The Myxomycetes of Eastern Iowa. 389 



with columellce which blend beneath: capillitium threads in 

 the lowest la3^ers arising from the columella, in the upper ex- 

 tending radiately between the individual sporangia and united 

 at the sporangial limits by means of rather large inflated cells. 



9. Brefeldia maxima (Fr.) Rostafinski. 



^thalium large, two to ten inches, papillate above, violet black 

 at first, then purple or purple-brown, developed upon a wide- 

 spread, silver-shining h3'pothallus; sporangia not distinct, per- 

 haps indicated above b}^ the papilltc; capillitium abundant, the 

 threads uniting b}' multifid ends to surround as with a net the 

 peculiar vesicles; spore mass dark violet black, the individual 

 spores paler by transmitted light, distinctly papillose, 12-15 w. 



A very remarkable species and one of the largest, rivalled 

 by Fuligo Q)vi\.y. To be compared with Reticularia, which it 

 resembles somewhat externally, and with some of the larger 

 specimens of Entcridinyn. The plasmodmm at first white 

 with a bluish tinge is developed abundantly in rotten wood, 

 preferably a large oak stump, and changes color as maturity 

 comes on, much in the fashion of Stcmonitis splendcns, leaving 

 a wide-spread hypothallic film to extend far around the per- 

 fected fruit-mass. The capillitium is very peculiar. Large 

 irregularly formed columellce in the lower strata of the £etha- 

 lium rise as ascending branches of an intricate but rather 

 clumsy frame work which lies close upon the hypothallus. 

 From these columellas, as far as they go, the capilHtial fila- 

 ments radiate. Onl}- above, as it appears, do the filaments join 

 their distal, peripheral ends by network enclosing vesicles. 

 The spores are very large, distinctly, rather coarsely spinulose, 

 nucleated. By both capillitium and spores one is reminded 

 constantly of some large Stcmonitis. It is a Stemonitis whose 

 sporangia have never been perfectly differentiated. 



A figure of the species will appear in some subsequent plate. 



Muscatine County, Iowa. Reported hitherto from Great 

 Britain and Germany. 



lovja City, Iowa, September, i8gj. 



