38 THE MYXOMYCETES 



Sporangia globose, subglobose or obconical, sessile, gregarious or 

 more or less clustered, supported by a thin, continuous transparent 

 hypothallus; peridium smooth, pale lilac-brown or almost white with- 

 out, paler or white within; stipe none, although some sporangia have 

 a narrowed base; columella none, the pseudocolumella formed by a 

 more densely aggregated capillitium near the base; capillitium dense, 

 white, strongly nodulose; spore-mass black; spores free, dark, vio- 

 laceous brown by transmitted light, covered with rough warts and 

 ridges, sometimes subreticulate, 10-15 /i. 



Easily recognizable, generally at sight, by its peculiar color. White 

 forms, however, occur; often lilac-tinted and white from the same 

 Plasmodium. A perfectly white colony seems to be rare. Both colors 

 are shown in specimens distributed. Whatever the color, the spores 

 are in every case positively diagnostic. The episporic markings are 

 unlike those of any other species in the genus. Rex described some 

 New York forms as provided with a short but distinct stipe. Such 

 forms bear a superficial resemblance to pale forms of B. rubiginosa. 

 The hypothallus also is unique. 



Common eastward. New England to Pennsylvania, Ontario, Ohio. 

 Not reported west of the Mississippi. Also Europe, where it seems 

 to be less common. 



20. Badhamia rubiginosa (Chev.) Rost. 



Mon. App. 5. 1876. 

 PI. Ill, Figs. 41, 42, 43. 



1826. Physarum rubiginosum Chev., Fl. Par. 338, non Fr. 1817. 



1874. Craterium obovatum Peck, Rept. N. Y. State Mus. 26 : 75. 



1875. Scyphium rubiginosum (Chev.) Rost., Mon. 148. 

 1892. Craterium rubiginosum Massee, Mon. 270. 



Sporangia gregarious, obovoid, grayish brown, stipitate; peridium 

 simple, membranous, above thin, pale, more or less calcareous, below 

 more persistent, blending with the stipe; stipe erect, reddish brown or 

 purplish, expanded below into a small hypothallus, above prolonged 

 within the sporangium more than half its height as a definite columella; 

 capillitium very dense, snow-white, long-persistent with the lower 

 two-thirds of the sporangial wall; spore-mass dark brown; spores by 

 transmitted light dark violet or purple-brown, distinctly warted, not 

 adherent, 12-14 jx. 



This is probably the most common badhamia in North America. 

 It is found on masses of decaying leaves, especially those of various 

 species of oak. The Plasmodium is yellow. The fructifications are 

 very distinct, not likely to be mistaken for those of any other species; 



