26 Mycetozoa of North America 



panicea. The spores are about intermediate between those of the 

 two latter species. Small fruitings found occasionally on mossy 

 logs are not representative, and have spores somewhat larger, up 

 to 17 M diam. They appear to be nearer B. macrocarpa. Var. 

 orhiculata merges into the typical form, and there is no sharp line 

 of demarcation. 



The type specimen of B. ajjinis Rost. appears to be lost. The 

 present conception of the species follows the interpretation of 

 Lister, and the description of B. orbiculata Rex. Prof. Macbride 

 always regarded B. affinis as specifically distinct from B. orbicu- 

 lata, emphasizing a larger spore-size, although Rostafinski wrote 

 it 12.5-15 fi diam. 



14. Badhamia panicea (Fries) Rost. ; Fuckel, Symb. Myc. Nachtr. 

 2:71. 1873. 



Physarum paniceum Fries, Syst. Myc. 3: 141. 1829, 



Physarum nudum Macbr,; Peck & Gilb. Am. Jour. Bot. 19: 134. 1932. 

 (N. Y. B. G. no. 7379, cotype material.) 



Plasmodium white (Lister). Sporangia scattered or closely 

 aggregated and angled by mutual pressure, sessile on a dark red 

 hypothallus, rarely with short, dark red stalks, subglobose, 0.4 

 to L2 mm. diam., white or cinereous; sporangial wall membra- 

 nous, with included lime-granules in dense clusters forming raised 

 warts and veins. Capillitium white, a profuse network of tubes 

 charged with lime-granules, often densely confluent at the base 

 and forming a pseudo-columella, sometimes with a few hyaline 

 connecting threads. Spores violet-brown, minutely and faintly 

 spinulose, 11-13 ^ diam. 



Var. heterospora G. Lister, Mycetozoa ed. 3. 17. 1925. 



Spores darker, purplish brown, paler on one side. 



Type locality: Europe. 



Habitat: On dead bark; not uncommon. 



Distribution: Widely distributed throughout the United 

 States and Canada; var. heterospora, Colorado and New York. 



Illustration: Lister, Mycetozoa ed. 3. pi. 10. 



The red hypothallus, or red bases of the sporangia, are charac- 

 teristic of this species. They may be yellowish at times. The 

 capillitium varies, often approaching that of B. macrocarpa or 

 B. afflnis, but the latter species has flattened or depressed spo- 

 rangia. The spores of B. panicea, in typical examples, are pale 



