The Afyxoinycfles of t/ic Miami Valley, Ohio. 139 



specimen. The species is certainly rare in this country, and 

 my description is drawn up from British specimens. But I 

 am unable to distinguish authentic specimens of Stemonitis 

 hcrhatica. Peck, from these British specimens. 



>^ 2. Mk("..\i-ODICTvs. Threads of the capillitium arising 

 from rather distant points of the columella, branching and 

 anastomosing but a few times, thus forming an interior net- 

 work of very large meshes ; the superficial network consist- 

 ing of large irregular meshes, varying from three or four to 

 many times the diameter of the spores. 



5. Stemonitis Webberi, Rex. Sporangia subcylindric, 

 the apex obtuse, tapering gradually downward, growing close 

 together on a common hypothallus. Stipe and columella 

 black and smooth, the stipe very short, the columella extend- 

 ing nearly or quite to the apex of the sporangium, the upper 

 part usually flexuous. Capillitium composed of slender, flex- 

 uous brown threads ; these immediately branch and anasto- 

 mose several times, forming an interior network of very large 

 meshes ; the superficial network consisting of large irregular 

 meshes, sometimes much elongated. Spores globose, very 

 minutely warted, brown, 7-9 mic. in diameter. See Plate XI, 



Fig- 34- 



Growing on old wood, bark, etc. Sporangium with the 

 stipe 5-10 mm. in height, the stipe 1-2 mm. in length, the spo- 

 rangium .3-. 4 mm. in thickness ; meshes of the superficial 

 net of the capillitium 40-100-150 mic. in extent. This is a 

 much smaller species than Stcmoiiitis splendens, and the 

 structure of the interior network of the capillitium is entirely 

 different. 



6. Stemonitis splendens, Rost. Sporangia linear-cylin- 

 dric, obtuse at the apex, growing close together on a conspic- 

 uous hypothallus. Stipe and columella black and shining, 

 the stipe very short, the columella reaching nearly or quite to 

 the apex of the sporangium, often flexuous above. Capil- 

 litium composed of brown threads, variable in thickness, 

 often with membranaceous expansions ; the primary branches 

 some of them simple or only branched above, others with a 

 few anastomosing branchlets, forming an interior network of 

 extremely large meshes ; the superficial network consisting 



