THE MYXOMYCETES OF PICTOU COUNTY. MOORE. 189 



Total height about 12 mm . Stipe black, about one-third the tot J 

 height: Columella dissolving in capillitial branches some dis- 

 tance below the apex. The interior scaffolding is made up of 

 strong, brown, generally uniformly thickened threads .which do 

 not shew the same tendency to form flat expansions such as are 

 exhibited in the two preceding species. Spores almost colorless 

 by transmitted light, smooth, 6 7 p in diameter. 



Common in coniferous woods. j 



Genus, Comatricha (Preuss) Eost. 



Sporangia isolated, cylindrical, ovoid or spherical, stipitate. 

 Stipe continued up into the columella and giving off branches 

 which anastomose more or less freely to form the capillitium, 

 the ultimate tips free. Peripheral net generally wanting but 

 in some cases imperfectly developed. 



16. Comatricha nigra (Pers) Schroter. Sporangia scat- 

 tered, erect, ovoid, stipitate. Stipe relatively long, slender and 

 tapering upward, about 2 mm in length. Expanded capillitium 

 .3 mm x.6 mm . Peridium evanescent. Hypothallus none. Colu- 

 mella extending to about the middle of tihe sporangium where it 

 dissolves in capillitial branches. Capillitirim consisting of a 

 tangled net of dark brown, stiff, uniformly thickened threads 

 which arise from all parts of the colurr.ella, branching and 

 anastomosing to form the net. Free ends and short peridial 

 processes are numerous at the periphery. Spores violaceous 

 brown by transmitted light, smooth or nearly so, 7 9^ in 

 diameter. 



A very neat, trim looking little species found 011 decaying 

 Abies balsamea and other conifers. 



17. Comatriclia stemonitis (Scop.) Sheldon. Sporangia 

 gregarious, cylindrical, stipitate. Total height, 3 4 mm . Stipe 

 black and shining one-fourth to one- third the total height. 

 Hypothallus distinct. Columella reaching nearly to the summit 

 of the sporangium, becoming weak and flexuous in its upper 



