The Myxomvcetes of Eastern Iowa. 129 



exceedingly delicate, but withal sharply defined. Once seen 

 it may be afterwards easily discovered under lenses much 

 lower in magnifying power, as Leitz No. 7- The figure, Plate 

 IV, Fig. 2«, shows the episporic character as we believe it 

 really to be. Trichla scahra shows the same peculiarities in 

 the surface of its spores. It may be thought that the trouble 

 lies in our incorrect identification, and that we have here to 

 do with other species than those described b}^ Eiu^opean 

 authors. But T.faUax is a species perfectly defined by other 

 characters, recognizable at sight by characters macroscopic. 

 We are rather inclined, as already hinted, to ascribe the dis- 

 crepancy to differences in lenses. Under a somewhat old- 

 fashioned water -immersion, one -twelfth, the reticulations 

 would escape notice entirely, the spores of T. scahra for 

 instance appear as Rostafinski has portrayed them. We submit 

 the case to the arbitration of good lenses. Not rare; chiefly 

 found on fallen sticks of soft wood. September — November. 



22. Trichia varia, Per soon. Plate IV, Figs. 3, 3« and 3^. 



Sporangia generally sessile, gregarious or compactly placed, 

 of various shapes, pale yellow or straw-colored. Spore-mass 

 and capillitium rather bright-yellow though sometimes rusty 

 or brown. Elaters thin-walled, adorned with two rather dis- 

 tinct spiral bands, the ends acute. Spores, delicately warted, 

 .010-.012. 



Perhaps our most common species, to be recognized by its 

 usually pale color, and in the common form, depressed, poly- 

 gonal irregular sporangia. Three varieties are recognized: — 



a. gX7iuina, as just described. 



b. sessilis. Sporangia top-shaped, with a discoidal scarce per- 



ceptible stipe. 

 n. nigrtpes. Sporangia piriform or turbinate with a short 

 fuscous or black stem. 



Found on all sorts of decaying wood and bark and even 

 manure, from July till September. The elater bands wind in 



