178 THE NORTH AMERICAN SLIME-MOULDS 



^Ethalia scattered, sometimes two or three together, small, 

 2-4 mm. high, conical, sessile, pallid, grayish brown, marked by 

 obscure black reticulations, opening regularly at the somewhat 

 acuminate tip ; peridium thin in structure, as in L. epidendrum, 

 but more delicate ; capillitium made up of abundant, slender, 

 uniform threads almost smooth, simple, the free ends obtuse, 

 taking origin in the cortex much as in the preceding species; 

 spores in mass ochraceous, by transmitted light colorless, 

 minutely warted or faintly reticulate, about 5 p. 



A very distinct and rare little species. Well described by 

 Persoon, who also appears to have observed the plasmodium 

 " primo rubra" The color of the mature form varies with age ; 

 at first somewhat purplish. Dr. Rex collected it in Pennsylva- 

 nia ; Mr. Morgan has it from Ohio ; our specimens are from 

 southeastern Missouri. 



4. LYCOGALA EXIGUUM Morg. 



1893. Lycogala exiguuin Morg., four. Cin. Sac., p. 8. 



^Ethalia small, 2-5 mm. in diameter, gregarious, globose, 

 dark brown or black, sessile, minutely scaly, irregularly dehis- 

 cent ; the peridium thin, the vesicles comparatively few, in 

 irregular patches which are more or less confluent ; capillitium 

 as in preceding species, the tubules slender and branching ; 

 spore-mass pale, ochraceous, spores by transmitted light color- 

 less, almost smooth, 5-6 /*. 



Found in the same situations as No. I, and at the same 

 season. Recognizable by its gregarious habit, small size, and 

 dusky color. The little spheres occur a dozen or more in a 

 place, dark lead-colored, shading to black, opening rather regu- 

 larly at the top. It looks like a depauperate L. epidendrum^ 

 but seems to be constantly collected. 



Our specimens are from Ohio, Iowa, Missouri. 



