146 THE NORTH AMERICAN SLIME-MOULDS 



rather firm, ruptured irregularly or by simple fissure ; hypothal- 

 lus none. 



This genus is distinguished from other similar plasmodiocar- 

 pous forms by the extreme simplicity of its structure. There is 

 absolutely no capillitium nor anything like it, simply a mass of 

 spores surrounded by thin membranous walls. The spores 

 range from pale olive, colorless under the lens, through various 

 shades of brown to dusky almost black in L. pusilla. Schrader 

 included the Tubifera species. 



Key to the Species of Licea. 



A. Plainly plasmodiocarpous I. L. variabilis 



B. Sporangia distinct though commonly unequal. 



a. Opening irregularly .... 2. L. lindheimeri 



b. Opening by regular segments. 



1. Segments two only . . . . 3. L. biforis 



2. Segments several. 



i. Spores brown . . . 4. L. minima 



ii. Spores dusky olive . . . 5. L. pusilla 



I. LICEA VARIABILIS ScJirader. 



PLATE XII., Fig. 7. 

 1797. Licea variabilis Schrader, Nov. Gen., p. 18, PI. VI., Figs. 5 and 6. 



Fructification plasmodiocarpous, elongate, hamate, annulate 

 or irregularly repent, very dark brown, rough, the peridium of 

 two layers, the outer closely adhering, dark brown, thick, opaque, 

 the inner delicate, membraneous, very thin, transparent, irides- 

 cent, rugulose, rupturing irregularly ; hypothallus none ; spores 

 in mass pale yellow with a greenish tinge, by transmitted light 

 nearly colorless, large, globose, minutely spinulose, 12.5 /JL. 



This is the largest species of the genus as represented in this 

 country, the plasmodiocarps of various lengths and from .5-. 7 p 

 wide. Somewhat resembling some species of Ophiothcca, but of 

 much darker color. The outer peridium is deciduous, and the 

 inner slowly ruptures, by irregular fissures discharging the 

 spores. The plasmodium, according to Schrader, is white. 

 Rare. Probably overlooked. 



New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa. 



