somewhat rare species, often represented in Herbaria by
288 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Didymium squamulosum, which differs in the large, white columella. Distinguished from sessile forms of Physarum leu- copliaeum, by the coarser capillitium furnished with numerous large nodes, and the slightly larger and more coarsely warted spores.
(Ptostafmski's Synonyms.)
Didymium leucopus, Link, Diss., 2, p. 42 (1809).
Physarum bullatum, Link, Diss., 2, p. 42 (1809); Ditmar,
t. 22.
Physarum albopunctatum, Link, Herb. Didymium leucopus, Fr., S. M., iii., 121 (1829); Engl. FL, v.,
p. 313; Cke., Hdbk., n. 1127. Physarum ramentaceum, Fr., in litt. ad Wein (1836).
Physarum leucophaeum, Fr. (figs. 63 — 66 and 96).^eu
Sporangia subglobose, usually a little depressed below, stipitate or sessile, wall thin, with irregular, white, innate patches of lime, dehiscing irregularly ; stem usually longer than the spor- angium, erect, slightly attenuated upwards, longitudinally rugu- lose, brown, paler above, passing into a dark hypothallus ; capil- litium dense, colourless, anastomosing very irregularly, threads thin, often flattened at the angles which rarely contain lime; spores globose, dingy lilac, minutely warted, 8 — 10 /x diameter.
/. fasciculatum. Stems confluent.
/. sessile. Stem very short or entirely absent, sporangia scattered or confluent, regular or sometimes elongated and anastomosing.
Physarum leucophaeum, Fr., Symb. Gast., p. 24; Host., Mon., p. 113, figs. 77, 78, and 89; Cooke, Myx. Brit, p. 15, figs. 77 78, and 89; Sacc., Syll, n. 1192; Schroeter, 129; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 75.
Didymium pruinosum, B. and C., Cuban Fungi, n. 530. (Type in Herb. Berk.)
On leaves, twigs, bark, moss, &c. Britain (Queen's Cottage grounds, Kew ; Hampstead, Bristol, Deal, Scarboro', Carlisle,
Pliysarum. 289
Edinburgh) ; France ; Germany ; Italy ; Hungary ; Denmark ; S. Africa ; Australia.
About 1*5 mm. high ; stem, when perfect, dingy brown, slightly attenuated upwards; the sessile and irregular forms are dis- tinguished from Pliysarum cinereum by the dense, irregular capillitium having most of the angles flattened and rarely containing lime.
Var. molascens, Host. Sporangium subglobose or compressed, wall thin, iridescent, with violet or reddish tints, with very few small, innate patches of lime, or these may be entirely absent ; stem short or equal to sporangium, stout, expanding at the base into a small hypothallus, yellowish, darker below, strongly wrinkled longitudinally ; capillitium and spores as in the type.
Pliysarum Icucophaeum, /3. molascens, Rost., Mon., p. 113; Cke., Myx. Brit., p. 15.
On moss. Epping Forest.
(Rostafmski's Synonyms.)
Sjjhacrocarpus albus, Bull., p. 136, var. 3, 4 (1791).
Trichia filamentosa, Trent.', p. 227 (1797).
Physarum confluens, Link, Diss., ii., 42 (1809).
Pliysarum connexum, Link, Diss., ii., 42 (1809).
Physarum hypnorum, Link, Diss., ii., 42 (1809).
Physarum albopunctatum, Link, Herb.
Physarum davus, Ehr., Herb.
Physarum conglobatum, Ditm., t. 40 (1817).
Physarum leucophaeum, Fr., Sym. Gast., p. 24; Syst. Myc.,
iii., 132 (1818); Cooke, Fung. Brit., ii., n. 519. Didymium melanopus, j3. davus, Wallr., non Fries (.1833). Didymium terrestre, Fr., in Weinm. (1836). Physarum albipes, De Bary, not Link (1859). Physarum striatum, Fckl., Sym. Myc., 342 (1869). Didymium hemisphericum, Fckl., Sym. Myc., 341 (1869).
Physarum granulatum, Balf. fil. (figs. 68 — 70). ^vt<u\s. v».O
Sporangia stipitate, globose, sometimes slightly flattened below, grey, with small innate granules of lime, and having in
290 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
addition a sprinkling of large, superficial, snow-white, amorphous lumps of lime; stem about equalling the sporangium, from dirty grey to brown, dilated downwards, and passing into a dark hypothallus, longitudinally striate ; capillitium colourless, form- ing an irregular net, threads very thin, often flexuous, nodes small, often flattened, only very few containing lime; spores globose, minutely ivarted, 9 — 10 /m diameter.
Physarum granulatum, Balf., Grev., vol. x., p. 116 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1204.
(Type in Herb., Kew.)
On wood. In Herb. Currey, Kew. No locality, but un- doubtedly British.
About 1*5 mm. high, closely resembling Physarum leucopliaeum in the capillitium and spores, but distinguished by the large granules of bicarbonate of lime on the sporangial wall. In the capillitium the present species approaches the genus Tilmadoche, but differs in the great amount of lime on the sporangium wall.
Physarum PMllipsii, Balf. fil. (figs. 77,
Sporangia stipitate or subsessile, laterally compressed, irregular, subreniform, subpyriform, sometimes coalescing, dark grey, generally more or less rugose, with numerous minute, white, innate particles of lime ; stem much shorter than sporangium, thick, often flattened, blackish, sometimes almost obsolete ; colu- mella absent; capillitium well developed, white, knots of lime large, irregular, numerous, connected by short, thin portions; spores lilac, globose, minutely ivarted, 10 — 12 p diameter.
Physarum Phillipsii, Balf. fil., Grev., vol. x., p. 116; Sacc., Syll, n. 1208.
(Type in Herb., Kew.)
On manured ground in an orchard house. Shrewsbury.
A very marked species, possibly having its nearest ally in Physarum nephroideum, Rost. (I. B. B.).
Mr. A. Lister has appended the following note to the type specimen of the present species in the Kew Herbarium : —
" Should not this be called Physarum compression, A. and S.,
\
Physarum. 291
as the older name ? I have grown it from plasmodium in large quantity, and have sporangia answering both descriptions."
The description of Physarum compressum, by Albertini and Schweinitz, is as follows : — " P. compressum. Stipitate, peridium umbilicate, compressed like a bivalve shell, obversely parabolic, grey. Stem of medium length, firm, brown. Peridium convex above, dehiscing by a longitudinal fissure. Threads of capil- litium rather abundant, white." Alb. and Schw., Corn. Fung., p. 97.
I am convinced that the present species is Physamm Phillipsii, Balf. fil., the type specimen is in a good state of preservation, and the detailed description given by the author will enable any one to recognize the species. In reply to Mr. Lister's question as to whether it is not the P. compressum of A. and S., I must admit that I am not at all certain; the stem is not brown as it should be, according to the description by the last- named authors; the white capillitium, without further quali- fication, is common to scores of species, therefore the only feature which remains is the compressed sporangium, and this I cannot admit as sufficient proof that Physarum Phillipsii should be reduced to a synonym of Physarum compressum, A. and S. If Mr. Lister's reasoning is sound, then we must admit that pocket-lens characters are all-sufficient for the determination of species, and that the more laborious and exact system of microscopic examination initiated by Dr. Rostafinski is a mere farce, and altogether unnecessary. In writing the above I have assumed that Dr. Lister is not in possession of the type specimen of Physarum compressum, A. and S.
Physarum didermoides, Rost. (figs. 82 — 84).
Sporangia elliptic-oblong, stipitate or rarely sessile, springing from a Inroad, membranaceous, whitish hypothallus, wall double, outer chalk-white, brittle, soon falling away; inner membran- aceous, grey ; capillitium with numerous, rather large nodes containing colourless granules of lime ; spores globose, brownish- violet, minutely warted, the warts often arranged in lines ; 12 — 15 /u, diameter.
292 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Physarum didermoides, Rost., Mon.,p. 97, figs. 74, 87; Cooke, Brit. Myx., p. 11, figs. 74, 87; Sacc., Syll., n. 1171; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 72.
Didymium congcstum, B. and Br., Ann. Nat. Hist. (1850), p. 365 ; Cooke, Hdbk., n. 1130.
Spumaria licheniformis, Sz. (specimen from Schweinitz in Herb. Berk.).
Exsicc. — Sacc., Myc. Ven., 269 (as jfiidymium congcstum, B. and Br.).
On grass, twigs, bark, &c. Britain (King's Cliffe, Bulmer, Yorks. ; Carlisle); France; Germany; Italy; Russia; Sweden; United States; Ceylon.
Usually crowded or gregarious in considerable numbers, springing from a tough, common hypothallus ; sporangia 1*5 — 2 mm. long, stem variable in length, usually shorter than spor- angium, generally very weak, flattened or twisted. When
sessile the sporangia are sometimes shorter than usual.
4
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Spumaria didermoides, Ach.; in Pers., Syn., p. xxix (1801). ' Diderma ollongum, Schum., Saell., n. 1423 (1803); Flor.
Dan., t. 1973, f. 1 ; Fr., S. M., iii., 103. Claustria didermoides, Fr., S. V. S., 451 (1849). Didymium, congestum, B. and Br., Ann. Nat. Hist. (1850),
p. 365 ; Cooke, Hdbk., n. 1130. Didymium farinacewm, Purt., M. F., p. 273.
Physarum imitans, Racib.
Sporangia hemispherical, umbilicate, greyish-white, dehiscing irregularly, stipitate, erect or slightly nodding, stem subulate, brownish-black, slightly longer than the sporangium, rigid; columella absent, capillitium white, copious, forming an irregular net, nodes irregular, sometimes filled with lime ; spores 9'5 — 10 mm. diam., violet, warted.
Racib., Myx. Crac., p. 5, f, 3, a, 6; Sacc., Syll., 1205.
On branches. Poland. Sporangia (stem included) up to 1 mm. high.
Physanun. 293
Physarum pulcherrimum, B. and R.
Sporangia globose or broadly elliptical, sometimes slightly umbilicate below, stipitate, varying in colour from clear deep rose-red to pink ; stem similarly coloured, varying- length from once to twice the length of the sporangium, slender, expanding at the base into a circular hypothallus, filled with particles of lime, longitudinally wrinkled ; columella absent ; capillitium variable, sometimes scanty, at others rather copious, threads thin, forming an irregular network, colourless, or tinged pink, swollen portions elliptical, small, number variable, interstitial, rarely produced at the nodes, containing pin,k granules of lime; spores globose, reddish-lilac, very minutely vwruculose, 8 — 10 p diameter.
Physarum pulcherrimum, B. and Rav., Grev., vol. ii., p. 65, fig. 84; Cke., Brit. Myx., fig. 84; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1178: Rost., Mon. Append., p. 8.
(Type in Herb. Berk., Kew, n. 10,781.)
On wood, &c. United States; Paraguay.
A slender, delicate species, stem thin, erect; sporangium covered with a smooth crust composed of minute granules of lime. The hypothallug is usually pale ochraceous and wrinkled. Gregarious, sometimes becoming crowded, rarely 2 — 3 sporangia supported on a common stem, from 1*5 — 2 mm. high.
* Epispore smooth. Physarum Carlylei, Mass. (figs. 240, 241). ?>*«•«*'"
Sporangia stipitate, broadly pyriform, orange-vermilion, mi- nutely furfuraceous ; stem about equal in length to diameter of sporangium, thick, rugulose, vermilion, expanding downwards into a small wrinkled hypothallus ; threads of capillitium thin, yellow, forming a dense net, swollen at the angles and there containing orange-coloured granules of lime; columella absent; spores globose, smooth, dirty violet, 7 — 8 JA diameter.
Grev., vol. xvii., March (1889).
On rotten wood. Carlisle. (Dr. Carlyle.)
294 A Monograph of the Muxogastres.
A very distinct species, sporangia 1*5 — 2 mm. high, scattered singly or in groups of two or three. Most nearly related to Physarum nlliginosum, Fr., but readily distinguished by the smaller spores, and the scattered stipitate sporangia. Readily distinguished from the red form of Physarum Schumachcri, by the absence of a columella and the pyriform sporangium passing insensibly into the short stem.
Physarum atrorubrum, Peck. ?.?vAcVeT«,v*uv*t
Scattered or gregarious, stipitate ; sporangia globose, even or somewhat wrinkled, dark-red; stem cylindrical, even, blackish or subconcolorous, capillitiurn when cleared of the spores whitish, sometimes with a slight pinkish tinge ; columella none ; spores globose, smooth, dark-brown in the mass, dark-red when separated, '0003 — '00035' in diameter ( = about 8 — 9 p.).
Physarum atrorubrum, Peck, 31st Report, N. York State Mus., p. 40; Sacc., SylL, vii., 1, n. 1202 (as Physarum atro- piirpureum by mistake).
Decaying wood. Adirondack Mt?., U. States.
The plants are scarcely one line high. The capillitiurn is very delicate, and when cleared of the spores the knot-like thickenings are seen to be very small and of a dark-red colour, to which probably is due the pinkish tinge sometimes observed. The dark -red granules of the sporangium walls are abundant, and appear to form a continuous crust. (Peck.)
Physarum roseum, B. and Br.
Sporangia stipitate, globose, broadly elliptical or obovate, dark reddish-purple, sporangial wall covered with a thin crust of minute granules of lime; stem brownish-purple, equal, longitudinally wrinkled, filled with granules of lime, equal to or usually longer than sporangium, expanding at the base into a small, circular, pale brown, wrinkled hypothallus ; capil- litiurn well developed, threads thin, tinged pink, with scattered, elliptical, interstitial swellings containing lime, nodes not usually enlarged or containing granules ; spores globose, smooth, 10 — 11 M diameter.
Physarum. , 295
Physarum roseitm, Berk, and Broome, Fungi of Ceylon, ii., n. 760, in Journ. Linn. Soc., vol. xiv., p. 84; Host., Mon. Append., p. 10; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1194.
(Type in Herb. Berk., Kew.)
On grass, moss, bark, &c. Ceylon ; Paraguay.
Gregarious, 2'5 — 3 mm. high. Closely allied to Physarum pulcherrimum, of which the present species may eventually prove to be only a variety. The spores are generally smooth under a TVth objective, but some show a minutely verruculose surface.
Physarum ornatum, Peck. .f.oj^^V"^
Sporangia depressed or hemispherical, plane or slightly con- cave beneath, greenish-cinereous, dotted with small yellow granules, the empty walls whitish ; stem short, black or blackish- brown, generally longitudinally wrinkled when dry; columella none ; capUlitium with numerous, yellow, knot-like thickenings ; spores globose, smooth, violet-brown in the mass, '0004' — '0005' in diameter ( = about 10 — 11 /x).
Physarum ornatum, Peck, 31st Report of N. York State Mus., p. 40; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1220.
Decaying wood. Albany, U. S.
Physarum Petersii, B. and C. ?.?<AtV.s>«
Gregarious, stipitate, sporangia globose, wall thin, yellow, with a thin sprinkling of minute particles of lime that soon disappears ; stem elongated, slender, subequal or slightly thicker below, expanded at the base into a small, orbicular hypothallus, reddish-brown, longitudinally wrinkled and filled with lime; columella subglobose or shortly cylindrical, whitish ; capillitium rather dense, forming an irregular network, threads thin, with scattered, elliptical, interstitial swellings containing yellow granules of lime, nodes rarely swollen ; spores dirty lilac, smooth, 7 — 8 p diameter.
Physarum Petersii, B. and C., Grev., vol. ii., p. 66; Host., Mon., p. 116, Append., p. 6 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, 1174.
296 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
(Type in Herb. Berk.)
Physarum galbcum, Wingate, in E. and E., N. Amer. Fung., 2491.
On moss, wood, &c. U. States.
Resembling in the long, slender stem, and small, elliptical lumps of lime, some species of Tilmadoche from which genus it differs in the presence of a columella. About 2 mm. high.
Physarum hians,
Sporangia stipitate, yellowish-red, then blackish, globose or slightly elongated; stem reddish-brown, silicate, expanding at the base into a small, circular hypothallus, penetrating the sporangium as a columella which reaches nearly to the apex ; threads of capillitium yellowish, with violet tinge, forming a somewhat dense network, nodes irregularly oblong, reddish- yellow, spores violet, smooth, 8 — 10 n diameter.
Ttynadoche hians, Host., Mon. App., p. 14.
Tilmadoche minuta, Berl., Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1251.
On dead leaves. Belgium.
The present species is removed from Tilmadoche on account of the columella.
Physai'um rufibasis, B. and BrM quoted by Rostafinski as a synonym under the present species is quite distinct, hence the Ceylon habitat of the latter is incorrect.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.) . •
Cralenum minutum, Kickx, non Fr.
Physarum rujibasis, B. and Br., Fung. Ceylon, n. 762 (1873). CJwndrioderma inflatum, Rost., Mon., p. 425, n. 177 (1874). See Kickx's description of Craterium minutum under Cra- terium.
Physarum Leveillei, Rost.^ -^^^
Sporangia lenticular, furfuraceous, golden, as is also the upwards attenuated stem, threads of capillitium vanishing; spores globose, smooth, 10 — 11 jx diameter.
Pliysarum. 297
Physarum Leveillei, Rost., Mon. App., p. 7; Sacc., SylL, vii., 1, n. 1177.
On dead leaves. Chili.
Var. chrysopits, Host., stem and sporangium golden-yellow, 1 mm. diameter; spores 10 p. diameter, lime granules golden- yellow.
Var. auripes, Host. ; stem golden, sporangium citrin.
Venezuela.
Var. Fuistingii, stem orange, sporangium rufmbs-brown.
Westphalia.
(Rostafinski's Synonym.) .
Physarum aureum, /3. chrysopus, Lev., Ann. Sc. Nat., p. 116 (1846).
Physarum Kalchbrenneri, Mass. (n. sp.).
Scattered, stipitate, sporangia spherico-depressed, umbilicate below, pale yelloiv-green, rough with minute particles of lime ; stem elongated, thickest below or fusiform, pale pink, rigid, filled with granules of lime; capillitium forming a very dense, irregular network, nodes numerous, large, irregularly angular, containing yellow granules of lime, internodes 6 — 9 //, thick, colourless, without lime, collapsing; spores dingy-lilac, smooth, 11 — 13 JJL diameter.
(Type in Herb., Kew, along with Tilmadoche variabilis.')
On wood. Cape of Good Hope.
Superficially resembling a typical Tilmadoche in the long, slender stem, but separated from that genus by the very thick capillitium tubes, and the numerous large, irregularly angular nodes. From 2'5 — 3 mm. high.
Physarum globuliferum, Rost.
Sporangia globose, stipitate, greyish ; stem equal to spor- angium or twice as long, rigid, fragile, white, sulcate ; columella large, cylindrical, obtuse, white ; capillitium well developed, rigid, not collapsing, vesicles containing lime numerous, of variable size, yellowish or reddish; spores globose, smooth, 9 — 11 p diameter.
298 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Physarum globuliferum, Rost., Mon., p. 98; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1173.
On moss, leaves, rotten wood, &c. Sweden ; France ; Ger- many.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Sphaerocarpus globulifer, Bull., Champ., p. 134, t. 484, f. 3
(1791). Stemonitis gldbulifcra, Gmel., Syst. Nat., ii., p. 1467, n. 2
(1791). Physarum globuliferum, Pers., Syn., p. 175, t. 3, f. 11, 12
(1801).
Trichia globulifera, D.C., Fl. Fr., 2, p. 253 (1805). Didenna globuliferum, Fr., l.c., iii., p. 100 (1829).
B. Sporangia sessile, plasmodiocarp, or acthalioid. 4 * Epispore warted.
Physarum cinereum, Rost. (figs. 71 — 73). n
Sporangia sessile on a broad base, sometimes globose, scattered or crowded, at others elongated, flexuous and depressed, wall rigid with lime, white ; columella absent ; capillitium abundant with numerous large, irregular knots of lime connected by very thin threads; spores globose, dingy violet, minutely warted, 10 — 13 n diameter.
Physarum cinereum, Rost., Mon., p. 102, figs. 71, 72, 85 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 13, figs. 71, 72, 85 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1189 ; Schroeter, p. 128; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 75, t. 4, f. 9.
Exsicc. — Ellis and Everhart, N. Amer. Fung., ser. II., n. 2085 ; Rav., Fung. Car., 79 and 83.
Fung. Cub. Wrightiani, 535 ; De Thum., Myc. Univ., 1598 ; Holl, Schmidt and Kunze, Deutsch. Schw., 38 ; Roum., Fung. Gall., 1881.
On leaves, wood, twigs, &c. Britain (King's Cliflfe, Bury St. Edmund's, Bungay, Kevv, Hitchin, Carlisle, Scarboro', Berwick, N. Wales, Linlithgow) ; Germany; Finland; Sweden; Belgium;
Physarum. , 299
France ; Switzerland ; Algiers ; S. Africa ; United States ; Ceylon ; Australia ; India.
Varying from *5 — 2-3 mm. when elongated ; some forms of the present species resemble externally Didymium serpula, Fr., but are readily distinguished under the microscope.
Var. ovoideum, Sacc. Sporangia vertically ovoid, densely gregarious.
Physarum cinereum, var. ovoideum, Sacc., Mich., ii., p. 334.
Britain (Lynd hurst, New Forest) ; France.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Mucilago Crustacea, Mich., Gen., t. 96, f. 9 (1729).
Lycoperdon cinereum, Batsch, fig. 169 (1783).
Lycoperdon alni, Bjer., in Vet. Handl., p. 39 (1789).
Trichia caerulea, Trent., p. 229 (1797).
Physarum cinereum, Pers., Syn., p. 170 (1801); Nees, f. 107;
Letell., t. 710, f. 2. Physarum violaceum, Schum., Saell., 1428 (1803) ; Fl. Dan.,
t. 1980, f. 2.
Physarum corrugatum, Link, Herb. Physarum coelatum, Ehr., Herb. Physarum conglolatum, Fr. Gast., p. 21 (1818); Letell.,
t. 710, f. 3. Didymium cinereum, Fr., S. M., iii., 126 (1829); Eng. FL,
v., p. 314; Cke, Hdbk., 1133. Physarum plumbcum, Fr., S. M., iii., 142 (1829). Physarum Weinmanni, Fr., var. in litt. Didymium melanopus, Wallr., n. 2193 (1833). Physarum sinuosum, Wallr.
Didymium scrobiculatum, Berk., Hook. Journ. (1845), p. 66. Physarum album, Fuckel, F. Rhe'n., 1469 (1865).
Var. flexuosum. sessile on a broad base, depressed, spherical in outline, or elongated and variously curved, wall at first white, becoming grey when the outer chalky layer has broken away in flakes; columella absent; capillitium dense, threads thin, 2 fj. diameter, colourless, Jtexuous or spirally coiled, furnished
300 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
witli numerous small, discoid, coloured projections irregularly scattered, combined to form an irregular network, interstitial, small, elliptical swellings containing colourless granules of lime, very rare ; spores brown with lilac tinge, globose, coarsely warted, 14 p. diameter.
Physarum cinereum, Sacc., Myc. Ven., Exs., n. 1101.
On living or dead leaves, twigs, &c. Britain (Epping Forest) ; Italy.
The above, if in reality a variety of Physarum cinereum, differs considerably in the structure of the capillitiuui and the large, coarsely warted spores. Its occurrence in Britain and Italy suggests it to be a constant form.
Physarum chrysotrichum, B. and C. T.loAe-otiuv
Sporangia sessile, subglobose when scattered, often irregular or crowded and more or less confluent, wall rigid, usually granulated with projecting lumps of lime, varying from yellow through fulvous to almost clear vermilion; capillitium dense, nodes numerous, large, irregularly angular, filled with yellow or tawny lumps of lime, connected at various points by long, thin, empty intcrnodes, some of the nodes are small and without lime ; spores lilac, globose, minutely warted, 7 — 8 p diameter.
Physarum chrysotrichum, B. and C., Grev., vol. ii., p. 66. (Type in Herb. Berk., Kew, n. 10,804.)
Physarum inaequalis, Peck, 31st Report, p. 40.
Badhamia decipiens, Host., Mon. A pp., p. 4.
"Physarum subglobosum, (B. and C.)." Sacc., Syll., vii, 1, n. 1226. (I am not aware that there is any such species by B. and C., and it is obviously a slip in Saccardo's Sylloge for P. chrysotrichum.
On moss, wood, &c. United States.
The type specimen is a true Physarum, as will be seen by the above description, and on the~ same piece of moss-covered wood ranges through the colours given above.
Physarum scrobiculatum, Mass. P-c-vmeTium1 Sporangia sessile on a broad or narrowed base, seated on a
Physa ru in. 301
thick, wide-spreading hypothalhis, scattered or aggregated, often irregular and aethalioid, or several blending together to form a plasmodiocarp, pale flesh-colour, brittle, often furfuraceous ; capillitium dense, forming an irregular network, nodes numerous, large, irregularly angular, filled with yellow granules of lime, connected at several points by long, thin, colourless internodes without lime; columella absent; spores lilac-brown, globose, minutely warted, 13 — 14 /u, diameter.
Didymium scroliculatum, Berk., Hook. Journ., vol. iv., p. 66.
Physarum cinereiMi, Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1189 (in part.). (Type in Herb. Berk., n. 10,77-1)
On charred wood. Australia.
Distinct from P. cinereum in the size of the spores, wide- spreading, firm hypothallus, and colour of the sporangia! wall.
Physarum Rostafinskii, Mass. "P. c,<
Sporangia distinct, conglomerated, sessile, rounded or angular, depressed, exterior membrane thickish, granular, chalky, fragile, yellow or ochraceous, interior wall thin, grey or yellowish, from 0*2 — 0'5 mm. diameter; capillitium furnished with numerous irregularly angular nodes containing coloured granules of lime ; columella cylindrical, spores minutely spinulose, blackish-violet, 8 — 9 ju, diameter.
Physarum conglomeratum, Host., Mon., p. 109; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1184.
On leaves, moss, &c. Germany; Sweden; Finland; San Francisco.
I am not acquainted with the present species, which is certainly not Diderma conglomeratum, Fr., as supposed by Rostafinski, hence the localities given by Rostafinski may or may not show the distribution of this species ; the same applies to his synonyms.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Diderma ochraceum, Hoffm., Fl. Germ., iii., t. 9, f. 2, b (1795). Eeticularia ochracea, Poir., Ency. ap Streintz (1795).
302 A Monograph of the Myocogastres.
Spumaria granularia, Schum., Fl. Saell., n. 1419 ; Fl. Dan.,
t. 1979, f. 2 (1803). Spumaria minuta, Schum., Fl. Saell., n. 1419 ; Fl. Dan.,
t. 1979, f. 1 (1803). Diderma vitellinum, Link, Herb. Didymium glomeratum, Fr., Herb. Didymium contextum, (3. glomerulosum, Fr., Sym. Gast., p. 20
(1818).
Diderma conglomeratum, Fr., I.e., iii., p. Ill (1829). Diderma granulatum, Fr., l.c., iii., p. 110 (1821). Diderma minutum, Fr., I.e., iii., p. Ill (1829). Diderma rugulos-um, Wein., I.e., p. 594 (1836). Diderma flavum, Fr., in Wein., I.e., p. 593 (1836). Leocarpus minutus, Fr., Sm. Veg. Scan., p. 540 (1849). Leocarpus granulatus, Fr., Sm. Veg. Scan., p. 541 (1849). Garcerina conglomerata, Fr., Sm. Veg. Scan., p, 451 (1849).
^ Physamm rubiginosum, Rost. :
Sporangia gregarious, usually nearly globose, attached by a broad or narrow base, wall double, outer layer brittle, breaking away in flakes, from dirty orange to clear vermilion, inner wall very thin, grey; columella absent; capillitium copious, nodes and interstitial swollen portions numerous, variable in size, containing yellow or reddish granules of lime ; spores dingy violet, 10 — 13 p. diameter, with a slight indication of being verruculose.
Physamm ruMginosum, Rost., Hon., p. 1 04 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1180.
On moss, &c. Sweden ; Finland ; United States.
Sessile, globose, 1 — 1'5 mm. diameter; distinguished by the bright colour of the outer layer of the sporangial wall, the very thin, grey, inner layer, absence of columella and spores which vary from being perfectly smooth to very minutely verruculose. The granules of lime present on the outer wall of the spor- angium, when examined under the microscope, are seen to be mostly minute and yellow, amongst which are a few scattered, larger ruby-red lumps.
Physaniw. 303
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Physarum rubiginosum, Fr., Sym. Gast, p. 21. non Chev.
(1818).
Leangium rubiginosum, Fr., Stirp. Femsj., p. 83 (1825). Physarum fulvum, Fr., I.e., iii., p. 143 (1829).
Physarum contextum, Host. (figs. 276 — 283). 1Ws
Sporangia sessile on a broad base, crowded, subglobose, reni- form, or elongated and variously interlocked, wall double, outer thick, containing lime, varying from colourless to deep lemon- yellow, inner thin, yellowish ; capillitium well 'developed, with numerous, irregularly branched 'nodes containing lime, usually tinged yellow ; spores globose, brownish-violet, minutely warted, 11 — 14 /x. diameter. .
Physarum contextum, Host, Mon., p. 109 ; Cooke, Brit. Myx., p. 13; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 73; Sacc., Syll., n. 1185; Schroeter, 130.
Exsicc. — Fckl, Fung. Rhen., 2400 (as Diderma contextum, Pers.) ; Ellis and Everh., N. Ainer. Fung., ser. II., 2086.
On moss, leaves, and bark. Britain (Shere, Kew, King's Cliffe); France; Germany; United States; Ceylon.
In some of its forms resembling Physarum conglomeratum, from which it is known by the denser capillitium of numerous large, irregular knots containing yellow granules of lime, and the larger sporangia usually of a pale lemon-yellow, sometimes with a very faint tinge of green.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Diderma contextum, Pers., Obs., i., 89 (1796) ; Ditm., t. 39 ;
Cke., Hdbk, n. 1117.
Physarum contextum, Pers., Syn., 168 (1801). Didymium contextum, Fr., Gast., p. 20 (1818). Lcocarpus contextus, Fr., S. V. S., 450 (1849). Chondrioderma contextum, Rost., in Fckl., Sym. Myc., ii., 74
(1873). Diderma ochroleucum, B. and C., Grev., 343.
304 A Monograph of the Myxoyastres.
Physarum diderma, Host. P.ii^ev monies
Sporangia sessile, adnate by a narrow base, globose, snow-white, wall double, outer dense, fragile, thick, charged with lime, inner thin, separated for some distance from the outer, the obsolete columella composed of numerous angularly-globose granules of lime; spores dingy violet, spinulose, 9 — 10 /x diameter.
Physarum Diderma, Host., Mon., p. 110; Sacc., Syll., vii., 9, n. 1168.
Poland.
The above imperfect description suggests the genus Chon- drioderma rather than Physarum.
Physarum lividum, Host. P.^Ae*
Sporangia crowded, sessile, subglobose or irregular, blackish, thickly covered with small white particles of lime; columella absent ; spores globose or subangular, opaque, minutely aspcru- lose, JO — 12 /ix diameter; capillitium almost absent.
Physarum lividum, Host., Mon., p. 95 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, 1169.
On fallen Opuntia. Sweden ; Germany ; Algeria ; N. America.
I have no knowledge of the present species, which appears to be too briefly described to insure future identification.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Physarum griseum, Link, Diss. II., f. 42 (1809).
Physarum effusum, Link, Herb. (1809).
Physarum conglobatum, FT., Sym. Cast., p. 21, p.p. non Dit.
(1818).
Spumaria licheniformis, Sz., Amer. Fung., n. 2364 (1834). Didymium physaroides, M. Fl. Alg., p. 412, non Fr. (1846). Licea alba, Boug., Herb. (1846).
Physarum conglomeratum, Mass. (figs. 210 — 212, 284—286).
Sporangia sessile on a broad 'base, convex above, crowded, subangular from mutual pressure, wall double, outer containing
Physarum. . 305
much lime, rough, dirty ochraceous, breaking away irregularly, inner membranaceous, grey ; columella absent ; mass of spores blackish-violet ; capillitium rather dense, flaccid, threads colour- less, 2*5 — 3 ft thick, irregularly anastomosing, nodes distant, irregularly globose, filled with colourless granules of lime ; spores globose, dusky violet, coarsely warted, 11 — 13 /u, diameter.
Diderma conglomeratum, Fries, Syst. Myc., iii., p. Ill (not Physarum conglomeratum of Host., Mon., f. 90 ; Cke., Brit. Myx., f. 90; Sacc., Syll:, v., 7, n. 1184).
(Specimen from Fries in Herb. Berk., Kew.)
On bark. Britain (King's Cliffe) ; Sweden.
Sporangia about '5 mm. diameter. Capillitium consisting of long, thin, anastomosing internodes, nodes distant, subglobose, without tapering rays, but giving origin at once to the thin, empty, flaccid internodes.
The above description is compiled from a specimen sent by Fries to Berkeley, and marked in Fries' handwriting, " Diderma conglomeratum, Fries, Suec. Lindberg." The specimen is now in the Berkeley collection in the Kew Herbarium. From the above it will be seen that Rostafmski's Physarum conglomeratum, which he considers to be the Diderma conglomeratum of Fries, is not that species at all, hence synonyms have not been given. I am not acquainted with a species corresponding to Rostafinski's description.
Physarum sinuosum, Rost. (figs. 292,
Plasrnodiocarp laterally compressed, elongated, flexuous, or irregularly anastomosing, white or yellowish, usually dehiscing by a split along the upper, free margin, wall double, the outer mostly converted into lime, brittle, the inner without lime, grey ; capillitium dense, knots containing lime large, numerous, connected by short, thin portions; spores globose, brownish- violet, variously but always wry minutely verruculose, 8 — 9 //. diameter.
Physarum sinuosum, Rost., Mon., p. 112, f. 91 ; Cooke, Brit. Myx., p. 14, f. 91 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1198 (Excl. Syn. Diderma pallidum, B. and C.).
306 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Exsicc — Karst., Fung. Fenn., 698; Lib., Crypt. Ard., 376; Fck)., F. Ehen., 1466; Cke., Brit Fung., Ed. II., 206; Ellis, N. Amer. Fung., 1394; Klotzsch, Herb. Myc. (Rah.), 761; Syd., Myc. March., 257; Rab., F. Eur., 798, 1913, 1070, 2139.
On bark, wood, &c. Britain (Bristol, Hampstead, Castle Howard, Yorks; Carlisle, Linlithgow) ; France; Germany; Finland ; Austria ; United States ; Cuba ; Ceylon.
Readily distinguished by the very much laterally compressed plasmodiocarp. The outer wall is sometimes almost as porce- lain-like as in Chondrioderma, but is usually rugulose. The epispore varies, when seen under a power of 1200 diameters, from almost smooth to being distinctly warted, and in some instances the warts become bar-like and more or less combined to form a very delicate and broken network.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
itfticularia sinuosa, Bull., t. 446, f. 3 (1791); Sow., t. 6. Physarum bivalve, Pers., Obs., t. 1, f. 2 (1796). Trichia spliaerica, /3. polymorpha, Trent., p. 230 (1797). Angioridium sinuosum, Grev., S. C. Fl., t. 310 (1828) ; Eng.
Fl., v., 315 ; Cooke, Hdbk., n. 1142, fig. 128. Diderma valvatum, Fr., S. M., iii., 109 (1829). Didymium sinuosum, DR. and M., Fl. Alg., p. 411 (1846). Carcerina valvata, Fr., S. V. S., p. 451 (1849). Leocarpm melalcucus, Gay, in Mont. Syll, 1072 (1855). Diderma contortum, Fckl., Sym. Mrc., 341 (1869). Diderma pallidum, B. and C., in Grevillea, iii., 59 (1873).
Physarum cerebrinnm, Mass. (n. sp.) (fig. 275). y«li(y>*eft
Aethalium naked, broadly effused, or in small scattered patches, consisting of very much contorted and anastomosing folds, greyish-lilac, sprinkled with minute particles of lime ; capillitium consisting of numerous, irregularly anastomosing threads about 3 f* thick, with here and there usually interstitial, large, elon- gated swellings filled with large, amorphous, yellow granules of
Physarum. 307
lime; spores globose, dull violet, very minutely verruculose, 9 — 11 /ix. diameter.
On wood and soil in a pot of palm-seeds from Java. Palm House, Kew.
Contorted and forming a brain-like mass from '5 — 4 cm. across, very friable. The present species connects the genera Physarum and Fuligo, if indeed the letter be anything more than an aethalioid condition of the former.
Physarum gyrosum, Rost.
Sporangia vermiform, sinuous, or variously anastomosing to form an irregular network, often forming more or less regular closed circles, wall double, outer very thin and delicate, inner thicker, rigid with granules of lime, varying from rusty-orange, through dull ochre to pale yellow, dehiscing in an irregular manner, capillitium fairly abundant, nodes large, angular, con- taining yellow or white granules of lime, internodes thin ; spores dingy violet, 11 — 12 /A diameter, minutely warted, globose.
Physarum gyrosum, Rost., Mon., p. 111.
Physarum muscorum, Sacc., Syll, vii., 1, 1197. ,
Exsicc. — Ellis, N. Amer. Fung., 1396.
On leaves, mosses, &c. Britain (Carlisle); Germany; Sweden; France ; Portugal ; United States.
Variable in size, the large reticulations often extending up to 1 cm. diameter. Superficially closely resembling Ceinkowskia reticulata.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Fuligo muscorum, A. and Sz., l.c., p. 86, t. 7, f. 1 (1805). Lignidium griseo-Jlavum, Link, Obs., i., p. 24, t. 2, f. 37;
Nees, Syst., f. 95 (1809).
Lignidium muscicola, Fr., Sym. Gast., p. 10 (1817). Lignidium reniforme, Fr., Sym. Gast., f. 10 (1817). Reticularia muscorum, Fr., I.e., iii., p. 91 (1829). Physarum sinuosum, Wein., in Fr., I.e., iii., p. 145; Excl.
sinom. Non. Auc. (1829).
308 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
* * Epispore reticulated.
Physarum concimmm, Mass. (figs. 22 — 24).BoA\naV>i\i'
Gregarious or crowded, sessile on a broad or narrowed base, globose, outer wall white, thick, at first crust-like or continuous, pulverulent, falling away in flakes and exposing the inner, thin, iridescent wall; columella absent; capillitium dense, knots large, irregularly stellate, white, connected by short, thin inter- nodes ; spores globose, dingy purple, with slightly raised ridges of various lengtlis anastomosing to form an irregular network, 11 — 13 n diameter.
Diderma concinnum, B. and C., Grev., 1873, n. 343.
Chondrioderma floriformc, Sacc., Syll., n. 1285 (in part.).
On moss and wood. Britain (King's Cliffe) ; United States.
Sporangia about '5 mm. diameter; the outer chalky layer is at first compact and somewhat resembles that characteristic of the genus Chondrioderma, but differs in being minutely pulverulent and not porcelain-like. The British specimen differs from the type in the Berkeley collection at Kew in having the ridges on the epispore more decided, and forming a more distinct reticulation. In the type the epispore is furnished with a mixture of warts and bars, but the warts are usually arranged in anastomosing lines. Saccardo's synonym is clearly due, to some mixture of specimens, not, however, present in the type specimen.
* * * Epispore smooth. Physarum Braunianum, De Bary. P.loteriYiV**1 V\o<^
Sporangia irregularly globose, minute, sessile, scattered or collected in little clusters, brown ; columella absent ; capillitium well developed, knots of lime small, brown, angularly globose; spores violet, smooth, 10 — 11 /* diameter.
Physarum Braunianum, De Bary, MS.; Host, Mon., p. 105; Sacc., Syll., vil, 1, 1182.
Germany.
About '5 mm. diameter.
Physarwrt. 309
Physarum Famintzini, Rost. \
Sporangia sessile, minute, crowded, sometimes- confluent, dingy chestnut, irregularly hemispherical, dehiscing at the apex ; columella absent; capillitium elastic, becoming elongated after dehiscence, nodes not usually developed, sometimes containing pale pinkish granules of lime •, spores pale violet, smooth, 10 ju, diameter.
Physarum Famintzini, Rost., Mon., p. 107; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1181.
On branches. Poland. '. ,
I don't know the present species, which, judging from Rostafinski's description, must be a very peculiar and. far from typical species of Physarum.
Physarum capense, Rost. ^ t.
Sporangia irregularly hemispherical or turbinate, sessile, simple, or most frequently in crowded clusters springing from a well developed hypothallus, greyish-white; columella absent; capillitium copious, nodes of lime few, sulgldbose with angular projections, internodes very long; spores pale violet, smooth, 11 — 14 ju, diameter.
Physarum Capense, Rost., Mon., p. 113, f. 92; Cke., Brit. Myx., f. 92; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1190.
On branches. Cape of Good Hope.
Physarum luteolum, Peck. P.v\testt*\s
Sporangium small, closely gregarious, sessile, yellowish, in- clining to tawny, rupturing irregularly ; flocci abundant, yellow- ish-white; spores globose, purplish-brown, -0004' in diameter ( = about 10—11 jn).
Physarum luteolum, Peck, 30th Report of N. York State Mus., p. 50, pi. ii., figs. 15—18; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1199.
Living leaves of Cornus Canadensis. Adirondack Mts., U. States.
310 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
* * * * Spores elliptical. Physarum ellipsosporum, Rost. (fig. 214).V\,\^o tt*«*
Plasmodiocarp variable in form, vermiform, sinuous, or reticu- lately combined, depressed, wall firm, charged with particles of lime, whitish or grey ; capillitium well developed, nodes numer- ous, containing colourless granules of lime, internodcs long, slender ; spores dirty lilac, tooadly elliptical, warted, many of the warts becoming elongated and ridge-like, 12 — 16 -f 9 — 11 p.
Physarum ellipsosporum, Rost., Mon. App., p. 10 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1191.
Enteridium cinereum, Schweinitz, Amer. Fung., n. 2365.
(The specimen from Schweinitz in Herb. Berk., Kew, is the one examined by Rostafinski.)
On decaying herbs. Carolina.
(Rostafinski's Synonym.) Enteridium cinereum, Schweinitz, Amer. Fung., n. 2365 (1834).
C. Position uncertain, owing to imperfect description and absence of sjjecimens.
Physarum flavo-virens, A. and S. 1.
Sporangia obovate, greenish-yellow; stem brownish; spores black.
Physarum flavo-virens, Alb. and Schwz., Nisk., p. 97 ; Fr., Syst. Myc., iii., p. 137; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1216.
Amongst inoss on rotten trunk.
Stem of medium length ; sporangium piriform, fragile, smooth, not squamulose. (A. and S.)
Physarum luteo-valve, Sz. ?
Irregularly lobed, convex, more or less confluent ; sporangia externally shining, gold-colour, more or less compressed like a bivalve shell ; spores deep yellow.
Physarum. 311
Physarum luteo-valve, Schweinitz, Syn., Fung. Amer. Borealis, n. 2298; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1218. On fallen twigs. Carolina.-
Physarum sulphureum, Rost.
Sporangia spherical, rugoso-squamulose, sulphur-coloured ; stem smooth, short, white, tapering from the incrassated base in an exactly conical manner, about equal in length to the sporangium or slightly longer; capillitium threads yellow; spores blackish - violet, 10 — 12 ju, diameter.
Physarum sulphureum, Rost., Mon., p. 101 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1187.
On dry fallen leaves. Germany ; Russia.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Physarum sulphureum, A. et Sz., I.e., n. 259, t. 6, f. 1 (1805). Physarum virescens, Fuckel, Syst. Myc., p. 343; non Ditm. (1869).
Physarum Schweinitzii, Berk. OV<\
Gregarious, shining, yellow ; the few capillitium threads and globose granulated spores the same colour, about 16 //. diameter, sometimes rather irregular.
Physarum Schweinitzii, Berk., Grev., vol. ii., p. 66 ; Sacc., Syll, vii., 1, n. 1225.
Polyangium vitellinum, Schweinitz (according to Berkeley).
On vegetable fragments. Bethlehem, U. S. (Schweinitz.)
Berkeley has probably at some time had a specimen from Schweinitz's Herbarium, but no such specimen exists in Berkeley's Herbarium, consequently I am not able to determine the nature of the specimen those authors had in view.
Physarum caespitosum, Sz. P. c.\Tr«v>e\\v
Substipitate or at least contracted at the base, caespitose or scattered ; sporangia close packed, turbinate, obovate, base con- tracted, exterior membrane with yellow squamules or rough
312 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
with particles; spores blackish-brown, threads of capillitium citrin.
Physarum caespitosum, Schweinitz, Syn., Fung. Amer. Bar., n. 2310; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1212.
On leaves and stems of Rhododendron. Bethlehem ; United States.
Physarum muscicolum, Pers."1
Sporangia turbinate, grey ; stem short, yellowish ; capillitium white ; spores black.
Physarum muscicolum, Pers., Obs., i., p. 6 ; Pers., Syn., p. 176 ; Alb. and Schw., p. 93; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1219.
On the larger mosses in pine woods, peat mosses, &c. Sweden; Germany.
Scattered or gregarious, hypothallus not distinct ; stem vari- able in length, about twice as long as sporangium, often reddish; sporangium smooth, at length squamulose, varying from obovate to cylindrical ; threads adnate, white, spores compacted. (Pers.)
Physarum albicans, Peck. T> <\l°^'
Sporangia whitish, fugacious, except at the base, externally mealy with lime granules, globose, as well as the more per- sistent whitish capillitium ; stem white, tapering upwards, sometimes connate at the base, slightly penetrating ; spores globose, purplish-brown, -00033' in diameter ( = about 8 — 9 jn).
Physarum albicans, Peck, 30th Report, State Mus. of N. York, p. 50, pi. ii., figs. 5—8; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1201.
Didymium sulroscum, Peck.
Bark and mosses. Adirondack Mts., U. States.
The fragments of the base of the peridium sometimes remain just below the capillitium, surrounding the stem like a calyx or collar. The stem is even and generally longer than the peridium, which it penetrates. After the spores have fallen the whitish colour of the capillitium becomes apparent. It then resembles a small globose tuft of wool. The plants grew on the branches and mosses of a standing dead birch tree.
Physarum. ' 313
Didymwm subroseum is apparently the same species, with a pinkish tinge to the peridium. (Peck.)
Physarum effusum, Schw. N«rf-
Broadly effused or vermiform, sinuous, and combined to form a reticulation, whitish, almost membranaceous, very much flat- tened ; threads of capillitium and mass of spores blackish.
Physarum effusum, Schweinitz, Syn., Fung. Amer., Bar., n. 2297; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1 n. 1211.
Broadly effused on ashes or soot ("pulvere vaporario "). Salem ; United States.
" : I
Physarum elegans, Sz. 1
Sporangia crowded, subrotund, difformed, convex, flattened above, subrugose, clear amethyst-colour ; spores blackish-brown ; threads of capillitium thickish.
Physarum elegans, Schweinitz, Syn., Fung. Amer., Bar., n. 2294; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1213.
Salem ; United States.
Physarum piceum, Fr. "!
Scattered ; sporangia sessile, globose, pitch-black, shining ; capillitium threads very slender, and with the spores, smoky- black.
Physarum piceum, Fr., Syst. Myc., iii., p. 143; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1222.
On heaped up decorticated oak branches. Sweden.
Sporangial wall very thin, membranaceous, very smooth, but rugulose, dehiscing irregularly, the size of a turnip-seed; capillitium threads very slender, almost inconspicuous. (Fries.)
Physarum antiades, Fries. D'<Urma
Sporangia globose, smoky-brown, marked with sinuous lines ; stem branched, blackish, sulcate ; threads and spores brown.
Physarum antiades, Fr., Syst. Myc., iii., p. 135 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1209.
314 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Sphaerocarpus antiadcs, Bull., Champ., p. 1 27, t. 368.
Trichia antiadcs, D.C., Fl. Fr., 2, p. 252 ; Chev., Par., p. 325.
On rotten wood. France.
Stem thick, deformed, several confluent, branched, irregularly lacunose ; hypothallus membranaceous, whitish ; sporangia de- hiscing by irregular rupture towards the apex from which the capillitium protrudes. (Fr.)
Judging from Bulliard's figure, and also from some points in the description, the present species is much more likely to be a Cribraria than a Physarum.
Physarum reticulatum, Berl. P.otvoN
Sessile, oblong or subdeformed, aggregated, externally black or greyish ; sporangia smoothish but elegantly reticulated ; spores black ; threads of capillitium whitish, rare.
Physarum reticulatum,, Berlese, Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1210.
Physarum atrum) Schweinitz, Syn., Fung. Amer., Bor., n. 2297.
On bark. Bethlehem ; United States.
Allied to Physarum cinereum, but larger. (Sz.)
Schweinitz's specific name was antedated by Persoon.
Physarum fimetarium, Schum. 7.
Sporangia obovate, pale purple-umber; stem short, sub- flexuose; capillitium and spores brown.
Physarum jimetarium, Schum., Saell., ii., p. 205 ; Fr., Syst. Myc., iii, p. 138; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1214.
On cow-dung. Scandinavia.
Scattered ; at first semi -liquid and white, then yellowish, piriform, substipitate, at length purple-umber; sporangia be- coming torn at the apex ; stem subflexuous, slightly thickened upwards. (Schum.)
Physarum hypnophilum, Fr. -7
Subsessile ; sporangia rounded, smooth, bay-coloured ; the very delicate threads and spores black.
Physarum. 315
Physarum hypnophilum, Fries, Stirpes Femsj., p. 83 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1217.
On Hypnum cupressiforme, growing on damp rocks. Sweden.
Scattered or gregarious, hypothallus not persistent; stem either absent or very short, rather thick, subdecumbent, coloured like the sporangium, which is very delicate, subglobose or attenuated at the base, the size of a turnip-seed, bay, rather shining, dehiscing by the irregularly torn apex ; rugulose when old, but not hyaline, threads very slender, black, adnate to the wall of the sporangium. (Fries.)
There is a specimen of Lamproderma physarmdes, sessile or nearly so, marked "Physarum hypnophilum,"' by Fries, and judging from the above description, Fries had probably had a Lamproderma in view ; the bay colour is rather against this idea, unless the coppery tint often present on the wall was intended.
Physarum atrum, Fries.
Closely aggregated, confluent, black; sporangia very thin, rounded ; capillitium threads none ; spores black.
Physarum atrum, Fr., Syst. Myc., iii., p. 147 (not of Schweinitz); Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1221.
Lycogala atra, Pers.
On dead trunks.
Sporangia adnate by a broad, flat base, rounded, connate from the centre downwards, often densely crowded and forming a continuous patch 2 mm. broad ; dehiscing irregularly, spores very abundant. (Fries.)
Rostafinski says (Mon., p. 302), that the present species is not a Myxogaster but an Apiosporium, probably A. imersum, but he had not examined an authentic specimen from Fries, and as Fries' description of the present species does not agree at all with the genus Apiosporium, it appears at best doubtful as to whether this synonymy is correct.
Physarum pulcherripes, Peck. Peridium globose, variable in colour, ochraceous, grey, brown,
316 A Monograph of the Myxoyastres.
or black ; stem slender, equal, or slightly tapering upward, vermilion ; spores globose, brown, '00033 in. in diameter ( = about 9 ft).
Physarum pulcherripes, Peck, 26th Report, New York State Mus., p. 75 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1207 (as P. pulchripes).
Rotten wood. Richmondville and Worcester.
The bright colour of the stem is quite conspicuous, notwith- standing the small size of the plant.
Physarum polyaedron, Sz. 1
Gregarious or slightly scattered ; sporangia rather large, smoky-black, dull, subhemispherical, exactly pentagonal, sides plane, rugulose, dehiscing in an irregularly stellate manner, lower portion persistent; spores smoky-black, mixed with threads of a similar colour.
Physai'um polyaedron, Schweinitz, N. Amer. Fung., n. 2300, p. 257 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, 1224.
On very old walnut trunk. Bethlehem ; United States.
Schweinitz says the present species resembles some minute sea-anemone.
BADHAMIA, Berk, (emended).
Sporangia stipitate or sessile, wall single, dehiscing by the irregular rupture of the upper portion ; threads of the capillitium springing from all parts of the sporangial wall, combined to form an irregular network, usually thick, and containing granules of lime throughout their length ; columella absent ; spores originating in clusters or free from the first, globose or elliptical.
Badhamia, Berk., Linn. Trans., xxi., p. 153; Berk., Outl., p. 303; Cooke, Hdbk., p. 391 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 25; Rost., Hon., p. 139 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., p. 329 ; Zopf, p. 147.
The genus, as founded by Berkeley, was characterized by the clustered spores, a feature now well known to be far from constant, even in the same species ; Berkeley further considered that the clusters of spores originated in hyaline cysts or mother- cells ; this has not been corroborated. The genera included in
Badhamia. '317
the Physarae are very closely allied, in fact so much so, that only the most typical species can be recognized from the features usually considered characteristic of each, numerous transitional species connecting the genera at various points. The most pronounced character of Badhamia, as defined above, is the thick capillitium threads which contain lime in the form of small granules throughout their entire length, and not con- centrated in large nodes separated by thinner portions without lime, as in the genus Physarum. Very closely allied to Craterium. For distinguishing features see note following last-named genus. Distrib. Europe ; N. America. Species, 18.
§ Spores equally warted all over. Badhamia macrocarpa, Rost. (figs. 79 — 81 and 294 — 297).
• Sporangia gregarious or scattered, stipitate or sessile, spring- ing from a slender hypothallus, subglobose, grey, base dirty brownish-yellow, this colour usually continuing upwards in a vein- like manner, upper part of sporangium with vein-like patches of white lime, wall thin, stem when present variable in length, rather stout, brownish-yellow, or pale, rugulose ; capillitium dense, knots numerous with scattered granules of lime ; spores free, globose, eqvially warted all over, the warts sometimes show a tendency to become elongated, brownish-purple, 10 — 15 /A diameter.
Badhamia macrocarpa, Rost., Mon., p. 143, figs. 118, 120, 121 ; Cooke, Brit. Myx., figs. 118, 120, 121 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1144.
Physarum macrocarpon, Ces., in Rab. Fung. Eur., n. 1968; Flora, 1855, p. 271.
Exsicc. — Rab. Fung. Eur., n. 1968; Syd. Myc. March., n. 1600 (stipitate form as Physarum leucophaeum}.
On decaying fungi, bark, &c. Britain (Lyndhurst, East Bergholt, Glamis, Aboyne, N. B., Kensington Gardens) ; France ; Germany; Italy; Poland.
Plasmodium yellow. Sporangia up to 1'5 mm. diameter, either crowded and sessile on a broad base, or with a stem equal to or longer than the sporangium. The yellowish colour at
318 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
base of sporangium shows inside when the spores are blown away. For distinguishing characters from B. panicea, see under that species.
(Rostafinski's Synonym.)
Physarum macrocarpon, Caes., Rab. Fung. Eur., n. 1968; Cfr. Flora, 1885, p. 271 (1855).
Badhamia panicea, Rost. (figs. 74 — 76).
Sporangia gregarious on a thin hypothallus, sessile on a broad or narrow base, globose or irregularly angular from mutual pressure, wall thin, often iridescent, studded all over with innate, detached, irregular patches of lime, the whole with a grey tint ; capillitium very dense, snow-white, knots large, branched, con- nected by thick bands, every part densely filled with granules of lime; spores free, or with an indication of being originally in clusters, globose, very minutely verruculose, dull violet, or brownish-purple, 9 — 12 /ut diameter.
Badhamia panicea, Rost., Mou., p. 144, f. 114 and 116 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., f. 114 and 116 : Sacc., Syll., n. 1141.
Physarum paniceum, Fr., S. M., iii., p. 141.
Exsicc. — Fckl., Fung. Rhen., 2499 (as Didymium cinereum)\ Desm., Or. Fr., 272.
On leaves, twigs, bark, &c. Britain (Hitchin, Blackheath, Dunton Green, Bungay, Kew) ; France ; Germany ; Sweden.
Plasmodium white. Sporangia up to 1 mm. diameter, gener- ally crowded and forming dense pale grey patches. Closely re- sembling superficially Badhamia macrocarpa, but distinguished by the coarser capillitium having every part crowded with lime, the much smaller warts on the epispore, and the absence of rugulose veins on the sporangial wall.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Mucilago, n. 8, Mich., Nov. Gen., p. 216, t. 96, f. 8 (?) (1729).
Physarum paniceum, Fr., I.e., 141 (1829).
Rctwidaria Schintzii, Debey, l.c., p. 1, t. 2, f. 1—3 (1847).
Badhamia, 319
Badhamia varia, Mass.
Sporangia more or less aggregated, sessile or stipitate, globose or obovate, grey and opaque, or shining with metallic tints; stem when present generally weak and decumbent, several often more or less grown together, pale yellow or reddish, springing from a well developed hypothallus of the same colour; capil- litium variable, well developed, knots large or not very evident ; spores in clusters or free from the first, globose, minutely warted all over, dingy lilac-brown, 9 — 12 p diameter.
Badhamia hyalina, Berk., Linn. Trans., xxi., t. 19, f. 3; Host., Hon., p. 140, fig. 113; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 25, f. 113; Sacc., Syll., vii., n. 1150.
Exsicc.— Eoum., Fung. Gall., 43 ; Fuckel, Fung. Rhen., 2689.
Badhamia capsulifera, Berk., Linn. Trans., xxi., p. 153 ; Host., Mon., p. 141 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 26 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., n. 1151.
Badhamia utricularis, Berk., Linn. Trans., xxi., p. 153; Sacc., Syll., vii., n. 1149.
Badham'ia magna, Peck, and Dictydium magnum, Peck, 31st Report, N. Y. Mus., p. 56.
On wood, moss, &c. Britain (Batheaston, Kew, East Berg- holt, Scarboro', Carlisle, Glamis, N. B.) ; France ; Germany ; Sweden; Belgium; Italy; United States; Ceylon; W.Australia; Tasmania.
The examination of a large series of the three species given as synonyms above, shows every shade of transition from one to another. When sessile the sporangia are globose or irregular from mutual pressure; when stipitate, usually more or less obovate or irregular. The amount of lime present on the wall varies considerably ; when abundant, the surface is usually grey and opaque ; when scanty, iridescent. The clustered stems are usually very slender and decumbent, and the clusters of spor- angia are sometimes pendulous. The capillitium is snow-white. The distinctive features of the species as defined above are the globose spores warted all over, and the smooth wall of the
320 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
sporangium, not rugulose as in B. macrocarpa, or with white, superficial patches of lime as in B. panicea.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
(Badhamia hyalina.) Physarum Jiyalinum, Pers., Disp., t. 2, f. 4, (1797) ; Eng. Flor.,
v., p. 315; Ann. Nat. Hist., n. 213. Physarum membranaceum, Schum., Herb. Physarum globuliferum, DC., in Herb. Physarum Jiyalinum, a. albidum, A. and S., 256 (1805). Physarum cinereum, Link, Diss., i., 27 (1809). Physarum botryoides, a. hyalinum, Fr., Stirp., p. 83 (1825). Physarum botrytis, Somm. (1826). Physarum gracile, Weinm., Herb. Physarum cancellatum, Wallr., Fl. Germ., 2128 (1833). Diderma papaverinum, Wallr., Fl. Germ., 2210 (1833). Badhamia hyalina, Berk., Linn. Trans., xxi., t. 19, f. 3 (1851),
Cooke, Hdbk., n. 1143. Physarum gracikntum, Fckl., Sym., 342 (1869), non Fries.
(Badhamm capsulifera.)
Sphaerocarpus capsulifer, Bull, t, 470, f. 2 (1791). Trichia capillifera, DC., Fl. Fr., 684 (1805). Physarum eapsuliferum, Chev., Fl. Fr., i., 339 (1826). Badhamia capsuliferum, Berk., Linn. Trans., xxi., p. 153
(1851); B. and Br., Ann. Nat. Hist., n. 1595; Grevillea,
vol. v., p. 12 (not Cooke).
(Badhamia utricularis.')
Sphaerocarpus utricularis, Bull, t. 417, f. 1 (1791).
Physarum ovoideum, Schum., Saell., 1425 (1803).
Trichia utricularis, DC., Fl. Fr., 676 (1805).
Physarum hyalinum, /3. chalybeum, A. and S., n. 256 (1805).
Physarum botryoides, /3. chalybeus, Fr., Stirp., p. 83 (1825).
Physarum utriculare, Chev., Fl. Par., i., 337 (1826); Berk.,
Ann. Nat. Hist., 214. Physarum caerulcsccns, Pers. in Litt. Physarum ahitaceum, Wallr., Herb.
Badhamia. 321
Badhamia utricularis, Berk., Linn. Trans., xxi., p. 153 (1801);
Cooke, Hdbk., n. 1147. Physarum melaleucum, Nyl., p. 126 (1859).
Badhamia granulifera, Phill. Lepi<i
Gregarious, but not crowded, sessile on a broad base, hemi- spherical or slightly elongated, subdepressed, wall thick, with crowded, large, flattened, glistening, pale brown scales of bicar- bonate of lime ; inner wall very thin, iridescent ; splitting irregu- larly above; mass of spores blackish-purple; columella shortly cylindrical or subglolose ; capillitium copious, forming an irregular network, passing from the columella to the inner wall, threads with numerous, irregular flattened inflations containing minute granules of lime ; spores at first in clusters ; spherical when free, with a small circular portion of the wall thinner and convex, minutely warted all over, 18 — 20 /A diameter.
Badhamia gramdifera, Phillips, in Herb.
Didymium granuliferum, Phill., Grev., vol. v., p. 114, t. 88, f. 1, a— /; Sacc., Syll., vii, 1, n. 1316.
(Type in Herb., Phill.)
On herbaceous stems. San Francisco.
A very beautiful and remarkable species, externally resembling a Lepidoderma in the large, distinct, scale-like patches of bicar- bonate of lime. Sporangia circular or elongated, slightly de- pressed, 2 — 3 mm. long.
Badhamia Fuckeliana, Host. TVi tW^fW * ?»
Sporangia discoid, 1 mm. broad, stipitate, frequently umbili- cate above or below ; stem even, elongated, coloured ; spores blackish-violet; epispore delicately spinulose, 9 — 12 ^ diameter.
a. genuina. Sporangia 1 mm. diameter, stem 1 mm. long.
fB. gracilis. Sporangia *5 mm. diameter, stem 1 — 1'5 mm. long.
Badhamia Fuckeliana, Host., Mon. App., p. 2; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1148.
Trichamphora Fuckeliana, Host., Mon., p. 138.
322 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
On wood and decaying Auricularia. Germany ; France ; Sweden.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Physarum macrocarpum, Fckl., Sym. Myc., p. 343, non Cesati
(1869). Tridiamphora Fuckelianum, Host., in Fckl., S. M., 2, Nach.,
p. 74 (1873).
A specimen named by Rostafinski in Herb., Berk, has the superficial appearance of a Tilmadoche ; a slender, elongated, wrinkled, bright brown stem, and grey sporangial wall.
Badhamia nodulosa, Mass. Vl»y &<*.«•<»** >p\»v uu»\
Sporangia globose, stipitate, wall very thin, almost colourless above, and covered with an irregular white crust of lime, basal portion without lime and beautifully iridescent; becoming irregularly ruptured at maturity; stem longer than sporangium, weak, often subdecumbent, attenuated upwards, brmvn, longi- tudinally wrinkled, expanding at the base into a small, irregular hypothallus; columella absent; capillitium well developed, flattened, intricately branching from the nodes, scantily furnished throughout with granules of lime; spores globose, dingy lilac, minutely verruculose, 10 — 12 /* diameter.
Badhamia nodulosa, Mass., Journ. Myc., vol. v., p. 186, t. 14, f. 6.
Physarum nodulosum, Cooke and Balf., in Rav., Fung. Amer., Exs., n. 479.
On acacia bark. Aiken, S. Carolina (Rav., 2972). (Type in Herb., Kew.)
A very distinct and good species of the genus Badhamia, 1'5 mm. high ; stem twice as long as sporangium, weak, usually subprostrate ; capillitium dense, with the characteristic flatten- ings met with in Badhamia, and everywhere containing granules of lime, although the quantity is not so great as is usual. Sparsely scattered, rarely two springing from the same hypo- thallus.
Badhamia. 323
Badhamia irregularis, C. and E.
Scattered, sessile; sporangia suborbicular or confluent, at length blackish-brown; spores brown, globose, asperulate, 10 /^ diameter.
Badhamia irregularis, Cooke and Ellis.
On pine wood. N. America.
I have seen no specimen of the present imperfectly described species.
§ § Spores in clusters, free, surface warted, reminder smooth.
Badhamia papaveracea, Berk, and Rav.
Sporangia usually densely gregarious, with a few scattered marginal individuals, hemispherical or irregularly polygonal from mutual pressure, sessile, or with a rudimentary stem, wall smooth or rugulose, white, greyish, or yellowish, iridescent when empty ; capillitium usually dense, white, threads with large nodular or interstitial swellings containing lime, combined to form an irregular network ; mass of spores blackish-purple, spores at first in clusters of 3 — 7, triangularly pyramidal, with a rounded base which corresponds to the free portion of the spore, and is covered with minute warts, the remainder smooth, pale lilac or brownish-lilac, 9 — 10 /x diameter.
Badhamia papaveracea, Berk, and Rav., Grev., vol. ii., p. 66 (1873) ; Rost., Mon., p. 147 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1152. (Type in Herb. Berk., Kew, n. 10794.)
Badhamia pallida, Berk., Linn. Trans., xxi., p. 153, t. 19, f. 2; Sacc., Syll., n. 1153 (in part.).
(Type in Herb. Berk., 10790.)
Exsicc. — Ellis, N. Amer. Fung., 1214 (as Badhamia hyalina, p. 320).
On wood, &c. Britain (East Bergholt, Weybridge) ; U. States.
Allied to B. nitens, which differs in the bright yellow spor- angial wall, and the much more coarsely warted free portion of the spores.
324 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Badhamia nitens, Berk. (figs. 176—179).
Sporangia globose, sessile, aggregated, bright yellow, covered with minute, scale-like particles of lime; splitting irregularly above; capillitium well developed, threads thick, yellowish, lime almost obsolete.; spores purple, aggregated in clusters, free portion coarsely warted, remainder smooth, 10 — 16 ju diameter.
Badhamia nitens, Berk., Trans. Linn. Soc., xxi., p. 153, t. 19, f. 1 ; Host., Mon. App., p. 27 (in part.).
(Type in Herb. Berk.)
Badhamia inaurata, Currey, Linn. Trans., xxiv. (1851), t. 25, f. 8 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 28 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., n. 1162. (Type in Brit. Mus.)
On moss, wood, &c. Britain (Carlisle, East Bergholt, Wey- bridge).
Readily distinguished by the bright yellow sporangia and the clustered spores.
§ § § Spores smooth. Badhamia Alexandrowiczii, Host.
Sporangia gregarious but distant, irregular, subrotund or reni- form, about 07 mm. broad, 07 — 2 mm. long, bright yellow-brown or pallid ; capillitium well developed, tubes thick, nodes 35 ft, broad ; spores 9 — 11 p. diameter, obscure violet, smooth.
Badhamia Alexandrowiczii, Host., Mon., p. 146 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1154.
On dead leaves. Poland ; Germany.
Sporangial wall thick, rufous-brown, dehiscing in a circum- scissile manner by an operculum. (Berlese in Sacc., Syll.)
(Rostafinski's Synonym.)
Physarum Alexandrowiczii, De Bary and Rost., in Litt., Ad. Alexand., I.e., p. 88 (1872).
Badhamia verna, Rost.
Sporangia gregarious, depressed, variable in form, confluent, not sinuous, wall very thin, blackish-brown, smooth, very fragile,
.
Badhamia. 325
becoming lacerated during dehiscence, at length evanescent; threads of capillitium adnate, vague, white; spores Uackish- brown, 12 — 13 /* diameter, smooth.
Badhamia vema, Rost., Mon., p. 145 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 331.
(Rostafinski's Synonym.)
Physarum vernum, Somf., in Litt., Ad. Fries, S. M., iii., p. 146 (1829).
Badhamia microcarpa, Schroeter.
Sporangia sessile, about '5 mm. broad, collepted in small clusters or arranged in rows ; hypothallus nearly obsolete ; spor- angial wall thin, bright grey ; capillitium slender, white, threads irregularly nodulose with masses of lime, from 3 — 4 up to 12 ju thick, nodes not incrassated ; spores not clustered, 7'5 — 9 fx diameter, smooth, violet.
Badhamia microcarpa, Schroeter, Kr. Fl. Schles., p. 131 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1145.
Badhamia melanospora, Speg.
Sporangia sessile, densely gregarious, spherical, smooth, greyish- white, after the spores have disappeared, snow-white ; columella absent; tubes of capillitium rigid, united to form a compact network, internodes fusiformly thickened in the centre, nodes flat- tened; spores in clusters or free, smooth, black, opaque, sub- angular from mutual pressure, 15 /u diameter.
Badhamia mclanosperma, Speg., Fung. Arg., Pug. I., p. 88 ; Sacc., Syll., n. 1164.
On rotten trunks. Argentina.
Badhamia coadnata, Rost.
Sporangia very numerous, conglomerated; sporangia spring- ing from a white, well-developed hypothallus ; capillitium threads snow-white, copious, rigid, aggregated in the centre towards the base of the sporangium to form an irregular columella ; spores globose, bright violet, epispore thick, smooth, 8 — 9 p diameter.
326 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Badhamia coadnata, Kost., Mon., p. 146 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1142.
(Rostafinski's Synonym.) Didymium crustaceum, M.
Badhamia fasciculata, Kost. 1
Sporangia globose, white, dehiscing irregularly, upper portion disappearing, lower portion persistent, irregularly cupulate with a torn margin; stems fasciculate, caespitoso-connate, 3 — 6 or more, connected at the base, erect, tough, dirty yellowish, shining, attenuated upwards, subsulcate, base thickened, blackish ; spores violet, 11 — 12 fx. diameter, smooth.
Badhamia fasciculata, Host., Mon., p. 146; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1143.
On trunks of Pandanus. Java.
(Rostafinski's Synonym.)
Physarum fasciculatum, Jungh., Fl. Crypt, Java, p. 14, t. 11, f. 8 (1838).
Badhamia ovispora, Racib.
Sporangia sessile, globoso-depressed, 0'5 — 075 mm. broad, membrane calcareous, scabrid, fragile, base yellow, apex dis- coloured ; capillitium with abundance of lime, white, rigid, nodes large, irregular ; columella absent ; spores violet, ellipsoid, smooth, 14 — 16 x 7 — 8 p.
Badhamia ovispora, Racib., Myx. Crac., p. 4, f. 2, a, b; Sacc., Syll., 1165.
On poplar branches. Poland.
§ § § § Position uncertain.
Badhamia fulvella, Berk. 6.»\.\c»i& ^
Sporangia gregarious, but not forming distinct patches, sessile, globose, blackish, invested with a delicate tawny pubescence, when the spores are expelled, yellowish ; capillitium not coloured,
Tilmadoche. '327
tubes swollen ; spores dark violet, agglutinated in clusters, •0125— '018 mm.
Badhamia fulvella, Berk., Trans. Linn. Soc., xxi., p. 154; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 27; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1166.
On dead wood. Britain (East Bergholt, Suffolk).
I have seen no specimen of the present, hence cannot add to Berkeley's description.
TILMADOCHE, Rost.
Sporangia stipitate, wall thin, single, with a thin deposit of lime in the form of minute, irregular lumps, either continuous or most frequently in patches, dehiscing in an irregularly reticulate manner ; stem elongated, slender, rilled with irregular particles of lime, becoming longitudinally wrinkled when dry; columella absent; capillitium well developed, threads slender, attached to the wall at various points, combined to form an irregular network, nodes small, scattered, mostly elliptical, filled with granules of lime.
Tilmadoche, Rost, Mon., p. 126; Cooke, Myx. Brit, p. 21; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, p. 359 ; Zopf, p. 148.
The present genus is characterized amongst its allies by the thin sporangial wall furnished with a scanty deposit of lime in the form of minute, amorphous granules, the slender threads of the capillitium with small, sparingly scattered elliptical nodes containing lime, and the elongated, slender stem filled with lumps of lime. Closely allied to the genus Physarmn, with which it is connected by a form of Tilmadoche nutans, having the capillitium threads stouter, and the nodes larger and more numerous than usual. Another form of the same species having the capillitium very slender and without nodes connects with the Hemididymium section of Didymium.
Tilmadoche nutans, Rost. (figs. 19 — 21).
Sporangia spherico-depressed, more or less umbilicate below, wall thin, greyish or white, with a thin layer of minute, amor- phous lumps of lime, becoming irregularly cracked ; stem slender,
328 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
elongated, becoming thinner upwards, usually slightly curved at the apex, filled with irregular masses of lime, Irownish below, 2>ale upwards, expanding into a small hypothallus; capillitium well developed, threads thin, combined to form a very irregular network, furnished with scattered, small, elliptical nodes contain- ing granules of lime ; spores globose, pale lilac, smooth, or very minutely verruculose, 9 — 11 p diameter.
Tilmadoche nutans, Rost., Mon., p. 127, f. 129 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 21, f. 129; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1244; Raunk., p. 76, t. 4, f. 10—11.
Exsicc. — Rab., Fung. Eur., 40 (the specimen shows a transition to Physarum leuc^Jiaeuni) ; Sacc., Myc. Fenn., 1102; Syd., Myc. March., 491; Fuckel, Fung. Rhen., 1456 and 1457; Jack, Leiner u. Sitzenb., 423.
On wood, bark, dead leaves, &c. Britain (Bournemouth, New Forest, Kew, Chester, Scarboro', Carlisle, Inverness, N.B.) ; Europe ; N. Africa ; United States ; Ceylon ; Australia ; India.
From 1*5 — 2'5 mm. high, gregarious, stem slender, usually slightly bent at the apex, consequently the sporangium is more or less drooping.
(Rostafin ski's Synonyms.)
Spliaerocarpus allnis, Bull., t. 407, f. 3, c — g (1791).
Stemonitis alba, Gmel. Sys., 1469 (1791).
Mucor alines, Sobolen. Petr., 324 (1779).
Physarum nutans, Pers., Syn., p. 171 (1801 ; Berk., Eng. Fl.,
v., 314; Cooke, Hdbk., n. 1135 (partly). Physarum subtile, Pers., Syn., p. 171 (1801). Trichia cemua, Schum., Saell., 1410 (1803). Physarum bulbiforme, Schum., Saell., 1432 (1803) ; Fl. Dan.,
t. 1974, f. 3.
Physarum marginatum, Schum., Saell., 1440 (1803). Physarum didymium, Schum., Saell., 1441 (1803). Physarum albopunctatuin, Schum., Saell, 1433 (1803). Physarum brc^^es, Schum., Herb. Physarum cinereum, Schum., Herb.
Tilwadoche. 329
Physarum leucopus, Schura., Herb. Trichia alba, DC., Fl. Fr., ii., 202 (1805). Physarum albipes, Link, Diss., i., 27 (1809). Physarum sulcatum, Liuk, Diss., i., 27 (1809). Physarum connectum, Ditni., t. 41 (1817). Physarum cermium, Fl. Dan., t. 1974, f. 2 (1823). Physarum nutans, a. albocinereum, Fr., S. M., iii., 128 (1829). Didymium marginatum, Fr., S. M., iii., 116 (1829). TUmadoche cernua, Fr., S. V. S., 454 (1849).
Tilmadoche mutabilis, Host. (figs. 236—239).
Sporangia spherical or spherico-depressed, flattened cr slightly umbilicate below, wall thin, with a thin layer of yellow^ dingy orange, or greenish coloured particles of lime, usually cracking in an areolate manner; stem elongated, slender, slightly thinner upwards, straight or usually a little curved at the apex, filled with granules of lime, yellow, brownish-orange, or red, darkest below; capillitium rather dense, threads slender, combined to form a very irregular network, with scattered, small, elliptical nodes containing coloured granules of lime ; spores globose, pale lilac, often with a brown tinge, minutely verruculose, 9 — 11 //, diameter.
TUmadoche mutabilis, Host., Mon., p. 130, figs. 123—127, 132; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 22, figs. 123—127, 132; Raunk., Myx. Dan., p. 77.
TUmadoche viridis, Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1247,
Exsicc— Ellis, N. Amer. Fung., 1213.
On wood, bark, dead leaves, moss, &c. . Britain (New Forest, Epping Forest, Bulmer, Yorks. ; Carlisle); Europe; S. Africa; W. Australia ; United States.
Differing from TUmadoche nutans in colour more than in any other character.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Stemonitis viridis, Gmel., Sys., ii., 1469 (1791). Stemonitis aurantia, Gmel., Sys., ii., 1469 (1791).
330 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Stemonitis bicolor, Gmel., Sys., ii., 1469 (1791). Sphaerocarpus luteus, Bull., t. 407, f. 2 (1797). Sphaerocarpus viridis, Bull., t. 407, f. 1 (1797). Sphaerocarpus aurantius, Bull., t. 484, f. 2 (1797). Physarum aureum, Pers., Disp., t. 1, f. 6 (1801) ; Grev., t.
124; Ditm., t. 23. Physarum viride, Pers., Syn., p. 172 (1801); Ditm., t. 24;
Nees., f. 108.
Physarum aurantium, Pers., Syn., t. 3, f. 7 (1801). Physarum luteum, Pers., Syn., 172 (1801). Trichia viridis, DC., Fl. Fr., ii., 252 (1805). Trichia aurantia, DC., Fl. Fr., ii., 253 (1805). Physarum nutans, (3. viride, Fr., S. M., iii., 129 (1829) ; Cooke,
Hdbk., n. 1135, var. B. Physarum nutans, y. aureum, Fr., S. M., iii., 129; Cooke,
Hdbk., n. 1135, var. y.
Physarum nutans, b. coccineum, Fr., S. M., iii., 129. Physarum striatum, c. aurantiacum, Fr., S. M., iii., 131. Physarum nutans, c. luteovirens, Rabh., Fl. Cr., 2268 (1844). Physarum viride, Fr., S. V. S., 453 (1849). Physarum aureum, Fr., S. V. S., 453 (1849). Physarum coccineum, Fr., S. V. S., 453 (1849).
Tilmadoche gracilenta, Host.
Sporangia globose, slightly umbilicate below, wall llackish- brmvn, hoary with scattered particles of lime ; stem elongated, thick at the base, which is expanded into a small hypothallus, tapering upwards and usually slightly curved, dark brown below, paler above, longitudinally wrinkled, filled with particles of lime ; capillitium rather scanty, threads irregularly anastomos- ing, nodes scattered, small, elliptical, containing coloured granules of lime ; spores globose, brownish-lilac, very minutely verruculose or smooth, 8 — 10 /x diameter.
Tilmadoche gracilenta, Host., Mon., p. 129; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1246; Raunk., Myx. Dan., 76.
On bark and wood. Britain (a specimen from Sowerby's Herbarium, named by Rostafinski) ; Europe ; United States.
Tilmadoche. 331
Appears to be a variety of T. nutans, with a blackish-brown sporangial wall.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Miicor, Fl. Dan., t. 467, f. 3 (1770).
Trichia nutans, Trent., I.e., p. 227.
Physarum solutum, Schum. Fl. Saell., n. 1446 ; Fl. Dan., t.
1974, f. 1.
Physarum sulwlatum, Schum., Fl. Saell., n. 1437. Physarum globosum, Schum., Fl. Saell., n. 1442. Physarum furfuraceum, Schum., Fl. Saell., n. J445. Physarum globosum, Sommf., Fl. Lap., p. 243 (1825). Physarum graeilentum, Fr., I.e., iii., p. 133 (1829). Didymium furfur aceum, Fl., I.e., iii., p. 116. Tilmadoche, soluta, Fr., Sum. Veg. Scand., p. 454 (1849).
Tilmadoche columbina, Rost.
Sporangia globose, or spherico-depressed, usually more or less umbilicate below, at first pale grey or whitish, delicately frosted with minute white particles of lime, dark grey and slightly iridescent after the lime has been removed; stem 3 — 4 times as long as height of sporangium, snow-white, tapering upwards, straight or slightly inclined above, longitudinally wrinkled, rigid, filled with particles of lime ; columella absent ; capillitium well developed, threads thin, colourless, combined to form an irregular network, furnished here and there with small, elliptical, inter- stitial swellings containing colourless granules of lime ; angles of bifurcation not swollen ; spores globose, pale dingy lilac, very minutely verruculose, 10 — 11 /u, diameter.
Tilmadoche columbina, Rost., Mon. App., p. 13 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, 1249.
Didymium columbinum, B. and C., in Herb.
(Type from which Rostafinski founded the species in Herb. Berk., Kew, n. 10,767.)
Gregarious on rotten wood. Venezuela.
About 2 mm. Irish.
332 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Tilmadoche Berkeley!, Mass.
Sporangia globose, very slightly or not at all umbilicate below, dark blue-grey, frosted with minute particles of lime ; stem blackish-brown, slender, attenuated upwards, thick at the base, and passing into a very distinct, circular, pah brmvn hypo- thallus, longitudinally wrinkled, filled with granules of lime and masses of organic matter, usually straight; capillitium dense, threads 3 — 4 p. thick, pale yellowish-brown, combined to form a very irregular network, swollen portions very rare, small, and with only a few scattered granules of lime, apparently entirely absent; spores globose, lilac-brown, very minutely warted, 11 — 12 ft diameter.
Physarum columbinum, Fr.
A specimen so named by Berkeley, but certainly not that species.
(Type in Herb. Berk., n. 10,813.)
On twigs. New England, U. S.
Gregarious, growing often in rows, 2 — 2'5 mm. high.
Tilmadoche compacta, Wing.
Sporangia brownish-white, flattened, globose, occasionally globose, nodding, borne on subulate, yellowish-white stipes, which have a brown or blackish base, and reach to a height of three or four times the width of the sporangium ; sporangium wall studded with numerous, snow-white lime-granules, the remainder of the wall bronze-colour, with a metallic lustre, splitting on maturity in a floriform manner, with from six to twelve laciniae ; capillitium, after removal of the spores, white, with a faint bluish tint under reflected light owing to the traHslucence or iridescence of its delicate threads; the latter originate from a central lime-granule which is generally quite large, branch several times as they proceed towards the surface of the spor- angium, and join into a dense, compact net, the ends of the last branches attached to the inner side of the sporangium wall ; lime-granules in the capillitium, very few, small, white, fusi-
Tilmadoche. 333
form ; spores bright brown-violet (brown in the mass), very delicately warted, 7 — 9 mk.
Fairmount Park, Phila., Pa. and Ohio (Morgan).
This Tilmadoche has marked characteristics. The stipe for a short distance from the base is very dark, but suddenly changes to a yellowish-white. When the sporangium bursts, the top part of the wall generally pulls out the capillitium immediately over the central lime-granule, so that the latter is exposed to view. In some teases, when quite large, the granule falls out, leaving a circular empty space in the centre of the sporangium, without disturbing the outline of the capil- litium. The capillitium is very flimsy, and its faint bluish tint in the mass quite marked under a parabolic reflector. The metallic lustre of the sporangium wall is constant in the speci- mens collected during different summers. (Wing.)
Tilmadoche compacta, Wingate, Acad. Nat. Sci Phil., 1889, p. 48.
Exsicc. — Ellis, N. Amer. Fung., 2087 (as Tilmadoche colum- bina, B.).
Tilmadoche cavipes, Berk.
Plasmodium white, venulose, anastomosing; young sporangia flesh- colour, when older becoming sprinkled with brick-red powder, globose, stem white, thickened at the base, hollow; spores blackish-purple, globose, smooth; capillitium scanty, yellow.
Tilmadoche cavipes, Berk. Three new Indian Fungi ; in Grev., vol. xi., p. 39 (1882) ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1252.
On leaves of different species of Phalaenopsis. Andaman Isles. Lieut. -Col. E. S. Berkeley, 1882.
The filmy reticulate mycelium at length disappears, and the peridia are scattered, looking at first sight from their white stems like Diacliaea. The species is altogether distinct from T. lateritia, Lev. The dust of the peridia consists of irregular fragments of a bright orange-red.
Tilmadoche anomala, Mass. (n. sp.). Gregarious ; sporangia globose or slightly depressed, minutely
334 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
umbilicate below, white, sprinkled with minute particles of lime ; stem elongated, slender, equal, straight, pale yellow, longi- tudinally wrinkled, filled with particles of lime, expanding at the base into a minute circular hypothallus ; capillitium rather dense, threads everywhere equal, about 3 /u thick, combined to form a loose, irregular network, nodes very rarely slightly in- crassated, and containing a few minute, colourless granules of lime ; spores globose, dirty lilac, smooth, 10 /ut diameter.
On wood. Venezuela.
An apparently very distinct species, remarkable for the almost total absence of thickened nodes or swollen interstitial portions of the capillitium tubes, hence approaching the section Hemi- didymium of Didymium. From 3 — 3'5 mm. high.
Tilmadoche oblonga, Host.
Scattered or gregarious, stipitate ; sporangia cylindrical, obtuse at both ends, apex broadly and deeply umlilicate, tawny-olive, sprinkled with pale particles of lime ; stem elongated, slender, becoming thinner upwards, straight, or usually more or less curved near the apex, reddish or yellow-brown, more or less longitudinally wrinkled, filled with minute particles of lime ; capillitium well developed, threads colourless, thin, with scat- tered, small, interstitial, fusiform swellings containing colourless or yellowish granules of lime, angles of bifurcation not in- crassated ; spores dingy lilac, globose, minutely verruculose, 7 — 9 n diameter.
Tilmadoche oblonga, Host., Mon. App., p. 13; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1250.
Trichamphora oblonga, Berk, and Curtis, Grev., vol. ii., p. 66 ; N. Amer. Fung., n. 360.
(Type specimen in Herb. Berk., Kew, n. 10,917.)
Physarella mirabilis, Peck, Bull., Torr. Bot. Club., vol. ix., p. 61, pi. 24, figs. 1—6 (wretched figures); Rev. Myc., 1882, p. 172, tab. xxix., fig. 5 (after Peck's figures) ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1227.
Exsicc. — Ellis, N. Amer. Fung., n. 1212.
On wood, leaves, &c. United States.
Tilmadoche. 335
About 2 mm. high, stem straight or curved, thin, sporangium typically cylindric-oblong, broadly and deeply umbilicate at the apex ; there is no trace of a columella. The present species appears to be inclined to sport. Mr. Harold Wingate, of Philadelphia, has sent me a fine series of forms of the present species passing from the typical form described above to speci- mens that are much larger, with a shorter, thicker, red stem, which is in some instances branched and bearing 3 — 5 sporangia. These vary in form from the typical condition, through cyathi- form to broadly funnel-shaped, with a recurved, often flexuous margin, externally reddish-brown, internally orange-yellow ; in these forms the umbilicus has become so deeply. depressed that the cavity of the sporangium is almost obliterated. It is the inner depressed apical portion of the sporangium that Peck describes as a spurious, hollow columella; he has obviously formed the genus Physarella from an abnormal condition of the present species.
Tilmadoche gyrocephala, Host.
Sporangia irregularly Idbed or lacunose, often compressed and umbilicate below, stipitate, wall thin, covered with irregular yellow or greenish-yellcnv scales of lime ; stem elongated, tapering upwards, weak and often curved, irregularly rugulose, passing downwards into a thin, wrinkled hypothallus, bright yellow or orange ; columella absent ; capillitium well developed, forming a loose net, nodes elongated, filled with yellow granules of lime, internodes long, thin; spores globose, minutely warted, dingy, lilac, 7 — 9 11 diameter.
Didymium gyrocephalum, Mont., Ann. Sci. Nat., Ser. II. vol. viii., p. 362; Mont., Syll., n. 1073.
Tilmadoche gyrocephala (Mont.), Rost., Mon., p. 131 ; Sacc., Syll., vol. vii., pt. I., n. 1248; Mass., Journ. Myc., vol. v., p. 187, t. 14, f. 8 (1889).
Cribraria staminiformis, Speg., Fung. Arg., Pug. II., n. 109.
Exsicc. — Rav., Fung. Amer., n. 477 (as Physarum Schumacheri, Spr.).
336 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
On twigs, moss, &c. Brazil ; Argentine Republic ; Aiken, S. Carolina.
Gregarious, 1'5 — 2 mm. high, having the habit of Physarum Schumacheri, but readily distinguished by the absence of a columella and the very irregular sporangia which is not due to the coalescence of several individuals, as proved by the thin, simple stem.
Tilmadoche reniformis, Mass. (n. sp.).
Gregarious ; sporangia reniform, deeply umbilicate below, some- times umbilicate above also, and then presenting a dumb-bell- like form, coating of lime white, often becoming cracked, stem elongated, slender, erect, straight, tapering upwards, pale brown, wrinkled, filled with granules of lime ; capillitium rather scanty, threads forming a very loose net, with scattered, fusiform swell- ings, colourless or tinged yellow; spores globose, dull purple, coarsely spinulose, 16 — 17 /* diameter.
Ceylon.
(Type in Herb. Berk., Kew.)
On bark. Gregarious, rarely scattered, 2 mm. high. The sporangium is sausage-shaped and curved, the stem entering the concave side or umbilicus. This peculiarity, and more especially the large, coarsely spinulose spores, characterize the species.
CEINKOWSKIA, Host,
Wall of sporangium single, containing lime, dehiscing irregu- larly ; capillitium attached at many points to wall of spor- angium, forming an irregular network having numerous free, curved, pointed ends.
Ceinkowskia, Host., Mon., p. 91; Cooke, Brit. Myx., p. 11 ; Schroeter, p. 131 ; Sacc., Syll., vol. vii., pt. I., p. 329.
Physarum, Alb. et Schwz., p. 90.
Diderma, FT., S. M., iii., p. 112.
Didymium, Bischoff. Kryptogamenkunde, f. 361.
Ceinkowskia. 337
Very closely allied to the genus Physarum, differing only in having some free ends to the network of the capillitium. Distrib. Europe ;. United States. Species 1.
Ceinkowskia reticulata, Rost. (figs. 266, 267).
Plasmodiocarp elongated, sinuous or irregularly anastomosing, wall rough with lime, deep yelloio, sometimes with a tinge of brown; capillitium rather scanty, threads yellow, about 3 /x thick, forming an irregular net, with free, curved, pointed ends ; here and there large, irregular, flattened nodes containing yellow granules of lime are present; spores globose, dull violet, very minutely verruculose, 8 — 10 /x diameter.
Ceinkowskia reticulata, Rost., Mon., p. 91, fig. 107; Cooke, Myx. Brit., fig. 107 ; Schroeter, p. 131 ; Sacc., Syll, n. 1440.
On dead leaves and wood. Britain (Sibbertoft) ; Germany ; Sweden ; United States.
Usually forming an irregular network '5 — 2 cm. across, de- hiscing irregularly. The number of flattened, lime-containing nodes varies considerably in different individuals, being some- times very numerous and originating mostly from the wall of the sporangium. Closely resembling in habit and general appearance Physarum gyrosum, Rost., a species not yet dis- covered in Britain.
(Rostafmski's Synonyms.)
Physarum reticulatum, Alb. and Sz., I.e., 251, t. 7, f. 2 (1805). Diderma reticulatum, Fr., l.c., iii., 112 (1829). Didymium reticulatum, Bischoff. Kryptogamenkunde, f. 361 (1842).
LEOCAKPUS, Rost.
Wall of sporangium composed of two distinct layers, dehiscing in an irregular manner ; capillitium attached at numerous points to wall of sporangium, threads combined to form a dense, irregular network with numerous nodes, many of which are empty, the remainder large and filled with small granules of
338 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
lime ; columella absent ; spores free from the first, or originating in clusters.
Leocarpus, Host., Mon., p. 132 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 23 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, p. 358; Zopf, p. 148.
The one species included in the present genus is characterized by the smooth, polished sporangial wall, and by the hetero- geneous structure of the capillitium, most of the swollen nodes containing air, while a few of the largest are filled with granules of lime as in the genus Physarwn. Some years ago I met with a batch of Leocarpus fragilis having the spores arranged in clusters as in some species of Badhamia, and the following note by Mr. A. Lister, attached to the present species in the Kew Herbarium shows that this condition, although not constant, is not altogether abnormal, and what is of more interest, tends to show that aggregation of the spores in clusters is not of specific value. " In some sporangia the aggregation of the spores is as marked as in any Badhamia hyalina, while in others there is no such appearance at all."
.Distrib. Europe ; United States ; Tasmania. Species 1.
Leocarpus fragilis, Rost. (figs. 187 — 189).
Sporangia obovate, with a more or less elongated, slender, weak stem, or sub-globose and nearly or quite sessile, vary in colour from bright chestnut to ochraceous, wry smooth, shining ; hypothallus well developed, capillitium dense, some of the nodes empty, others filled with coloured granules of lime ; spores globose, either free from the first or in clusters, dingy purple, sometimes with a brown tinge, 11 — 15 f* diameter, minutely wartcd.
Leocarpus fragilis, Rost., Mon., p. 132, f. 93; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 23, f. 93 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1242 ; Zopf, p. 148.
Exsicc.—W.. A. Libert. PI. Crypt. Ard., Fasc. I., n. 76 ; Syd., Myc. March., 1297; Flor., Exs. Austro-Hung., 1854; Karst., Fung. Fenn., 377 ; Fuckel, F.ung. Rhen., 1465 ; Rab.-Klotzsch, Herb. Myc., 37; Ellis, N. Amer. Fung., 1123; Rav., Fung. Car., 78.
On twigs, grass, moss, &c. Britain (Helstcn, Cornwall ; New
Faligo. 339
Forest, Epping, Hereford, Scarboro', Carlisle, Denbigh, Appin, N. B.); Europe; U. States; Tasmania.
Usually densely gregarious, sometimes several sporangia are more or less grown together, 2 — 3 mm. high, distinguished by the pyriform or obovate, polished sporangia.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Lycoperdon fragile, Dicks. Or., t. 3, f. 3 (1785) ; Sow., t. 136. Reticularia fragilis, Poir, Ency. Lycoperdon parasiticum, With. Arr., iv., 379 (1792). Diderma vernicosum, Pers., Obs., t. 3, f. 7 (1796); Fl. Dan.,
t. 1312, f. 2; Eng. Fl., v., 311 ; Cooke, Hdbk.', n. 1108. Trichia lutea, Trent., p. 230 (1797).
Diderma vernicosum, ft. parasitica, Pers., Syn., 165 (1801). Physarum nitidum, Schum., Saell., 1451 (1803). Physarum vernicosum, Schum.; Saell., 1452 (1803). Leocarpus vernicosus, Link, Obs., i., 25 (1809); Nees., f. 100;
Grev., S. C. FL, iii. ; Corda, v., f. 32. Leocarpus spermoides, Link, Obs., i., 25 (1809). Leoearpus atrovirens, Fr., Gast., p. 13 (1817). Leangium vernicosum, Fr., Stirp., 83 (1825). Diderma atrovirens, Fr., S. M., iii., 103 (1829). Tripotrichia elegans, Corda, Ic., i., f. 288 A (1837).
FULIGO, Rost.
A pulvinate, large, irregular aethalium, formed of intertwined, elongated sporangia, springing from a tough hypothallus, the peripheral sporangia forming a friable, spurious cortex contain- ing a large quantity of lime; capillitium strongly developed, threads anastomosing to form a very irregular network, furnished with irregularly stellate nodes containing granules of lime.
Fuligo, Rost., Mon., p. 134; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 23; Sacc., Syll, vii., 1, p. 353 ; Zopf, 149.
Closely approaching the genus Physarum in the structure of the capillitium, differing in its aethalioid nature, a character certainly not of generic value taken alone. The absence of a
340 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
well-defined sporangial wall in the component sporangia form- ing an aethalium is what would be expected from analogy, and in the present genus the external covering of the aethalium, the cortex, consists of sterile sporangia, showing a division of labour as is often the case in various parts of the vegetable kingdom, when originally isolated structures become concentrated, as illustrated by the ray and disc florets in composite plants. The cortex is very friable, and consists largely of flake-like masses of lime, and in some cases the cortex is quite rudimentary.
Distrib. Europe; United States ; Cuba; Venezuela; S.Africa; Ceylon; W. Australia; N. Zealand. Species 5.
Fuligo varians, Rost. (figs. 190—192).
Aethalium usually large, either naked, with the surface more or less venous, or covered with a cortex which is either smooth and continuous, or friable with flakes of lime, clear yellow, brownish, or greyish-white ; capillitium abundant, forming an irregular network, with large irregularly branched nodes filled with minute granules of yellow or white lime ; spores globose, pale lilac-brown, smooth, 7 — 11 /* diameter.
Fuligo varians, Rost., Mon., p. 134 ; Cooke, Myx. Brit., p. 23 ; Zopf, p. 149.
Fuligo septica, Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1228.
Aethalium septicum, Cooke, Hdbk., n. 1101.
Aethalium vaporarium, Cooke, Hdbk., n. 1102.
JSxsicc. — Roum., Fung. Gall., 1678; Rabh., Fung. Eur., 81; Thum., Fung. Austr., 523 ; Sacc., Myc. Yen., 963 ; Karat., Fung. Fenn., 379; Kunze, Fung. Sel., 298; Fuckel, Fung. Rhen., 1472 ; Desm., Crypt. France, Ser. I., n. 1844.
Amongst dead leaves, and amongst tan in greenhouses, on rotten wood, &c. Britain (Highgate, Kew, Hereford, Scarboro', Appin, N. B.); S. Africa; India; W. Australia; New Zealand; United' States ; Cuba; Bolivia.
Very variable in size, form, and colour; in the plasmodium condition often occurring amongst dead leaves as a bright yellow soft moss, and hardening into yellow, crust-like patches,
Fuligo. 341
varying from one to eight or ten inches across, and nearly one inch thick. The cortex is usually bright yellow and very brittle, sometimes whitish ; the lime of the capillitium also varies from bright yellow to white ; spores in the mass blackish-brown.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
JSpotiffe, March., 427, t. 12 (1727).
Mucilago aestiva, Mich., t. 96, f. 1 (1729).
Mucores, Gled, p. 138, 160 (1753).
Mucor unctuosus flavus, Huds., Fl. Ang.
Mucor septicus, Link, Sp. PL, n. 1656 (1753); Fl. Dan., t.
778 ; Bolt., t. 134.
Mucor primus ovatus, Schff., t. 192 (1765). Mucor tcrtius, Schff., t. 194 (1763). Fuligo, Hall, n. 2133, 2134, 2135 (1768). Mucor mucilago, Scop., Fl. Cam., ii., 1638 (1772). Lycopcrdon luteum, Schr., Fl. Bav., ii., 629 (1789). Reticularia carnosa, Bull., t. 424, f. 1 (1791). Reticularia Tiortensis, Bull., t. 424, f. 2 (1791). Reticularia lutea, Bull., t. 380, f. 1 (1791). Fuligo septica, Gmel., Sys., 1466 (1791). Fuligo Candida, Pers., Obs., i., 154 (1796). Fuligo vaporaria, Pers., Obs., i., 155 ; Fl. Dan., t.*'1363, f. 1. Fuligo flava, Pers., Disp., p. 8 (1797). Fuligo rufa, Pers., Disp., p. 8 (1797). Fuligo pallida, Pers., Obs., ii., 36 (1799). Fuligo laevis, Pers., Syn., p. 161 (1801). Fuligo violacea, Pers., Syn., 160 (1801) ; Ic. Pict., t. 1. Reticularia septica, With. Arr., iv., 463 (1801) ; Purt., p. 703. Reticularia ovata, var. With. Arr., iv., 463 (1801). Fuligo flavescens, Schum., Saell., 1413 (1803). Fuligo cerea, Sow., t. 399 (1803). Aetlialium flavum, Link, Diss., i., 42 (1809); Nees., f. 92;
Grev., S. C. FL, t. 272.
Fidigo cerebrina, Brondeau, p. 74, t. 3, f. 1 — 4 (1824). Fidigo varians, Somm., Fl. Lapp., p. 231 (1826).
342 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Reticularia vaporaria, Chev., Fl. Par., i., 342 (1827). Aethalium violaceum, Spr. Sys., iv., 533 (1827). Aethalium candidum, Schlecht., in Spr. Sys., iv., 533. Aethalium scpticum, Fr., S. M., iii., 93 (1829), Cooke, Hdbk.,
n. 1101, a.flavum, 1. cinnamomeum, c. rufum, d. violaceum. Fuligo carnosa, Duby., Bot. Gall, ii., 863 (1830). Fuligo hortensis, Duby., Bot. Gall, ii., 863 (1830). Aethalium rufum, Wallr., Fl. Germ., 2097 (1833). Aethalium septicum, b. vaporarium, Rabh., Fl. Germ., 2133
(1844).
Aethalium ferrincola, Schwz. Am., 2372 (1834). Reticularia rufa, Schwz. Am., 2377 (1834). Aethalium rufum, Alexandr., t. 11, f. 6 — 11 (1872). Aethalium vaporarium, Fr., Berk., in Gard. Chron. (1860), p.
409 ; Cooke, Hdbk., n. 1102.
Fuligo stercorifonnis, Mass.
Aethalium resembling the dung of some young animal, size and shape variable, most frequently sausage-shaped, unequally gibbous, attached to the substratum throughout its length by a broad base ; covered with a very friable, seceding, white cortex abounding in lime; capillitium greyish-white, tubes with numerous swollen portions containing granules of lime, combined to form a network; hypothallus rudimentary; spores ellipsoid, tyrown, densely covered with minute warts, 10'5 — 18'5 + 9'3 — 14'5 /LI.
Aethaliopsis stercoriformis, Zopf, p. 150, fig. 26, vii. ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1232.
On rotten leaves. Germany.
Zopf founded the genus Aethaliopsis on the mistaken sup- position that the ellipsoid spores distinguished it at once amongst the Lithodermeae.
Fuligo ochracea, Peck.
Sporangia variously interwoven to form a small aethalium, springing from a delicate, whitish hypothallus, seated on a broad 91 narrow base ; common cortex delicate, covered at first with
Fuligo. 343
rounded or irregularly branched or sinuous, minute ochraceous patches of lime ; capillitium well developed, extending uniformly throughout the aethalium; nodes rather large, more or less elliptical, furnished with irregularly branched arms, filled with yellowish granules of lime, internodes thiu, irregularly anasto- mosing ; spores dingy lilac, globose, smooth, or sometimes with indications of minute warts, 7 — 10 ju. diameter.
Fuligo ochracea, Peck, 31st Report of State Mus., N. York, p. 56 ; Sacc., Syll., vil, 1, n. 1231.
Licea ochracea, Peck.
On various living and dead plants. United States; Cuba; Venezuela.
Aethalia reaching up to 1 cm. diameter, usually smaller. Very close to Fuligo varians, if indeed distinct. The present species is in Berkeley's Herbarium from Cuba and Venezuela, marked " Aethalium pulchrum, B. and C.," but I am not aware of any published description.
Fuligo simulans, Karst.
Very similar to ecorticate forms of Fuligo varians, but the spores are darker, blackish-violet or almost black, and larger, 9 — 16 ju, generally 10 p. diameter.
Fuligo simulans, Karsten, Myc. Fenn., part IV., p. 108 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1230.
Yellow. On leaves of Vaccinium vitis-idaea, either unequally effused or surrounding the living stems and twigs. Finland.
Raciborski says in Hedwigia, 1887, p. Ill, that the present species is the same as Fuligo varians, but he does not state that the examination of an authentic specimen has enabled him to arrive at that conclusion, hence the statement must be accepted as an opinion only.
Fuligo tatrica, Racib.
Aethalium and capillitium very similar to Fuligo varians, spores obscure violet, minutely warted, 8 — 10 p diameter.
344 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
Fuligo tatrica, Raciborski, in Hedwigia, 1885, p. 160 ; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1229.
On fallen trunks. Hungary.
CRATERIACHEA, Rost.
Sporangia irregularly ruptured during dehiscence, lower portion persistent, margin lacerated. Columella central, cylin- drical, containing lime. Threads of the capillitium delicate, combined to form a network, nodes not usually developed, here and there inflated and containing granules of lime, meshes of the network becoming smaller towards the periphery, termin- ating in short arms that are attached to the wall.
Crateriachea, Rost., Mon., p. 125 ; Sacc., Syll., vol. vii., part I., p. 358 ; Cooke, Brit. Myx., p. 20.
Apparently intermediate in some respects between the Litlio- dermeae and the Columcllifcrae, departing from the former in the paucity of lime and the thin tubes of the capillitium, form- ing a network which originates from the elongated columella, but differing from the latter in the tendency to form nodes containing lime not being yet obliterated. Distinct from Cratcrium in the distinct columella and rudimentary nodes of the capillitium.
Distrib. Germany. Species 1.
Crateriachea mutabilis, Rost.
Sporangia cylindrical, attenuated below, then expanding into a discoid hypothallus, every part reddish-brown ; spores dingy violet, globose, 8 — 10 /* diameter, strongly warted.
Crateriachea mutabilis, Rost., Mon., p. 126, figs. 102, 103; Cooke, Myx. Brit., figs. 102, 103; Sacc., Syll, vii., 1, u. 1243.
On wood. Germany.
Sporangia ^ — f mm. high, sometimes slightly curved.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES.
PLATE 1.
FIG. 1. Tubvlina cylitulrica, Bull. Portion of an aethalium broken to show the arrangement of the component sporangia ; nat. size.
„ 2. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 2a. Diagrammatic view of a sporangium of same, showing the imper- forate wall, the sporangia are usually hexagonal from mutual pressure, and the free apical portion convex.
„ 3. Tubulina flexuosa, Mass., plasmodiocarp sporangia, x 40.
„ 4. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 5. Tubulina effiisa, Mass. Aethalium cut to show section ; nat. size.
„ 6. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 7. Trichia, fragilis, Host., a. genuina, showing single sporangium and fasciculate or aethalioid form springing from the same hypo- thallus, hence from the same plasmodium, x 40.
„ 8. Var. serotina, of same, x 40.
„ 9. Elater of same, x 500.
„ 10. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 11. Cribraria intricata, Schrad. Sporangium showing stem, a ; passing into a thin hypothallus, b ; calyculus or lower persistent portion of sporangium, c ; and the permanent upper portion of the sporangium, consisting of numerous nodes or irregularly angular portions filled with coloured granules of lime, and connected by long, thin internodes ; the spores have been blown away, x 250.
„ 12. Unnamed species. Group of sporangia, one of which is ruptured above and showing the pale yellow spore-mass, x 40.
„ 13. Spdres and portion of capillitium of same, x 350.
„ 14. Enteridium olivaceum, Ehr. Aethalium ; nat. size.
„ 15. Fragment of sporangial walls of same, showing perforations, x 350.
„ 16. Spore-cluster of same, x 500.
„ 17. Single spore of same with the convex free portion (when in the cluster) warted, x 1200.
„ 18. Diagrammatic representation of a sporangium of same showing the perforated lateral wall.
„ 19. Tilmadoche nutans, Host. Single sporangium, x 50.
„ 20. Spores and portion of capillitium showing the small, elliptical swellings containing lime, a, x 350.
„ 21. Spore of same, x 1200.
346 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
FIG. 22. Physarum cominnum, Mass. Two sporangia seated on the leaf of
a moss, x 40.
„ 23. Spores and portion of capillitium of same, x 350. „ 24. Spore of same, x 1200. „ 25. Clathroptychium rugulosum, Rost. Aethalium with a portion
removed to show the bright yellow spore-mass ; nat. size.
„ 26. Upper part of a sporangium showing the permanent, convex, apical portion, b ; with its six descending threads, a ; corre- sponding to the permanent angles of the lateral wall of the sporangium, x 350. ' „ 27. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 28. Diagrammatic representation of a sporangium of same, showing the perforations in the lateral wall, which ia reduced to the angles.
PLATE 2.
FIQ. 29. Didymium farinaceum, Schrad., plant, x 40.
„ 30. Section of same, showing the columella, x 40.
„ 31. Portion of same, showing the capillitium radiating from the colu- mella, a, to the wall of the sporangium, b, x 350.
„ 32. Portion of inner wall of sporangium passing over the colu- mella, showing rib-like thickenings arranged in a reticulated manner, x 350.
„ 33. Spores, x 350.
„ 34. Portion of a spore, x 1200.
„ 35. Crystals of lime from wall of sporangium, x 350.
„ 36. Chondrioderma difforme, Rost., plant, x 40.
„ 37. Section of same showing the outer calcareous wall, a, separated from the thin inner wall, 6, by a space containing air, c, x 40.
„ 38. Threads of capillitium and spores of same, x 350.
„ 39. Lepidoderma fidvum, Mass., plants, x 40.
„ 40. Spores of same, x 350.
„ 41. Lepidoderma tigrinum, Rost., plant, x 40.
„ 42. Section of same, showing columella, x 40.
„ 43. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350.
„ 44. Didymium microcarpa, Rost., a. niyripes ; plants, x 40.
„ 45. Spores of same, — 350 ; a portion of a spore, x 1220.
„ 46. Didymium squamulosum, Fr., a. genuinum ; plant, x 40.
„ 47. Section of same, showing columella, x 40.
„ 48. Spores of same, — 350 ; portion of a spore, x 1200.
„ 49. Didyminm squamulosum, Fr., var. costatum, Mass., plant, x 40.
„ 50. Didymium squamulosum, var. viryineum. Mass., plants, x 40.
„ 51. Section of same to show columella, x 40.
„ 52. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, . . 350 ; a portion of a spore, x 1200.
Description of the Figures. 347
FIG. 53. Didymium clavus, Rost., plants, x 40. „ 54. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350. „ 55. Didymium serpula, Fr., plants, x 40. „ 56. Portion of capillitium of same, x 350. „ 57. Spores of same, x 350 ; a portion of a spore, x 1200. „ 58. Choiidrioderma floriforme, Rost., plants ; a, before dehiscence ; &,
after dehiscence, x 40. „ 59. Spores of same, x 350 ; portion of a spore, x 1200.
PLATE 3.
FIG. 60. Physarum leucopus, Rost., plants, x 40.
„ 61. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350.
„ 62. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 63. Physarum hucophaeum, Fr., plants, x 40.
„ 64. Portion of sporangial wall of same, showing innate patches of
lime, x 200.
„ 65. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350.
„ 66. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 67. Hybrid between Physarum leucopus and Physarum leucophaeum,
x 40.
„ 68. Physarum granulatum, Balf., fil., plant, x 40.
„ 69. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350.
„ 70. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 71. Physarum cinereum, Rost., plants, x 40.
„ 72. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350.
„ 73. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 74. Badhamia panicea, Rost., plants, x 3.
„ 75. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350.
„ 76. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 77. Physarum Phillipsii, Balf., fil., plants, x 40.
,, 78. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 79. Badhamia macrocarpa, Rost., var. sessilis, Rost., plants, x 40.
„ 80. Portion of capillitium and spore of same, x 350.
„ 81. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 82. Physarum didermoides, Rost., plants, x 40.
„ 83. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350.
„ 84. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 85. Badhamia fusea, Mass., plants, x 40.
„ 86. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 87. Chondrioderma Oerstedii, Rost., plants, x 40; a, before, c, after dehiscence.
„ 88. Spore of same, x 1200.
348 A Monograph of the Myobogastreb.
PLATE 4.
FIG. 89. Choivdrioderma niveum, Rost., plants, x 40. „ 90. CJwndrioderma Trevdyani, Rost., plants, x 30.
„ 91. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 92. Clwndrioderma radiatum, Rost., plants, x 40.
„ 93. Didymium tussilaginis, Mass., plants, x 40. „ 94. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 400. „ 95. Swollen angles of capillitium of same, showing crystals of lime,
x 1200.
„ 96. Physarum lewophaeum, var. violascens, Rost, plants, x 40. „ 97. Didymium Listeri, Mass., plants ; nat. size.
„ 98. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 400. „ 99. Section of same, x 40.
„ 100. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 101. Crystals of lime from wall of sporangium of same, x 400.
„ 102. Didymium dnbium, Rost., portion of capillitium, x 400.
„ 103. Cribraria ritfa, Rost., plant after the spores have been blown away, x 80.
„ 104. Oribrarm anrantiaca, Schrad., plant after the spores have been
blown away, x 80.
„ 105. Cribraria aryillacea, Pers., plants, x 40.
„ 106. Portion of inner permanent wall of sporangium of same, x 400. •„ 107. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 108. Spore of Enteridium Rozeanum, Wing., x 1200. „ 109. Cribraria purpurea, Schrad., portion of permanent wall of
sporangium, x 400.
„ 110. Cribraria, macrocai-pa, Schrad., x 80. „ 111. Siplwptychinm Casparyi, Rost., showing the prismatic sporangia
with .slightly convex apices, some have the lateral wall removed
showing the long, slender, central columella with its lateral
branches, x 60.
„ 112. Stemonitis dictyospvm, Rost., spore, x 1200.
„ 113. A rcyria fitliyinea, Mass., portion of capillitium, x 750.
PLATE 5.
FIG. 114. Perichaeiia corticalis, Mass., sporangia of pale form, x 40.
,, 115. Sporangium of dark form of same, x 40.
„ 116. Spores and portion of capillitium of same, x 350.
„ 117. Spore and portion of capillitium of same, x 1200.
„ 118. PerichaeiM depressa, Lib., sporangia showing dehiscent lid, x 40.
„ 119. Sporangia of same, seen from above, x 40.
„ 120. Spores and portion of capillitium of same, x 350.
Description of the Figures. 349
FIG. 121. Lycogala epidendrum, Bux. ; nat. size.
,, 122. Spore and portion of capillitiuui of same, x 1200.
„ 123. Lycogala flavo-fiisca, Eost. ; nat. size.
„ 124. Arcyria clavata, Mass., base of sporangium and stem, showing the latter filled with large cells which become smaller upwards and pass gradually into normal spores, x 100.
„ 125. Sporangia of same, x 40.
„ 126. Spores and portion of capillitium of same, x 350.
„ 127. Prototrichia cuprea, Mass., sporangia, x 40.
„ 128. Spores and branched elater of same, x 350.
„ 129. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 130. Prototrichia ftagellifer, Eost., sporangium split open showing the flesh-coloured mass of spores, x 40.
„ 131. Spores and branched elater of same, x 350. :
„ 132. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 133. Dictydium cernuum, Mass., sporangium, after the spores have been blown away, showing the. calyculus or persistent basal portion of the sporangial wall, a ; the persistent latticed por- tion of the remainder of the sporangial wall, b ; and the shrivelled apical portion of the stem, x 100.
„ 134. Cribraria macrocarpa (Schrad.), E., sporangia showing at a the original continuous sporangial wall ; at b the external portion of the wall has fallen away, leaving only the thickened per- sistent portion, the spores have been blown away, x 40.
„ 135. Portion of permanent network of the sporangial wall of same, showing the nodes, a, filled with granules of lime, connected by the thin, elongated internodes, fe, destitute of lime, x 350.
„ 136. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 137. Arcyria cinerea, Mass., sporangia, x 40.
„ 138. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350.
„ 139. Portion of capillitium, x 1200.
„ 140. Arcyria nutans, Eost., sporangia a, before, b, after dehiscence ; c, the long, elastic capillitium, x 50.
„ 141. Portion of capillitium of same, x 1200.
„ 142. Trichia advenula, Mass., group of sporangia, x 40.
„ 143. Spores and portion of an elater of same, showing the smooth,
long apiculus and interstitial swelling, x 350. „ 144. Spore of same, x 1200.
PLATE 6.
FIG. 145. Lamproderma arcyrioides, Eost., plants, x 40. „ 146. The same after the sporangial wall and mass of spores have fallen away, showing a, base of wall of sporangium ; b, colu- mella ; c, capillitium ; d, stem, passing into the hypothallus, e, x 100.
350 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
FIG. 147. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350. „ 148. Spore of same, x 1200. „ 149. Lamproderma iridea, Cooke, plants, x 40. „ 150. Spores of same, x 350.
„ 151. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350. „ 152. Lamproderma violacea, Host., plants, x 40. „ 153. Portion of capillitium of same, x 350. „ 154. Spores of same, x 1200.
„ 155. Stemonitis fusca, Host., group of plants ; nat. size. „ 156. Single plant of same with the sporangial wall and spores blown
away, showing the dense capillitium, x 100. „ 157. Portion of capillitium and spores of same ; «, part of columella ;
b, main branches of capillitium originating from the columellu,
which branch and anastomose irregularly, the meshes becoming
email towards the periphery, x 350.
,, 158. Stemonitis Carlylei, Mass., group of plants, x 10. ,, 159. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350. „ 160. Stemonit is femtginea, Ehr., plants, x 8. „ 161. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350. „ 162. Stemonitis fusca, R., var. a. ; plants, x 6. „ 163. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350. ,, 164. Spore of same, x 1200. „ 165. Diachaea leucopoda, Host., plant, x 25. „ 166. Spores of same, x 350 ; one spore, x 1200.
PLATE 7.
FIG. 167. Didymium sinapinum, Mass., plants, x 40.
„ 168. Spores of same, x 350 ; a portion of one x 1200.
„ 169. Trichia varia, var. nigripes, Host., plants, x 40 ; «, before
dehiscence ; b, after dehiscence.
„ 170. Trichia varia, var. gennina, Eost., plants, x 40.
„ 171. Spores of same, x 350.
„ 172. Portion of spore and tip of elater of same, x 1200.
„ 173. Trichia Carlylei, Mass., plants, x 40.
„ 174. Spores and an elater of same, x 350.
„ 175. Portion of sporangial wall of same, seen from the inside, showing
the purple masses of organic matter, x 350.
„ 176. Badhamia nitens, Berk., plants, x 40.
„ 177. Spores of same ; a, in clusters ; b, detached, x 350.
„ 178. Single spore of same, x 1200.
„ 179. Portion of capillitium of same, x 350.
„ 180. Trichia intermedia, Mass., plants, x 40.
Description of the Figures. 351
FIG. 181. Two spores of same, showing the extreme variations of markings ;
a, having the bands all united to form a network ; b, having
the bands not at all combined, x 1200. „ 182. Portion of an elater of same, x 1200. „ 183. Trichia purpurascens, Nyl., plants, x 40. „ 184. Spores and elaters of same, x 350 ; portion of a spore, x 1200. „ 185. Oligonema Broamei, Mass., plants, x 40. „ 186. Spores and elater of same, x 350. „ 187. Leocarpus fragttis, Host., plants, x 25. „ 188. Pale-coloured form of same, x 25. „ 189. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350 ; portion of a
spore, x 1200.
„ 190. Fuligo varians, Eost., a small specimen ; nat. size. „ 191. Section of same ; nat. size.
„ 192. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350. „ 193. Oligonema nitens, Rost., group of plants, x 40. „ 194. Portion of capillitium of same, x 350. „ 195. Spore of same, x 1200.
PLATE 8.
FIG. 196. Physarum tenerum, Rex., x 100.
„ 197. Ophiotheca Wrightii, Berk, and Curtis ; portion of capillitium thread, x 1200.
„ 198. Ophiotheca vermicularis, Mass., portion of capillitium thread, x 1230.
„ 198a. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 199. Ophiotheca reticulata, Mass., group of specimens showing various forms of the venulose plasmodiocarp, x 50.
„ 200. Portion of same showing the numerous free arms, a, a, of the capillitium, and the attachment of the latter to the wall of the sporangium, b, x 600.
„ 201. Orcadella opercidata, Wingate ; two entire specimens ; a, the deciduous operculum, x 100.
„ 202. Lamproderma Listeri, Mass. , showing a specimen after the dis- appearance of the sporangial wall, and the dispersion of the spores ; a, stem, passing into the hypothallus, b ; c, remains of tne wall of the sporangium, which forms a frill round the apex of the stem ; d, columella, which in the present specimen is expanded in an irregularly discoid manner at the apex ; e, threads of the capillitium which originate from the discoid apex of the columella, x 400.
„ 203. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 204. Lachnobol-xs globosus, .Schweinitz. A specimen growing on a spine of the involucre of the sweet chestnut ; a, the basal per- manent portion of the sporangium, x 100.
352 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
FIG. 205. Heterotrichia Gabriellae, Mass., two entire specimens : o, before, 6, after deliiscence, and showing the protruded capillitium, x 80.
„ 206. Spores and portion of capillitium of same ; a, thin inner portion of capillitium without free ends ; b, thick, peripheral portion of capillitium with numerous, pointed, free ends, x 500.
„ 207. Didymium neglectiim, Mass., section of sporangium ; a, colu- mella ; 6, wall of sporangium covered externally with minute granules of lime ; c, threads of capillitium, x 200.
„ 208. Didymium amtrcdis, Mass., single specimen showing the shallow umbilicus on the under surface of the sporangium, x 100.
„ 209. Echinostdinm minutum, Host., portion of capillitium. (After Eostafinski.)
„ 210. Physarum conglomeratum, Fries, a group of specimens seen from above, x 100. (Drawn from a specimen named by Fries.)
,, 211. Section of a sporangium of same, x 150.
,, 212. Spores and a portion of the capillitium of the same, x 400.
PLATE 9.
Fia. 213. Craterium cylindricum, Mass., x 100.
„ 214. Physamm dlipsosporum, Host., spore, x 1200.
„ 215. Physarum flavum, Fries, entire specimen, x 100 (figured from specimen by Fries).
„ 216. Chondrioderma virginea, Mass., two specimens showing the smooth wall and irregular mode of dehiscence, x 80.
„ 217. Clusters of the same growing on a dead leaf ; nat. size.
„ 218. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 219. Section of a sporangium of same, showing columella and capil- litium, x 100.
„ 220. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 400.
„ 221. Physamm brunneolum, Phil., two entire specimens ; o, before, 6, after dehiscence, x 100.
„ 222. Section of same, showing the very numerous, large nodes of the capillitium, x 300.
„ 223. Lepidoderma stellata, Mass., young specimen, showing the origin- ally continuous white crust of bicarbonate lime just beginning to break up into large, detached, persistent patches, x 150.
„ 224. Two specimens of same ; a, before, 6, after dehiscence, which takes place in a stellate manner from the apex, x 150.
„ 225. Section of same, showing the columella and capillitium, x 150.
„ 226. Didyminm Iwiqipes, Mass., three specimens, showing irregular mode of dehiscence ; a, hypothallus, x 100.
„ 227. Didymium proximnm, Berk, and Curt., specimens growing on dead grass ; nat. size.
„ 228. Two specimens of same ; a, showing the elongated columella, which is very brittle and easily broken off, x 100.
Description of the Figures. 353
Fro. 229. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 400. (All the figures are drawn from the type specimen in Herb. Berk., Kew, n. 10,760.)
„ 230. Lepidoderma retictdatum, Mass., two specimens, showing variety of form assumed by the plasmodiocarp, x 100.
„ 231. Physarum scyphoides, Cooke and Balfour, three specimens ; «, after dehiscence, showing the columella ; 6, showing the irregu- larly circumscissile mode of dehiscence, x 100.
„ 232. Didymium fidvellum, Mass., single specimen showing the frosting of lime partially removed from the sporangium, x 200.
„ 233. Trichia superba, Mass., spore showing the raised, flat bands com- bined to form a nearly polygonal network ; the flat surface of the flat raised band is ornamented with a row of minute depressions, x 1200.
„ 234. Physarum Ravenelii, Mass., single specimen, x 100.
„ 235. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 400.
PLATE 10.
FIG. 236. TUmadoche mutabttis, var. aiirantiaca, Host, plant, x 40.
„ 237. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350.
„ 238. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 239. TUmadoche mutabilis, var. lutea, Host., plants, x 40.
„ 240. Physarum Carlylei, Mass., plant, x 40.
„ 241. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350.
„ 242. Arcyria punicea, Eost., plants, x 40.
„ 243. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350.
„ 244. Portion of capillitium of same, x 1200.
„ 245. Chondrioderma Carmichaeliana, Mass., plants, x 40.
„ 246. Section of same, x 40.
„ 247. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350.
„ 248. Arcyria chierea, Mass., plant, x 40.
„ 249. Spores of same, x 350.
„ 250. Arcyria fnrruginea, Sauter., plants, showing the various forms of
sporangium ; in a, the sporangium has been ruptured by the
elastic capillitium, 6, x 40.
„ 251. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350.
„ 252. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 253. Portion of capillitium thread of same, x 1200.
„ 254. Brefddia maxima, Host., plant ; nat. size.
„ 255. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350.
„ 256. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 257. Craterium aureum, Host., plant, x 40.
„ 258. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350.
„ 259. Spore of same, x 1200.
AA
354 A Monograph of the Myxoyastres.
FIG. 260. Crater ium aureum, Host., plant, x 40.
„ 261. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350.
„ 262. Arcyria rubiformis, Kost., a, the stipitate, fasciculate form ; b, sessile form ; in c, the sporangium lias dehisced in a circum- scissile manner, the apical portion, d, being carried up by the elastic capillitium, e, x 40.
„ 263. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350.
„ 264. Spore of same, x 1200.
,, 265. Cratcrium Friesii, Host., x 40.
PLATE 11.
FIG. 266. Ceinkowskia reticnlatay Host., specimen, x 40. „ 267. Spores and portion of capillitium of same, showing the free,
curved, pointed tips, a, a, x 400. „ 268. Arcyria chrysvspora, Mass., spore, x 1200. „ 269. Free apex of thread of capillitium, x 1200. „ 270. Arcyria Bnckucdli, Mass., tip of elater, x 1200. „ 271. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 272. Arcyria paradoxa, Mass., portion of an elater, x 1200. „ 273. Arcyria serpula, specimen, x 40. „ 274. Tip of elater of same, x 1200. „ 274o. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 275. Physamm cerebrinnm, Mass., specimen, x 40. „ 276. Physamm contextum, specimen, x- 40. „ 277. Spores and portion of capillitium of same, x 350. ., 278. Spore of same, x 1200. „ 279. Physamm virescens, sesstle form, x 40. „ 280. Stipitate form of same, x 40. „ 281. Aethalioid form of same, x 2. „ 282. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350. „ 283. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 284. Physamm cotujloineratum, Fries, group of sporangia, x 40. „ 285. Spores and portion of capillitium of same, x 350. „ 286. Spore of same, x 1200. „ 287. Phy.iannn Schnmacheri, plants in different stages of development,
the one to the left with the sporangium broken away and
showing the columella, x 40. „ 288. Spore of same, x 1200. „ 289. Craterinm coitfusum, Mass., group of sporangia, x 40.
PLATE 12.
FIG. 290. Physamm psittacinnm, plant, x 40. „ 291. Spores and portion of capillitinm of same, x 350.
Description of the Figures. 355
FIG. 292. Physarum sinuosum, entire plants after dehiscence, x 40.
„ 293. Section of same, x 50.
„ 294. Badhamia macrocarpa, sessile scattered form, x 50.
„ 295. Stipitate form of same, x 50.
„ 296. Spores and portion of oapillitium attached to sporangial wall of same, x 350.
„ 297. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 298. Craterinm leucocephalum, specimens showing the various stages of dehiscence, x 50.
„ 299. Vertical medium section of same showing the irregular columella, dense capillitium, and perforations in the wall, «, x 100.
„ 300. Portion of wall of sporangium of same, seen from the inside, showing the general crust of lime in the form of very minute granules, the circular discs of . organic matter, a, and the cavities from which the discs have been removed, b, x 400.
„ 301. One of the discs of organic matter removed from wall of same, x 400.
„ 302. Enerthenema elegans, specimen from which the wall of the spor- angium has been removed and the spores blown away, showing the thin columella with its apical disc-like portion from which the capillitium originates, a fragment of the basal portion of sporangial wall still adhering to the stem is marked, a, x 50.
„ 303. Portion of capillitium and spores of same, x 350.
„ 304. Spore and portion of capillitium of same, x 1200.
„ 305. Craterium dictyospermum, x 50.
„ 306. Median vertical section of same, showing the columella and capillitium, x 100.
„ 307. Craterium lilacinum, x 50.
„ 308. Spore of same x 1200.
„ 309. Craterium rubiginosum, X 50.
„ 310. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 311. Reticularia lycoperdon, a. castaneum; nat. size.
„ 312. Spore of same, x 1200.
„ 313. Cliondrioderma Michelii, a, hypothallus, x 50.
GENERA AND SPECIES EXCLUDED.
Endocalyx, B. and Br., belongs to the Fungi.
Reticularia affinis, B. and C., -\
atro-rufa, B. and C., t = Trichosporium Curtisii,
venulosa, B. and C., J Mass" Journ' ^c" 1889'
( Trichosporium phyrrho- Reticulana phyrrhospora, Berk., 1 . -..-
'-< = sporium, Mass., Journ. „ rubra, Ay res. j -./r noon
V Myc., 1889.
{Trichosporium apio- = sporium, Mass., Journ. Myc., 1889.
Badhamia fulvescens, Cke., is probably a member of the Perisporiaceae.
Didymium bulbillosum, Br. and Br., = minute galls on a leaf, as proved by examination of type.
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INDEX OF GENERA.
Synonyms arc printed in Italics.
Alwisia, B. and Br., 126. Amaurochaete, Rost. , 89. Ancyrophorus, Raunk., 107. Arcyria, Hill., 141.
Badhamia. Berk., 316. Brefeldia, Rost., 90.
Ch on drio derma, Rost., 197. (JliromoxjMrium, Sacc., 93. Cienkowskia, Rost, 336. Clathroptychium, Rost., 50. Cvjnatricha, Preuss., 72. GWnurta, Rost., 126, 130. Crateriachea, Rost., 344. Craterium, Toent., 262. Cribraria, Pcrs., 54.
Dcrmodinm, Rost., 120. Diachaea, Fries., 258. Dictydium, Schrad., 67. Didymium, Schrad., 218.
Echinostelium, De Bary, 108. Enerthenema, Bowni., 104. Enteridium, Rost., 44.
Fuligo, Rost., 339.
Hemiarcyi'ia, Rost., 141. Heterodictyoii, Rost., 54. Heterotrichia, Mass., 139.
Lachnobolus. Fries., 136. Lamprodenna, Rost., 94. Leocarpus, Rost., 337. Lepidoderma, De Bary, 251. .Z/icea, Schrad., 35. Lindbladia, Fries, 35. Lycogala, Mich., 119. Lycoprrdon, Bux., 120.
Oligonema, Rost., 169. Ophiotheca, Curr., 130. Orcadella, Wing., 48. Orthotrichia, Wing., 109.
Perichaena, Fries., 113, 130. Physarum, Pers., 273. Protodernui, Rost., 43. Protodermium, Rost., 43. Prototrichia, Rost., 126.
Baciborskia, Berl., 108. Beticularia, Bull., 92. Rostafinskia, Speg., 91, 108.
Siphoptychium, Rost., 88. Spumaria, Pers., 256, Stemonitis, Gled., 72.
Tilmadoche, Rost., 327. Trichia, Haller., 126, 173. Tubulina, Pers., 35.
INDEX OF SPECIES.
Synonyms are in roman type.
Abrupta (Trich.) 187. acuminata (Stem.) 78. Adnata (Arcy.) 145. advenula (Trich.) 181. dene-urn (Olig.) 172. affine (Phys.) 283. affine (Chon.) 210. affine (Didy.) 222. affinis (Coma.) 77. affinis (Arcy.) 157. affinis (Trich.) 194. affinis (Stem.) 77. alba (Spurn.) 256. albescens (Chon.) 209. albescens (Dider.) 209. Albicans (Phys.) 312. •' Alexandrowiczii (Chon.) 212. Alexandrowiczii (Badh.) 324. Alexandrowiczii (Didy.) 232. angidatum (Didy.) 249. anomala (Tilm.) 333. anomala (Ophi.) 135. anomala (Trich.) 135. anomala (Corn.) 135. anomalum (Didy.) 245. anomalum (Chon.) 245. antiades (Trich.) 314. antiades (Sphaer.) 314. antiades (Phys.) 313. applanata (Re tic.) 45. applanata (Peri.) 116. applanata (Hemi.) 117. arcyrella (Lach.) 138. arcyrioides (Lamp.) 95. arcyrioides (Lamp.) 102. arcyrionema (Lamp.) 96. anjillacea (Crib.) 65. argillacea (Crib.) 37.
artocreas (Peri.) 13?. atra (Stem.) 78. atra (Amaur.) 89. atropurpureum (Lyco.) 121. atrorubrum (Phys.) 294. atnim (Phys.) 314, 315. aurantiaca (Arcy.) 155. aurantiaca (Crib.) 57. aureum (Crat.) 269. australe (Steg.) 119. australis (Rost.) 92. austrulis (Didy.) 237, australis (Peri.) 119.
Balfouri (Trich.) 186. Barteri (Didy.) 231. Bauerlinii (Stem.) 79. Bavarica (Olig.) 170. Bavarica (a) 170. Berkeley ana (Ener.) 106. Berkeleyanum (Chon.) 214. Berkeleyi (Phys.) 285. Berkeleyi (Phys.) 242. Berkeleyi (Clat.) 53. Berkeleyi (Tilm.) 332. bicolor (Arcy.) 153. bieniaszii (Crib.) 60. bieniaszii (Heter.) 61. bombarda (Proto.) 128. Bonariensis (Arcy.) 157. botryoides (Didy.) 229. botrytis (Trich.) 176. Braunianum (Phys.) 308. brevifilitm (Olig.) 173. Broomei (Olig.) 172, brunnea (Tubu.) 42. brunnea (Licea) 42. brunneolum (Phys.) 280.
362 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
brunneolum (Dider.) 281. BucknaUi (Arcy.) 161. BucknaUi (Hemi.) 161.
caespitosa (Tubu.) 43. caespitosum (Phys.) 43, 311. calcar&nm (Clion.) 218. calyculata (Arcy.) 162. calyculata (Hemi.) 162. candidum (Phys.; 286. canoflavescens (Ophi.) 134. Capense (Phys.) 309. capsulifera (Badh.) 319. Carestiannm (Lepi.) 255. Carestiana (Reti.) 255. Carlyleana (Trich.) 174. Carlylei (Phys.) 293. Carlylei (Stem.) 84. Carmicliaeliannm (Chon.) 202. Cannichaelianum (Dider.) 202. Casparyi (Siph.) 89. cavipes (Tilm.) 333. cerebrinum (Phys.) 306. cernuum (Diet.) 67. Chailettii (Lepi.) 255. Chamadeontina (Proto.) 130. chondroderma (Didy.) 232. chrysopeplum (Phys.) 275. chrysosperma (Ophi.) 131. chrysospernm (Trich.) 189.. chrysospora (Arcy.) 164. chrysospora (Hemi.) 164. Ovryeotrichwm (Phys.) 300. cinerea (Arcy.) 151. cinerea (Arcy.) cribroidea (Var.) 153. cinereum (Phys.) 301. cinereum (Phys.) 310. cinereum (Pliys.) 298. cinnabarina (Licea) 52. ciwndbarinum (Clat.) 53. cinnamomea (Arcy.) 158. circinans (Lach.) 139. circumscissii (Corn.) 131. circumscissa (Ophi.) 131. citrinellum (Phys.) 278. citrinum (Phys.) 275. citrinum (Phys.) 278. davata (Arcy.) 165. clavata (Hemi.) 166. davits (Didy.) 230. coadiiata (Badh.) 325. cditmbiiM (Tilm.) 331. columbinum (Phys.) 332. columbinum (Didy). 331.
confluens (Coma.) 77. confliiens (Didy.) 235. conjli(siis (Stem.) 77. confnsa (Peri.) 117. confiisa (Diac.) 259. confusnm (Crat.) 263. columbinum (Lamp.) 100. commutable (Didy.) 229. compacta (Tilm). 332. complanatum (Didy.) 234. compresseum (Phys.) 286. concinnum (Dider.) 308. concinnum (Phys.) 308. congesta (Lach.) 139. congestum (Didy.) 292. conglomeratum (Phys.) 301. conglomeratum (Phys.) 304. conglomeratum (Dider.) 301. conicum (Dermo.) 123. conicum (Lyco.) 123. covmatnm (Didy.) 251. contextum (Phys.) 303. cotitorta (Trich.) 182. Cookei (Didy.) 245. Cookei (Chon.) 245. Cookei (Chon.) 207. Cookei (Arcy.) 154. corticcdis (Peri.) 115. corticalis (Peri.) 135. cransipes (Ancy.) 107. cribrarioides (Stem.) 104. cribroides (Var.) 144. croceo-tlavium (Didy.) 277. cntxtaceum (Chon.) 215. crustaceum (Dider.) 215. crustaceum (Didy.) 235. crustacenm (Dider.) 215. cubense (Chon.) 213. cuprea (Proto.) 129. cupripes (Phys.) 284. Curtisii (Did'y.) 272. Oiirtmi (Crat.) 272. Curtisii (Badh.) 272. Curtisii (Scyp.) 272. cylindrica (Tubu.) 39. cylindrica (Licea) 53. cylindricum (Crat.) 263.
daedaleum (Didy.) 250. decdbata (Chon.) 207. dealbatum (Didy.) 208. Decaisneana (Trich.) 185. decipiens (Arcy.) 158. decipiens (Arcy.) 157.
Index.
363
decipiens (Badh.) 300. deplanatum (Chon.) 215. depressa (Peri.) 114. dictydioides (Crib.) 65. dictyocarpa (Corn.) 131. dictyonema (Arcy.) 154. dictyospermum (Crat.) 270. dictyospora (Badh.) 27 1. dictyospora (Stem.) 83. diderma (Pbys.) 304. didermoides (Phys.) 291. difforme (Chon.) 213. digitata (Stem.) 153. diyitata (Arcy.) 153. discoideum (Didy.) 229. dissiliens (Clat.) 53. dissiliens (Diet.) 54. Ditinari (Phys.) 277. dubium (Didy.) 244. dubium (Didy.) 246.
echinospora (Didy.) 239. echinulata (Stem.) 97. echinulatum (Lamp.) 97. effusa (Lind.) 41. effusa (Tubu.) 41. effusum (Phys.) 313. effusum (Didy.) 236. data (Crib.) 61. elegans (Phys.) 313. elegans (Crib.) 55. degaiis (Ener.) 105. elegans (Raci.) 108. elegantissimum (Didy.) 243. elegantula (Proto.) 128. dlipsosporum (Phys.) 310. Mlisiana (Lamp.) 98. epidendrum (Lyco.) 121. erecta (Trich.) 184. erythrinum (Didy.) 275. erythrinum (Didy.) 249. exigium (Chon.) 240. eximium (Didy.) 241.
Fairmani (Didy.) 249. fallax (Licea) 47. fallax (Chon.) 212. fallax (Trich.) 192. Famintzini (Phys.) 309. farinaceum (Didy.) 219. farinaceum (Dider.) 233. fascicnlata (Badh.) 326. fasciculata (/3.) 163. fiisciculatiim (f.) 230.
fasciculattun (f.) 288. ferruginea (Arcy.) 144. ferruginea (Stem.) 85. flmetarium (Phys.) 314. flagellifer (Proto.) 127. flagellifer (Derm.) 127. flagellifer (Trich.) 127. flagcllifera (Proto.) 128. flavicomum (Didy.) 242. flavicomurn (Phys.) 242. flavicomnm (Phys.) 285. flavida (Peri.) 171. flavidum (Didy.) 251. fl.avidu.in (Didy.) 251. flavidnm (Phys.) 247. flavidum (Didy.) 247. flavidum (Olig.) 171. flavo-fuscum (Lyco.1; 124. flavo-virens (Phys.) 310. flavum (Phys.)*279. flexuosa (Tubu.) 37. flexuosa (Licea) 37. floriforme (Chon.) 308, 198. fluminensis (Stem.) 80. fragilis (Spha.) 176. fragilis (Trich.) 175. fragilis (Trich.) 176. Friesiana (Coma.) 82. Frieslana (Stem.) 82. Friesiana (Peri.) 135. Frieaianum (Chon.) 208. Friesii (Crat.) 266. Friesii (Arcy.) 152. Fnclceliana (Badh.) 321. Fuckeliana (Trich.) 321. Fuckelianum (Didy.) 222. FiwkeliaHiim (Lamp.) 103. Fiwkdii (Crat.) 272. fuliginea (Hemi.) 169. fuliginea (Arcy.) 169. fulvella (Badh.) 326. fulvellum (Didy.) 237. fnlvvpes (Didy.) 248. fidvum (Lepi.) 253. furcatum (Olig.) 173. fnsca (Stem.) 72. fusca (Stem.) 88. fttHca (Arcy.) 149. fusco-atra (Peri.) 115.
Gabridlae (Heter.) 140. galbeum (Phys.) 296. geastroides (Chon.) 201. geastroides (Dider.) 201.
364 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
glaucum (Didy.) 284. ylaucum (Phys.) 284. globosum (Chon.) 206. (flobosiis (Lach.) 137. '(jlobuliferum (Phys.) 297. gracilenta (Tilm.) 330. granulatum (Phys.) 289. granulifera (Badh.) 321. granuliierum (Didy.) 321. Guaranitica (Tubu.) 39. Guaranitica (Licea ?) 39. gyrocephala (Tilm.) 335. gyrocephalum (Didy.) 335. yyrosum (Phys.) 307.
Hariotii (Arcy.) 155. herbatica (Stem.) 87. heterotridiia (Aric.) 174. hians (Ailm.) 279. hiam (Phys.) 296. Hookeri (Diac.) 260. Hookeri (Dider.) 261. Hookeri (Lamp.) 261. hum-He (Didy.) 248. hyalina (Badh.) 319. hypnophilum (Didy.) 224. hypuophilum (Phys.) 314.
inaurata (Badh.) 324. incamata (Arcy.) 145. incarnatiis (Lach.) 139. inconspicua (Trich.) 180. imitaiis (Phys.) 292. inaequalis (Phys.) 300. inermi* (Arcy.) 157. insignia (Arc}".) 148. intermedia (Trich.) 188. intricata (Arcy.) 144. intricata (Crib.) 59. iridesceus (Lamp.) 101. irideum (Lamp.) 95. irregular is (Badh.) 323. irregularis (Oplii.) 132. irregularis (Peri.) 133. • irregularis (Arcy.) 146.
Jackii (Trich.) 188.
Kalbreyeri (Trich.) 191. Kakhbrenneri (Phys.) 297. Karsteni (Arcy.) 168. Kickxii (Trich.) 195. l\»,:ii (Lepi.) 255.
laciniatum (Dider.) 201. lateritia (Trich.) 176. lu.fa (Stem.) 79. laxa (Coma.) 79. leicorpa (Hemi.) 167. lelcorpa (Arcy.) 167. leocarpoides (Corn.) 167. leocarpoides (Arcy.) 167. Leprieurii (Arcy.) 153. leptotrichum (Chon.) 244. leucophaeum (Phys.) 288. leptotrichum (Didy.) 243. leucocephalum (Crat.) 267. leucophaeum (Phys.), o. flexuosum,
287.
leucopliaeum (Phys.) 288. Uucopoda (Diac.) 259. leucopus (Phys.) 287. leucosporum (Lamp.) 96. Leveillei (Phys.) 296. liceoides (Peri.) 118. liceoUles (Chon.) 215. licheniformis (Spurn.) 292. lilacina (Badh.) 271. lilacinum (Crat.) 271. Lindheimeri (Licea) 42. Lindheimeri (Tubu.) 42. Listeri (Lamp.) 97. Listeri (Didy.) 244. lividum (Phys.) 304. lividum (Phys.) 284 lobatum (Didy.) 220. longa (Coma.) 83. loiiga (Stem.) 83. longipes (Didy.) 236. Lorinseriana (/3.) 175. lucidum (Dider.) 204. lucidum (Chon.) 204. luteolum (Phys.) 309. luteo-valve (Phys.) 310. LyaUil (Chon.) 201. lycoperdi (Crib.) 104. lycoperdon (Retic.) 93. lycopodii (Lamp.) 104.
macrocarpa (Badh.) 317. mficrocarpa (Crib.) 56. macrocarpon (Phys.) 317. macrosperma (Stem.) 76. macrospermum (Didy.) 228. macrosporum (Enter.) 45. magna (Badh.) 319. magnum (Dicty.) 319. (Bref.) 91.
Index-
365
maxima (Stem.) 74. melanopeziza (Arcy.) 162. melanopeziza (Hemi.) 162. melaiwspora (Badh.) 325. melleum (Didy.) 278, 279. melleum (Didy.) 276, 278. metallica (Corn.) 130. metallica (Proto.) 128. raetallica (Trich.) 128. metallicum (Phys.) 130. Michel ii (Chon.) 204... Michelii (Dider.) 205. microcarpa (Badh.) 325. microcarpa (Crib.) 63. microcarpa (Peri.) 117. microcarpoii (Didy.) 227. microcarpon (Didy.) 226, microcephala (Orth.) 109. microscopica (Crib.) 62. microsperma (Licea) 40. minima (Crib.) 59. minima (Tubu.) 36. minima (Licea) 36. minima (Trich.) 182. minimum (Crat.) 272. ininuta (Tilm.) 296. minuta (Tilm.) 279. minutissima (Crib.) 66. minutulum (Olig.) 171. minutum (Lamp.) 100. minutum (Echin.) 109. minutum (Lyco.) 125. minutum (Crat.) 264. minutum (Crat.) 273. mirabile (Heter.) 60. mirabilis (Crib.) 60. mirabilis (Phys.) 334. Morgani (Stem.) 86. muscicolum (Phys.) 312. muscornm (Ener.) 106. muscorum (Phys.) 307. mutabile (Chon.) 212. mutabile (Crat.) 269. mutabile (Crat.) 272. mutabilis (Tilm.) 329.
nana (Trich.) 181. nefroideum (Phys.) 285. neglectum (Didy.) 231. neglectum (Didy.) 224. nigrescens (Lamp.) 96. nigrescens (Lamp.) 102. nigripes (a.) 227. nitens (Badh.) 324.
nitens (Ophi.) 133. nitens (PerU 133. nitens (Olig.) 170. nitens (Olig.) 173. nitens (Trich.) 179. nitidissima (Tubu.) 30. nitidum (Lyco.) 122. niveum (Chon.) 206. nivenm (Chon.) 207. nodulosa (Badh.) 322. nodulomm (Phys.) 322. nutans (Arcy.) 150. nutans (Crat.) 266. nutans (Tilm.) 327.
ollonga (Tilm.) S34. oblonga (Trich.) 3S4. obovatum (Lepi.) 254. obrusseum (Didy.) 241. obrusseum (Lidy.) 247. obrusseum (Didy.) 240. obrusseum (Phys.) 241. ochraceum (Chon.) 216. ochraceum (Lyco.) 125. Oerstedtii (Chon.) 203. Oerstedtii (Crat.) 266. Oerstedtii (Arcy.) 147. olivaeeum (Enter.) 44. operculata (Orca.) 49. ornatum (Phys.) 295. ovispora (Badh.) 326.
papaveracea (Badh.) 323. pallida (Badh.) 323. pallida (Peri.) 118. pallida (Ophi.) 136. pallidum (Steg.) 119. panicea (Badh.) 318. paniceum (Phys.) 318. pannorum (Licea) 118. papillata (Ener.) 105. paradoxa (Arcy.) 159. paradoxa (Hemi.) 160. Paraguayense (Didy.) 250. pedunculatum (Crat.) 264. penetralis (Badh.) 98. perreptans (Licea) 91. pertusum (Didy.) 241. Petersii (Phys.) 295, 287. pezizoideum (Didy.) 239. Phillipsii (Phys.) 290. physarioides (Chon.) 214. physarioides (Lamp.) 103. physarioides (Stem.) 96.
366 A Monograph of the Myxogastres.
physarioides (Didy.) 233. piceum (Phys.) 313. piriformis (Crib.) 55. platypus (Agaricus) 239. platypus (Didy.) 239. polyaedran (Phys.) 316. polymorphism (Phys.) 283. polymorphum (Phys.) 251. pomiformis (Arcy.) 151. praecox (Didy.) 223. proximella (Trich.) 180. proximum (Didy.) 238. pruinosum (Didy.) 288. pseudaecldium (Peri.) 119. psittacinum (Phys.) 274. pidchella (Stem.) 86. pulchella (Coma.) 86. pulcherrimum (Phys.) 293. pulcherripes (Phys.) 315. punicea (Arcy.) 142. punicea (Arcy.) 149. purpurascens (Trich.) 177. purpurea (Crib.) 57. pusiUa (Hemi.) 168. pus ilia (Arcy.) 168. pusilla (Hemi.) 168. pusilla (Trich.) 195. pusilla (Proto.) 44. pusillum (Proto.) 44. pusiLlum (Proto.) 43. pusillum (Didy.) 238. pyriforine (Crat.) 264.
quercina (Peri.) 115.
Maciborsckii (Arcy.) 156. radiatum (Didy.) 229. radiatum (Chon.) 200, 202. Ravenelii (Didy.) 281. Bavenelii (Phys.) 281. Reuderi (Phys.) 282. reniformis (Trich.) 184. reuiformis (Tilm.) 336. reticulata (Lict-a) 253. reticulata (Licea) 133. reticulata (Ophi.) 133. reticulata (Peri.) 133. reticulatum (Chon.) 216. reticulatum (Didy.) 253. reticulatum (Lepi.) 252. reticulatum (Phys.) 314. robttsta (Lamp.) 99. roseum (Phys.) 294. Rostafaisldi (Lach.) 138.
Rostqfinskii (Peri.) 117. Rostafinskii (Phys.) 301. Rostrupii (Enter.) 45. Rozeana (Retic.) 47. Rozeanum (Enter.) 47. rubiformis (Arcy.) 158. rubiyinosa (Badh.) 270. rubiginosum (Crat.) 270. rubiginosum (Phys.) 30^. rubiginosum (Scyphium) 270. rufa (Crib.) 63. rufibasis (Phys.) 296. rufibasix (Phys.) 279. rufipes (J3 ) 227.
rufo-cinnamomeum (Lyco.) 125. rugulosnm (Clat.) 51.
Saccardianum (Lamp.) 101. Saundersii (Chon.) 209. Sauteri (Chon.) 217. Sauteri (Lamp.) 100. scabra (Trich.) 192. Schimperi (Lamp.) 99. Schroeteri (Phys. ) 280. Schumacheri (Phys.) 275. Schumacher! (Phys.) 335. Schumacheri (Phys.) 278. Schweinitxii (Corn.) 52. Schiceinitzii (Phys.) 311. scrobiculatum (Didy.) 301. scrobicrdatum (Phys.) 300. scyphoides (Phys.) 282. serpula (Arcy.) 164. serpula (Arcy.) 136. aerptda (Didy.) 234. serpida (Ophi.) 135. serpula (Hemi.) 165. simile (Phys.) 286. $i mills (Arcy.) 156. simplex (Chon.) 217. simula'ns (Chon.) 209. simulates (Enter.) 47. siiutpimtm (Didy.) 246. sinuosum (Phys.) 305. spadiceum (Ostr.) 52. speciosa (Tubu.) 38. spleiidens (Crib.) 62. splendens (Stem.) 74. splendens (Diac. ) 261. spermoides (Licea) 37. spermuides (Tubu.) 37. spumarioidea (Licea) 42. .spuiiianoidea (Tubu.) 42. spumar'wides (Didy.) 232.
Index.
367
spumarioides (Chon.) 232. «/m///i H/o.siwi (Didy.) 223. Stahlii (Chon.) 218. stellare (Dider.) 200. stellatnm (Lepi.) 252. stipitata (Arcy.) 163. stipitata (Henri.) 163. stipitata (Licea) 38. stipitata (Tubu.) 38. stipitata (Spor.) 219. stipitatum (y.) 277. straminiformis (Crib.) 335. striatum (Phys.) 243. stricta (Arcy.) 151. stromateum (Chon.) 233. subcaespitosa (Stem.) 80. subdictyospermum (Chon.) 208. subfmca (Trich.) 183. subglobosum (Phys.) 300. sublateritium (Chon.) 211. siiboenenm (Lamp.) 95. subroseum (Didy.) 312. subsessilis (Diac.) 262. Suksdorfii (Coma.) 76. Suksdorfii (Stem.) 76. sulphurea (Trich.) 186. sidphureum (Phys.) 311. superba (Trich.) 194.
Tatrica (Crib.j 62. tenella (Crib.) 58. teiierrima (Stem.) 81. tenerrimnm (Didy.) 247. tenuissima (Licea) 52. terrestre (Lyco.) 122. testaceum (Chon.) 210. thyoteum (Phys.) 277. tlgriimm (Lepi.) 253. Trevelyana (Chon.) 202. Trevelyani (Leang.) 203. tubulina (Stem.) 87.
tussulayinis (Didy.) 244. tussulaginis (Phys.) 245. typhina (Coma.) 75. typhina (Stem.) 74.
umbrina (Arcy.) 147. umbrina (Ophi.) 135. utricularis (Badh.) 319.
vaccinum (Chon.) 217. vaccinum (Dider.) 217. mrta (Badh.) 319. varia (Trich.) 178. variabilis (Licea) 36. venosum (Diet.) 68. vermiculare (Phys.) 135. vermicularis (Ophi.) 134. vermicularis (Peri.) 135. verna (Badh.) 324. vernicosa (Arey.) 142. verrucosa (Trich.) 191. versicolor (Arcy.) 149. vprsipelle (Didy.) 249. violacea (Lamp.) 95. violaceum (Lamp.) 94. virescfns (Phys.) 277. virginenm (Var.) 226. viridis (Tilm.) 329. vitellina (Arcy.) 150. vitellinnm (Poly.) 311. vulgare (Crat.) 263. oulyaris (Crib.) 61.
Weinmanni (Didy.) 248. WigaiuJii (Arcy.) 163. Wrightii (Corn.) 132. Wrightii (Ophi.) 132.
Zeylanicum (Didy.) 240. Zeylanicum (Chon.) 240.
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