1893.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 371 



in the upper half, operculum brownish-white, darkest in the center ; 

 operculum alwa) T s more or less convex, rarely approaching a hemi- 

 spherical shape ; sporangium-wall smooth, simple, variously colored 

 by the innate lime granules; stipe equalling the sporangium in length, 

 dark brown, longitudinally ridged; capillitium composed of a close 

 meshed, all-sided network with small rounded or slightly angular 

 nodal masses of ochre brown lime granules, averaging about 25-30//. 

 in diameter; no true columella, but the central nodes larger than 

 the others; spores 9-10/*, brown, delicately warted. 



Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pa. 



This species differs from the various forms of Craterium vulgare to 

 which it is most nearly allied, by its habit of growth, its generally 

 different shape, its convex operculum and especially by the very 

 different capillitium with its minute nodes which are invariably of a 

 dull brownish-ochre color. Like Lachnobolus globosus with which 

 this species is frequently associated, it is usually found upon chestnut 

 burs lying upon the ground in moist places. 



Physarum variabile n. sp. 



Sporangia scattered, stipitate, substipitate or sessile, about one 

 mm. high ; regularly or irregularly globose, ellipsoidal, obovate or 

 cylindric-clavate in shape ; sporangium-wall sometimes apparently 

 thick, of a dingy yellow or brownish-ochre color, slightly rugulose 

 on surface, crustaceous, brittle, rupturing irregularly, sometimes thin, 

 translucent covered externally with flat circular lime masses falling 

 away in patches; stipes nearly equal, occasionally much expanded 

 at the base, rough, longitudinally rugose, variable in size, some- 

 times one-third of a mm. high, sometimes a mere plasmodic 

 thickening of the base of the sporangium; color of stipes varying 

 from a yellowish-white to a dull brownish-gray ; capillitium a small 

 meshed network of delicate colorless tubules with large many angled 

 rounded masses of white or rarely yellowish-white lime granules at 

 the nodes; no true columella but often a central irregular mass of 

 white lime granules ; spores dark violet-brown, verruculose 9-10// 

 in diameter. 



Adirondack Mts., New York. 



A comparison of several gatherings of this species shows a great 

 diversity of forms, the most curious of which is the erect, subsessile 

 cylindroid form. Nevertheless the essential characters are the 

 same in all, making them referable to one species. The crustaceous 

 semi-glazed sporangium-wall and similar capillitium ally this species 



