158 Natural History Bulletin. 



Very rare so far, but occurring now and then on the upper 

 side of the leaves of Hving plants, a few inches from the 

 ground; recognizable by outward characters. The two sorts 

 of fructification often occur side by side, or merge into one 

 another on the same plasmodium. Where the substratum 

 affords room the plasmodiocarpous style prevails ; in narrower 

 limits the sporangia stand singly. The calcareous deposit on 

 the outer peridium is very rich and under a lens appears made 

 up of countless snowy or creamy flakes. 



62. Physarum ELLIPSOSPORUP.1, Rostafinski. Plate X, Figs. 



3, 3a and 3^. 



Plasmodiocarp long and widely effused, anon winding, here 

 and there reticulate, always applanate, the peridial cortex 

 membranaceous, firm, thick and white. Capillitium well 

 developed, furnished with lime. Spores thin-walled, ellip- 

 soidal, violaceous, plicate-rugose, .014-.016 X .011-.012. 



Not common. Found occasionally in shaded situations on 

 piles of rotting straw. The spores are, no doubt, many of 

 them ellipsoidal; some are spherical; all are decidedly spin- 

 ulose, perhaps might appear plicate-rugulose when dry or 

 shrunken. Calcareous nodules very large and irregular, white. 

 Reported from North America only. 



63. Physarum auriscalpium, Cooke. Plate IX, Figs. 5, 5a 



and 5^. 



Sporangia distinct, gregarious or crowded, sessile, ellip- 

 soidal or compressed ovate, yellow. Peridium thin, opening 

 irregularly. Capillitium well developed, reticulate, with abund- 

 ant, yellow, calcareous, granular thickenings. Spores, .013- 

 .015. 



Specimens referred to this species correspond well with 

 Mr. Cooke's description and figures except that in our mater- 

 ial the spores measure only .009-.012. The peridial wall is 



