LAMPRODERMA 201 



capillitium very rigid, of simple or sparingly branched, dark brown 

 threads radiating from the clavate apex of the columella and only here 

 and there anastomosing toward the surface, the ultimate divisions 

 distinctly rough; spores lilac-brown, rough, 10-12.5/1. 



This species is well described in Rostafinski's Monograph. It is 

 marked by its clavate columella and peculiarly simple, dark, rigid 

 capillitium, the branches of which rise in great numbers immediately 

 from the columella, and maintain their primitive thickness during the 

 greater part of their length. The transverse vincula are often at right 

 angles to the principal branches, and the meshes, where formed, are 

 often long and rectangular. Externally, it resembles L. arcyrionema, 

 but is by its spores and capillitium instantly distinguished. Rostafinski 

 gives the spore-size as 12.5-14.2 /x. Large spores are less common in 

 the specimens before us. 



In the third edition of the English monograph this species is doubt- 

 fully included in L. columbinum. 



In the first edition of North American Slime-Moulds, this species 

 was entered from lists published for New England, New York and 

 Ohio. The intervening years, however, have brought no confirmation. 

 Specimens from Maine and Ohio, with large spores, represent L. 

 columbinum, and those cited from New York are forms of L. violaceum. 

 It is accordingly doubtful whether L. physaroides occurs in North 

 America. That it is to be found in Europe there seems no doubt. The 

 figure and description of Schweinitz may indeed be inconclusive, but 

 Rostafinski's citation and abundant description leave no doubt as to 

 his opinion; while numerous localities named would indicate adequate 

 material. What Rostafinski described will no doubt obtain wider 

 recognition some day. 



14. Lamproderma columbinum (Pers.) Rost. 



Mon. 203. 1875. 



(as L. columbina) 



PI. XIII, Figs. 326, 327. 



1795. Physarum columbinum Pers., Ust. Ann. Bot. 15 : 5. 

 1808. Trichia columbina (Pers.) Poiret, Lam. Encycl. 8 : 52. 

 1836. Fulgia encaustica Chev., Fl. Par. ed. 2. 347. 



Sporangia scattered, gregarious, rich violet or purple with metallic 

 iridescence, globose, stipitate; stipe long, three-fourths the total 

 height, subulate, black; hypothallus scant, purplish or brown; colu- 

 mella small, one-third the height or less, tapering or acute, black; 

 capillitium brown throughout, not dense, arising from nearly all parts 

 of the columella, freely branching and anastomosing to an open, 



