COMATRICHA 12$ 



of the sporangium, giving rise throughout its length to the 

 dense blackish capillitium ; hypothallus delicate, inconspicu- 

 ous ; capillitium, the main branches thick at the point of origin, 

 frequently anastomosing, and becoming gradually thinner toward 

 the surface of the sporangium, the tips pointed, free, forming no 

 network ; spores blackish violet in mass, by transmitted light 

 pale brownish violet, rough, 9.5-13 /">. 



A very distinct and curious species. The sporangia are 

 densely crowded, though by the nature of habitat somewhat 

 tufted. The shape of the individual sporangium is quite uni- 

 formly clavate or obovate, decidedly truncate above. The 

 spores are uniformly verruculose and plainly unequal. Lister, 

 Mycetozoa, p. 92, includes this species under DiacJiea tJwmasii 

 Rex. This is plainly a mistake as Mr. Lister's figures, PI. 

 XXXVI., B, d-e, show. These figures illustrate our present 

 species, while the associated figures just as clearly exhibit some 

 of the characteristic features of D. tJiomasii. The two forms 

 are not at all alike. The Diaclica is surcharged in stipe and 

 columella with large orange granules containing lime. These, 

 according to experiments conducted by Dr. Sturgis, are com- 

 posed of minute particles of organic matter held together by 

 small quantities of lime. Nothing of this kind is discoverable 

 in C. c&spitosa. The spores of the last-named species are uni- 

 formly waited as in C. pulcltclla ; the spores of DiacJiea tJio- 

 masii show double warting as in C. typhina. The hypothallus 

 in C. ccespitosa is thin and delicate as in Comatricha generally ; 

 the hypothallus in DiacJiea tliomasii is just as plainly Diachea- 

 like, venulose, and calcareous. 



On moss and lichens. Wood's Roll, Massachusetts ; North 

 Carolina. 



2. COMATRICHA LONGA Peck. 



PLATE VI., Figs. 2, 2 a, 2 b. 

 1890. Comatricha longa Peck, Rep. A r . Y. Mus., XLIII., p. 24. 



Sporangia crowded in depressed masses or tufts, black, long, 

 cylindric, even, stipitate ; stipe black, shining, generally very 



