142 THE NORTH AMERICAN 'SLIME-MOULDS 



Rost. that there seems no doubt that we have here what the 

 Polish author figured and described, whether or not he was 

 always consistent in applying his labels. The color distinguishes 

 at sight the present species from L. physaroides t and the capil- 

 litium and large rough brown spores distinguish it from L. 

 violaceum. The capillitium of L. scintillans is much denser 

 and more rigid, and the spores smaller. The stipe when dry 

 is ciliate. 



Rare. Maine, Pennsylvania, South Carolina. 



4. LAMPRODERMA SCINTILLANS (Berk, and Br^) List. 



PLATE V., Figs. 2, 2 a. 



1877. Stemonitis scintillans Berk, and Br.,/<?r. Linn. Soc. XV., p. 2. 

 1877. Lamproderma arcyrioides, var. iridea. Cke., Myx. G. ., p. 50. 

 1892. Lamproderma irideum (Cke.), Mass. Man., p. 95. 

 1894. Lamproderma scintillans (Berk, and Br.) List., Morg., Jour. Cin. 

 Soc., p. 47. 



Sporangia gregarious, scattered, globose or depressed globose, 

 rich metallic blue or purple, iridescent, stipitate ; the stipe long, 

 slender, even, inclined and nodding or sometimes erect ; hypo- 

 thallus small, circular ; columella cylindric, small, not reaching 

 the centre, black ; capillitium dense, of rigid, straight, sparingly 

 branched or anastomosing brown threads, which are sometimes 

 white or colorless just as they leave the columella; spores 

 globose, rough, violaceous brown, 8 /u. 



This is L. irideum of Cooke and of Massee's Monograph. 

 Its capillitium is remarkable, and constitutes an easy diagnostic 

 mark. The threads appear at first sight entirely simple, but are 

 really several times furcate, and not infrequently anastomose. 

 The spores are covered with sparsely sown large papillae, easily 

 seen under moderate magnification. 



This is one of our earliest species. To be sought in May on 

 beds of decaying oak leaves in the woods, especially in wet 

 places, near streams, etc. 



Rare. New England, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa. 



