OPHIOTHECA l8l 



i. Ophiotheca Currey. 



1854. Ophiotheca Currey, Ouar.Jour. Mic. Set., II., p. 240. 



1875. Cormwia Rost., Man., p. 289 (in part). 



Fructification generally plasmodiocarpous, terete, bent or 

 flexuous, often annular or cornuate, rarely globose, opening 

 irregularly, peridium thin, not polished, covered more or less 

 strongly with a distinct layer of scales or granules ; capillitium 

 of slender, loosely branching filaments, the surface rough or 

 spinulose ; spores yellow. 



As a generic name OpJdotJieca plainly has priority. Cornuvia 

 as understood by Rostafinski has no representative so far in our 

 region ; it is more closely related to Oligonema. 



Key to the Species of Ophiotheca. 



A. Plasmodiocarp usually upon herbaceous stems, slender, 



i. O. vermicularis 



B. Plasmodiocarp on rotting bark, logs, etc. 



a. Pale brownish or yellowish . . . 2. O. chrysosperma 



b. Chestnut brown or blackish . . . . 3. O. ivrightii 



i. OPHIOTHECA VERMICULARIS (Schw.} Macbr. 



1834. Physarum vermicularis Schw., N. A. F., No. 2296. 



1869. Ophiotheca palli da B. and C.,Jour. Lin. Soc., X., p. 350. 



1873. Ophiotheca umbrina B. and C., Grev.j II., p. 88. 



1876. Perichana pallida (Schw.) Rost., Man. App., p. 34. 



Plasmodiocarp very slender, terete, elongate, flexuous or 

 reticulate, annular, etc., of dull gray or neutral tint ; the perid- 

 ium thin, translucent, but with a delicate granular outer coating; 

 capillitium of slender threads, frequently branched, warted and 

 usually minutely spinulose ; spore-mass ochraceous yellow ; 

 spores by transmitted light pale yellow, minutely roughened, 

 10 /CA. 



Perhaps common, but seldom collected, probably overlooked 

 on account of protective coloration ; the color is about that of 

 the habitat, the weathered surface of dead herbaceous stems 

 and roots. On dead corn stalks not infrequent. Differs from 



