The Myxomycetes of Eastern Iowa. 143 



the apex of the sporangium, Stipe setaceous, black, shining, 

 comparatively long; spore -mass cinnamon-brown. Spores 

 smooth, pale, .0045-.006. September — November. N. A. 

 F., No. 1 1 18. 



Not uncommon on rotten wood; August. The color is 

 distinctive at sight. The spores are smooth, very variable in 

 size. Fries reports the plasmodium yellow, and De Bary, 

 Mycetozoa, gives detailed account of the development of the 

 sporangia. 



VIII. SPUMARIACE^. 



Sporangia single and distinct, or blended to form eethalia. 

 Deposits of lime in the peridium or stipe, never in the capilli- 

 tium. Columella cylindric, well developed. Capillitium radi- 

 ally developed from the sides and ends of the columella and 

 extending to the peridium, its threads branching and uniting. 



KEY TO THE GENERA. 



Sporangia single, distinct, Diach.'EA. 



Sporangia united in jethalia, Spumaria. 



DIACH.EA, Fries. 



Sporangia simple, stipitate, stipe produced to form a colu- 

 mella which almost traverses the sporangium. Peridium very 

 thin, evanescent. Stipe and columella with fine calcareous 

 granules. Capillitium rising from the columella, repeatedly 

 branched. Spore-mass violet-black. 



42. Diach.'EA splendens, Peck. Plate VII, Figs, i, la, \h 

 and ic. 



Peridia metallic-blue or violet, delicately globose, sub-per- 

 sistent, irregular in dehiscence. Capillitium threads delicate, 

 tinted. Stipe white, scarcely entering the sporangium. Spores 

 clustered, black, globose, verruculose, .007-.010. 



