180 THE MYXOMYCETES 



net toward the surface which retains the form of the sporangium after 

 spore dispersal; free tips outside the net short and abundant; spores 

 pale lilac-brown, strongly reticulate with meshes of irregular size, 

 7-9 (j. in diameter. 



The network of the capillitium suggests Stemonitis but is decidedly 

 not on the surface, as is shown by the many free tips outside the net. 

 The beautifully reticulate spores constitute the most striking charac- 

 teristic of this species. 



Oregon. On rotting coniferous wood. 



14. COMATRICHA FRAGILIS Meyldfl 



Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat. 56 : 70. 1925. 



1910. Comatricha laxa Rost. var. microspora Torrend, Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. 

 Nat. 46 : 50. 1910. 



Sporangia in groups, sometimes rather large, sooty, 2 mm. tall, 

 subcylindrical, borne on a stalk equally or almost as long; columella 

 attaining summit of sporangium; capillitium as in C. nigra but falling 

 with the spores and leaving the columella naked except at the summit 

 where it sometimes remains attached longer as in Enerthenema; spores 

 sooty, 4-6 [x, rarely 5-8 ix. 



An authentic collection from Dr. Meylan has spores of nearly 

 uniform size, averaging 7.5 fx. The sooty sporangia with the capil- 

 litium persistent only in the upper part are as described. 



Jura Mountains, Switzerland. 



15. Comatricha ^equalis Peck 



Rept. N. Y. State Mus. 31 : 42. 1879. 



1892. Stemonitis (zqualis (Pk.) Massee, Mon. 80. 



1907. Comatricha nigra (Pers.) Schroet. var. cequalis Pk. ex Sturgis, Colo. 

 Coll. Pub. Sc. Ser. 12 : 34. 



Sporangia gregarious, seldom erect, usually inclined, curved or 

 nodding, dark brown, becoming violet, cylindric, acuminate-obtuse, 

 4-6 mm. tall, stipitate; stipe about half the total height, black, pol- 

 ished, even; hypothallus well developed, brown, continuous; columella 

 black, tapering gradually, and attaining almost the summit of the 

 sporangium; capillitium dense, of flexuous tawny threads which, by 

 repeated branching, form an intricate network, the free extremities 

 numerous, short and pale; spores dark violaceous, distinctly warted, 

 7.5-8 ix. Plasmodium milky white. 



A very graceful, elegant species, related to C. pulchella, but distinct 

 by its much greater size and smaller spores. The specimens before us 

 show the perfection of beauty in this genus; the polished stipe, the 



