Ecology and Phenology of Surrey Mycetozoa. 65 



elliptical tips, or branching, usually \\\\.h. broad attachments be- 

 low. This species has been found in heaps of dead leaves, especi- 

 ally on elm and beech, Ume petioles, hme and holm oak leaves. 



t44. D. duhium Rost. forms flat, plate-like, hemispherical 

 sporangia or recurved plasmodiocarps of a creamy colour, rarely 

 white, on clotted decayed leaves, especiallv those of i\y and 

 less often hme and elm. The outer loose crust of cr^-stals falls 

 off when the inner sporangial wall enclosing the spore and 

 capillitium contracts on matiuing. In specimens gathered at 

 Weybridge in March, April and May the capilhtium was quite 

 colourless whereas that of the tA^^pe form from L^ine Regis 

 is dark and rigid. 



*45. D. anomalum Sturgis. This is the first European record 

 of a species which hitherto had been found only in Colorado 

 and near Philadelphia. In 1922 it was most plentiful from 

 August to October on sticks of white poplar hijig in faggots 

 on the ground. The sporangia are quite sessile and pul\inate, 

 forming irregular plasmodiocarps of from 1-15 mm. diam. The 

 capiUitium consists of a number of tubular columns enclosing 

 small calcareous crystals, and connecting the upper and lower 

 surface walls in such a way as to produce a striking "up- 

 holstered" appearance. The sporangial wall is firm and contains 

 Uttle lime, thus it is frequently of a dull chocolate colour. 

 The spores are purple pink, spinulose, ovoid or sub-eUiptical 

 9-12 jLt. Large polygonal cr^'stals are often present. It is strange 

 that such a remarkable species has not been met \\ith more 

 frequently. 



46. D. Clavus Rost. is frequently encotmtered in February', 

 August, October and November on lime leaves. A sessile form 

 has been found gro^^-ing on moss, and a limeless form of a 

 shining bronze colour on dead bramble was easily recognised 

 by its small spores. 



47. D. melanospermum Macbr. frequents coniferous woods 

 and was abundant on pine needles at Oxshott in October 1920 

 and 1922. 



var. minus Lister once appeared in August on a rotten birch 

 branch but is more usual on dead leaves, such as those of hoUy, 

 in October. 



48. D. ni gripes Fr. Has been obtained in April on beech 

 leaves and on holly leaves and pine needles constantly in 

 August, September and October. 



var. eximiiim Lister was verv' prevalent at Oxshott in 

 October 1917. It was also one of the species discovered during 

 two hours spent on top of a haystack examining straw thatch, 

 which is often rain sodden and rotten in places. 



var. xanthopus Fr. is common on dead leaves in autumn 



M.S. 3 



