162 THE MYXOMYCETES 



capillitium; surface net large-meshed, the meshes several times the 

 diameter of the spores; spores clear violet, strongly reticulate, 7-8 /*. 



Obviously close to S. fusca, but distinguished by its unusual size, 

 somewhat darker color, more robust capillitium, larger meshes of the 

 net and more strongly reticulate spores. 



A specimen sent by Massee to Wingate, said to have been named by 

 Rostafinski, is certainly S. fusca, thus bearing out the comment in the 

 Lister monograph. If S. dictyospora Rost. is not applicable to our large 

 specimens they must some day be given a new name. 



Collections from Moldavia, reported by Brandza (1929) as S. fusca 

 and described as 2 cm. in height, may well belong here. 



Oregon, Nicaragua; Europe. 



4. Stemonitis fusca Roth 



Roem. Mag. Bot. 2 : 26. 1787. 

 PL XI, Figs. 249, 250. 



1792. Trichia nuda With., Br. PL ed. 2. 3 : 477. 



1796. Stemonitis fasciculata Pers., Obs. Myc. 56, non 1791. 



Sporangia slender, cylindrical, occurring in tufts, usually 6-8 mm. 

 tall, occasionally larger; fuscous * varying occasionally to benzo- 

 brown * or hair-brown * and tending to become pallid as the spores are 

 disseminated; stem black, shining, usually about one-fourth the total 

 height but varying to one-half; columella prominent, mostly attaining 

 the apex, branching freely ; capillitium of slender dusky threads which 

 anastomose freely to form a dense interior network; peridial net close- 

 meshed; hypothallus scanty but distinct, membranous, common to all 

 sporangia of a cluster; spores fuscous * in mass, pale violet by trans- 

 mitted light, covered with blunt spines or warts connected by delicate 

 reticulate ridges, 7.5-10/* in diameter. Plasmodium white, passing 

 through blue to black. 



The English monograph recognizes no less than five varieties in 

 addition to the typical form. Of these five, nigrescens and trechispora 

 are here regarded as distinct species; rufescens List, has verrucose- 

 reticulate spores 5-8 /x; flaccida List, has weak sporangia with imper- 

 fect surface net, and confluens List, is described as approaching Amau- 

 rochaste. 



As here defined, the spores, the characteristic color, the moderate 

 size and the typical growth habit are the distinctive features of the 

 species. The spores possess blunt spines connected by reticulations 

 which may be resolved into lines of minute warts. Forms with faintly 

 spinulose or nearly smooth spores are excluded. 



On rotten wood and occasionally on other substrata. Widely dis- 



