AMAUROCHiETE 153 



(Ridgway) in mass, pale reddish brown by transmitted light, minutely 

 warted, 7.5-9 fx. 



The structure of the capillitium is very similar to that of A.fuliginosa, 

 from which species this differs in the brownish color of the capillitium 

 and in the small, pale, relatively smooth, ferruginous spores, the two 

 characters together giving the fructification a ferruginous cast in 

 marked contrast to the black of the other species of the genus. 



California, Oregon. 



2. Amauroch^ete fuligestosa (Sow.) Macbr. 



N. A. Slime-Moulds 109. 1899. 

 PL XI, Fig. 242. 



1803. Lycoperdon fuliginosum Sowerby, Engl. Fungi 257. 



1805. Lycogala atrum Alb. & Schw., Consp. Fung. 83. 



1815. Strongylium atrum (Alb. &Schw.) Swartz,Hand. K. Svenska Vet. Acad. 1 10. 



1817. Strongylium majus Ft., Symb. Gast. 9. 



1822. Reticularia strongylium Schw., Schrift. Nat. Ges. Leipz. 1 :35. 



1829. Reticularia atra (Alb. & Schw.) Fr., Syst. Myc. 3 : 86. 



1875. Amaurochaste atra (Alb. & Schw.) Rost, Mon. 211. 



.Ethalia varying in form and size, if on the upper side of the sub- 

 stratum, pulvinate, if below, pendent and almost stipitate, covered 

 with a delicate cortex, at first shining, soon dull, black, fragile and 

 early dissipated; hypothallus long-persisting, supporting the capil- 

 litium, which is extremely variable, irregular and for its perfection 

 dependent upon the form assumed by the asthalium, and the condi- 

 tions under which it matures; sometimes, especially when prostrate 

 in a very much depressed asthalium, spreading into long fibrous threads, 

 again, under better conditions, rising in columella-like forms, support- 

 ing a peripheral net; spores dark brown or black, irregularly globose, 

 spinulose, 12.5-15 /jl. 



Sowerby, in his comment on pi. 257, Eng. Fungi, says: "It appears 

 to consist of branching threads afiixed to the deal and holding a dense 

 mass of sooty powder. Over the whole is a thin, deciduous pellicle." 

 This description seems to be applicable to nothing else. The figure 

 amounts to little. Fries recognizes the English description, as does 

 Rostafinski, but both authors adopt the later name given by Albertini 

 and Schweinitz, simply because of the excellent detailed description 

 found in the Conspectus. 



Common in Europe, and probably not uncommon in this country 

 wherever pine forests occur; also in Japan. Specimens before us are 

 from New England and New York, Ohio, Carolina, Colorado and 

 Canada. 



