1 62 THE NORTH AMERICAN SLIME-MOULDS 



2. CRIBRARIA MACROCARPA ScJirader. 



PLATE XVII., Fig. 2. 

 1797. Cribraria macrocarpa Schrad., Nov. Gen. Plant., p. 8. 



Sporangia more or less closely gregarious, yellowish brown, 

 pear-shaped or obovate, large, .8-1 mm. in diameter, stipitate ; 

 stipe brown furrowed, erect or often nodding, about equal to 

 the sporangium or longer ; calyculus distinct, marked by numer- 

 ous dark brown radiating ribs, iridescent, perforate above, 

 deeply dentate, and merging gradually into the elegant network, 

 of which the dark nodes are more distinctly expanded about 

 half way up, less so at the apex and below, the filaments ex- 

 ceedingly delicate, simple, with occasional free ends projecting 

 into the small meshes ; spore-mass yellowish, spores by trans- 

 mitted light almost colorless, minutely roughened, 5-6 p. 



Perhaps the most striking characteristic of the present spe- 

 cies, aside from its large size, is the peculiarly perforated cup 

 or calyculus. Schrader's artist failed him here entirely. The 

 structure is exceedingly delicate, the peridium between the ribs 

 and reticulations reduced to the last degree of tenuity, with the 

 iridescence of the soap-bubble, here and there lapsed entirely. 

 Withal the structure seems firm enough, and persists until all 

 the spores are dissipated by the wind. 



Easily distinguished from the preceding, its only rival in size, 

 by the obovate or turbinate netted sporangium, its much longer 

 stem, and flat, perfectly formed nodes. 



Rare. New York, North Carolina, South Carolina. 



3. CRIBRARIA MINUTISSIMA Schweinitz. 



PLATE XVII., Figs. 6, 6 a. 

 1832. Cribraria minutissitna Schw., N. A. f., No. 2362. 



Sporangia scattered, orange or nut brown, very minute, . I--5 

 mm., or less, globose or ellipsoidal, stipitate, erect or nodding; 

 hypothallus none ; stipe short, 1-3 times the sporangium, fili- 

 form, tapering upward, brown; the calyculus variable, some- 



