324 FETCH : 



The total number of species now known to occur in Ceylon 

 is 102. In addition, there are records of three more Ceylon 

 species, but as no specimens are in existence and they have 

 not been re-discovered during the last four years, the records 

 must be considered doubtful. The number compares favour- 

 ably with that recorded from Java, viz., 82, but many Javan 

 species have not yet been found in Ceylon ; these include 

 Enerthenema elegans, Badhamia fasciculata, B. hyalina,, B. 

 macrocarpa, Physarum citrinum, P. polymorp?ium, P. penetrate, 

 P. GuUelmce, Chondrioderma suhdictyospermum, Didymium, 

 jarwaceum, Cnbaria argillacea, C. purpurea, Licea flexuosa, 

 Trichia favoginea, T. verrucosa, Arcyria, incarnata. Systematic 

 collecting has been restricted hitherto to Peradeniya and 

 Hakgala, though many specimens liave also been gathered in 

 the low-country in the course of disease investigations. It is 

 probable that other species might be found in the wet low- 

 country jungles, or in the dry zone. In the latter localities 

 it might be possible to meet with new species ; the up-country 

 species are for the most part identical with those of temperate 

 climates. 



Although the majority of the Ceylon species are to be found 

 in Europe, there is a marked difference in their relative 

 abundance. Comatriclm obtusata and Didymium difforme, for 

 example, are rare ; and Physarum nutans, though occurring on 

 damp walls and flower pots fairly frequently, is rarely found 

 on decaying wood. Badhamia is poorly represented, the only 

 species being the somewhat atypical Badhamia nitens, while 

 no representatives have yet been found of Liceacece, Marga- 

 ritacece, or Amaurochcetacece. Trichia shows a distinct distri- 

 bution according to elevation ; the onty species at lower 

 elevations are T. affinis and T. persimilis, but at Hakgala 

 (5,600 feet) four more species are found. The commonest 

 Ceylon species are Didymium effusum, D. nigripes, Physarella. 

 mirahilis, Hetnitrichia serpula, and Hemitrichia^ clavata. 

 Physarella, becomes a nuisance when it develops, as it 

 frequently does, on logs kept in the laboratory for the growth of 

 other fiingi. The genera Cn&ana , Arcyria, and Perichaena are 

 especially well represented. Almsia homharda and Erionem/J 

 aureum appeal- to be strictly tropical species , and have been 



