TRICHIA 283 



spinules long, 3-6 n, recurved, often bifid or trifid, especially at or near 

 the acuminate tip; spores delicately warted, 9-11 /jl. 



This species occurs not rarely and is found on the bark of Populus, 

 so far, exclusively. The sporangia are inconspicuous until after open- 

 ing, when they display the yellow spores and capillitial threads. The 

 species is immediately recognized by its elaters, whose numerous and 

 lengthened spinules are unlike those of any cognate form, reminding 

 one of the capillitium of Ophiotheca wrightii. Related to T. contorta 

 and T. inconspicua, but distinct by its spinulose capillitium. 



Iowa, Missouri, South Dakota. 



4. Trichia alpina (R. E. Fries) Meylan 



Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat. 53 : 460. 1921. 



1906. Trichia contorta (Ditmar) Rost. var. alpina R. E. Fries, Arkiv Bot. 6, 

 No. 7 : 5. 



Sporangia sessile, pulvinate or plasmodiocarpous, scattered or clus- 

 tered, 0.5-0.7 mm. broad, purple-black or black; wall cartilaginous, 

 of two layers, the outer chestnut or olive-brown, thickened with 

 granular deposits, the inner translucent, olive or yellow; capillitium of 

 bright yellow elaters, 4-6 fx wide, marked with two to six spiral bands, 

 sometimes spinulose; spores bright yellow in mass, globose or oval, 

 minutely warted, 13-20 fx. Plasmodium orange-red. 



According to Meylan (1931), the black sporangia are the result of 

 incomplete development. When the sporangia mature normally, the 

 color is purple, coppery or tawny and the peridium is thinner than as 

 usually described. 



Washington; Europe. 



5. Trichia cascadensis Gilbert 



Am. Jour. Bot. 19 : 145. 1932. 



Sporangia scattered or loosely clustered, sessile, globose or forming 

 short plasmodiocarps, 1 mm. in diameter and 1 to 4 mm. long, dull 

 black, with no hypothallus; peridium single, thick, granular, dull 

 black on both surfaces, breaking irregularly to expose the yellow spores 

 and capillitium; elaters numerous, long, 7 to 8 /x in diameter, the spiral 

 bands thin, uneven and closely wound, three to five, covered with 

 many fine warts which are most numerous along the edges of the bands, 

 the tips of the elaters rounded, without enlargements, and entirely 

 covered with the warted spiral bands, each elater with a conspicuous 

 granular core; spores globose, yellow in mass, almost colorless under 

 the lens, minutely and unevenly warted, 14-16 /x. 



