l8 9*-] North American Hyphomycetes. 21 



On putrid squashes, Lower Carolina. 



The exhaustive diagnosis above quoted has led to some un- 

 certainty concerning this form, which, however appears to 

 be a true Rhopalomyces and probably a distinct species. 



Mr. Massee has kindly sent me a sketch from Berkeley's 

 type with measurements which show that it 4 is perhaps too 

 closely allied to R. elcgans, differing chiefly in its much 

 smaller size. The creeping mycelium consists of the usual fine 

 aseptate hyphae, from which the large, erect, fertile hyphae 

 arise. The spores are represented as reddish brown, ovoid, 

 slightly pointed at the base, and the head as spherical. Th 

 following measurements are noted: fertile hyphae 170-200/1 

 high by 10—12/4 in diam. : head 40-50/1 in diam. : spores 18-20 

 X 9— !0/i. It will be observed that these measurements hardly 

 come within the limit of variation which R, elegans may be 

 supposed to exhibit, and it is therefore necessary to consider 

 the species distinct until more information concerning it can 

 be obtained. 



Rhopalomyces straiigulatus n. sp. — Plate III, figs. 3-9. 



Sterile hyphae copious, much branched and rarely septate, 

 4/* in diam. Fertile hyphae densely gregarious, supported by 

 numerous rhizoids, pure white, cylindrical, 2-8 mm. high, 

 (average 7.5 mm.) by 40-50/Mn diam., suddenly constricted 

 below the head with which it is connected by a narrow neck 

 8/4 in diam. Head perfectly spherical, more or less distinctly 

 areolate, beset with very numerous projections; average 

 diam. 250yU. Spores, several hundred in number, subcylin- 

 drical; rounded at botli ends, average dimensions 39 x 8. 5— 10«. 



On old bones and other decaying animal matter. — Massa- 

 chusetts, Connecticut. ^ 



This remarkable species, which is the prince of its kind and 

 one of the most beautiful of the Hyphomycetes seems to be 

 not uncommon about New Haven, growing with great 

 luxuriance on old bones, etc. in woods, appearing after 

 rains in patches of considerable size, at first sight not unlike 

 a vigorous growth of some large Mucor. A few specimens of 

 the same species once followed a culture of Basidiobolus on 

 frogs dung in Cambridge: but, like R. clegans, I have been 

 unable to cultivate it on a large scale except on substrata 

 where its mycelium was already growing, and all sowing and 

 attempted cultures of its spores in water or in nutrient solu- 

 tions have failed entirely. 



