OPHIOTHECA 253 



b. Typically plasmodiocarpous; dehiscence irregular 2. Ophiotheca 



b. Typically sporangiate, often densely massed forming a pseudo- 



aethalium; dehiscence typically circumscissile, rarely areolate 3. Periehtena 



1. Minakateila G. List. 

 Jour. Bot. 59 : 92. 1921. 



Sporangia sessile, clustered, more or less united into a pseudo- 

 asthalium; capillitium forming a coil of nearly simple, smooth, flat- 

 tened tubular threads; spores reddish, spinulose. 



A single species: 



MlNAKATELLA LONGEFILA G. List. 



Jour. Bot. 59 : 92. 1921. 



Sporangia sessile, subglobose, dull brick-red, 0.3-0.5 mm. in diam- 

 eter, forming small heaped clusters, or confluent and forming a pseudo- 

 asthalium 2 mm. in diameter, with iridescent membranous walls; 

 capillitium a coil of smooth, compressed, pale red threads, 1.5-3 ^ 

 across, sparingly branched and with a few free bulbous ends, bordered 

 on one side by a low ridge; spores in mass dull Venetian red, pale red 

 by transmitted light, adhering in clusters of 8 to 14, spinulose, the 

 markings more distinct on the exposed side, 10-11 ix. 



Regarded by Miss Lister as related to Perichaena. The description 

 suggests affinity with Margarita. 



Rare. Known only from a single collection in Japan. 



2. Ophiotheca Currey 

 Quart. Jour. Micr. Sc. 2 : 240. 1854. 



1817. Perichcena Fr., Symb. Gast. 11, in part. 



Fructification generally plasmodiocarpous, terete, bent or flexuous, 

 often annular or cornuate, rarely globose or stalked, opening irregu- 

 larly; peridium thin, not polished, covered more or less strongly with a 

 distinct layer of scales or granules ; capillitium of slender, loosely branch- 

 ing filaments, the surface rough to strongly spinulose; spores yellow. 



Very close to Perichaena, with which it is often reunited. The ir- 

 regular dehiscence and the stronger tendency toward plasmodiocarpous 

 development constitute the distinctive characters. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF OPHIOTHECA 



a. Peridium thin, single, membranous, dull gray or yellowish; 



usually on herbaceous stems 1.0. vermicularis 



a. Peridium firm, double, darker; usually on bark » 



b. Brown or yellowish brown; capillitium minutely spinulose 2. O. chrysosperma 

 b. Chestnut brown or blackish ; capillitium strongly spinulose 3. O. wrightii 



