196 Mycetozoa of North America 



extremely variable. Phases that resemble C. aurantiaca or C. 

 macrocarpa may usually be distinguished by the close and regular 

 net, the nodes, and the ochraceous color. Var. dictydioides often 

 has the net in the lower part replaced by ribs, somewhat as in 

 C. splendens, but the latter appears more yellowish. 



9. Cribraria tenella Schrad. Nov. Gen. PI. 6. 1797. 



Plasmodium brownish black (Lister). Sporangia closely re- 

 sembling C. intricata in size, shape, color, and spores; cup one 

 third the height of the sporangium, or more or less obsolete; net 

 close and regular; nodes numerous, dark brown, rounded, rarely 

 elongate, prominent, with few or no free rays, connected by three 

 to six very slender threads. 



Type locality: Europe. 



Habitat: On dead wood. 



Distribution: Common in the United States and Canada; 

 not so common in the tropics. 



Illustration: Lister, Mycetozoa ed. 3. pi. 143, figs. f-i. 



Differing from C. intricata only in the shape of the nodes of 

 the net, the two forms are connected by many intermediates. 

 Occasional phases of C. tenella with smaller sporangia, longer 

 stalks, and deeper cups, appear like C. languescens superficially. 

 C. aurantiaca is distinguished by its golden yellow spores. Occa- 

 sional gatherings have ribs in the lower part of the net, but not as 

 prominent as in C. splendens. 



10. Cribraria laxaHagelstein,Mycologia 21: 298. 1929. (N. Y. 

 B. G. no. 1113, type.) 



Plasmodium? Sporangia closely gregarious, stalked, globose, 

 0.5 to 0.7 mm. diam.; spore-mass ochraceous; cup dark brown, 

 about one third the height of the sporangium, consisting of many 

 dark brown ribs, joined near the top or connected by cross-ribs, 

 and merging into the threads of the net, the ribs connected by a 

 thin, partially evanescent membrane; net firm, regular, forming 

 large triangular meshes, 0.1 mm. or more along the sides; nodes 

 numerous, dark brown, prominent, rounded or branching, with 

 few free rays, and connected by from five to eight slender, brown 

 threads; plasmodic granules about 1 m diam. Stalk dark brown, 

 firm, usually erect, one or two times the height of the sporangium. 

 Spores ochraceous, distinctly warted, 6-7 m diam. (Plate 12, 

 fig. 4.) 



