THE MYXOMYCETES OF PlCTOU COUNTY. MOORE. 195 



Spores brown or purplish in mass, reddish by transmitted light, 

 smooth, 6.5 7.5/Ain diameter. 



This is undoubtedly our most common Myxomycete occur- 

 ring on decaying wood of a variety of deciduous and coniferous 

 trees, but much more frequently of the latter. 



OMer IV. 

 LYCOGALACE^E. 



Sporangia fused together to form an sethalium with a tough 

 membranous outer covering. Capillitium consisting of branched 

 smooth or wrinkled tubules. The order contains but a single 

 genus, represented in my collections by one species. 



Genus., Lycogala Micheli. 



^Ethalia conical or depressed globose, with an outer cover- 

 ing consisting of two sharply denned layers ; the outer contain- 

 ing vesicles filled with air and traversed by flattened tubes which 

 are continuous with the tubes of the capillitium. Capillitium 

 a system of branching tubules arising as above stated and with 

 numerous free, rounded ends. 



26. Lycogala epidendrum (Buxb.) Fries. ^Ethalia de- 

 pressed globose, most commonly appearing in clusters on 

 decaying wood ; they often vary in size in the same cluster from 

 o mm to l cm in diameter. Color pinkish grey. Cortex papery, 

 the spores escaping by an irregular rupture at the apex. Capil- 

 litium consisting of numerous branched tubules with wrinkled 

 and roughened walls and numerous rounded free ends. Spore 

 mass pinkish grey. Spores almost colorless by transmitted 

 light, their surfaces roughened in ridges, wh'ch on some parts 

 take the form of an irregular reticulation 6 7 ^ in diameter. 



This is the most puffball-like of the Myxomycetes. It is 

 very common on decaying conifers from which the plasmodium 

 issues in the form of rosy globular masses of protoplasm. With 

 us it is the first to appear in the spring, beginning to fruit about 

 the first of June. 



