130 Natural History Bulletin. 



a direction the reverse of that usual in other species; hence 

 the specific name varia. The spores here are verruculose; 

 show no reticulations however highly magnified. 



23. Trichia chrysosperma, BiiUiard. Plate IV, Figs. 5, 

 5« and 5*5. 



Sporangia sessile, crowded, spherical, or, by mutual inter- 

 ference, polvgonal, dull ochraceous, or olivaceous yellow, all 

 on a well developed h3^pothallus. Spore-mass and capillitium 

 brilliant golden-yellow. Elaters long, simple, with tips, acumi- 

 nate, and with 3-5 spiral bands joined by more or less con- 

 spicuous secondary thickenings running parallel to the long 

 axis of the tube. Spores covered with a banded net-work 

 forming polygonal meshes, yellow in color, .012-.015. 



This species stands as the type of a series all characterized 

 by 3pores with plain band-Hke thickenings of the epispore. 

 Mr. Massee in the Revision of the TrichiacecB creates a num- 

 ber of species based upon variations in the pattern formed by 

 these thickenings. As every gradation occurs from that in 

 which the thickening takes the form of simple patches on the 

 spore-wall to the case in which the elevations form polygonal 

 reticulations, enclosing the spore as in a net, it will be appar- 

 ent that the number of possible species is great. T. affinis, 

 De Bary, following, is the type of another similar series in all 

 of which the episporic bands are " pitted." Mr. Massee's 

 service in establishing the fact of such series, deserves all 

 praise; but that the erection of new species on characters so 

 variable is fortunate, seems more than doubtful. The longi- 

 tudinal markings of the elater, for instance, are by no means 

 characteristic of T. chrvsosperma, as may be seen by compari- 

 son of the figures on Plate IV. The present author suggests 

 the recognition of but two species distinguished as De Bary 

 drew the lines. Under these two all other forms claiming 

 specific rank may be ranged and recognized, to such extent 

 as men please, as varieties. The fact is that the systematist 



