physarum] physaraceae 81 



P. conglomeratum (I.e. 304), is typical P. contextum ; the name P. Rosta- 

 finskii Mass., which is given to supersede P. conglomeratum Rost. is 

 therefore unnecessary. 



Hab. On dead leaves and twigs. — Darenth, Kent (B.M. 417) ; 

 Hutton, Yorks (B.M. 2312) ; Lyme Regis (B.M. 2313) ; Germany (B.M. 

 415) ; Sikkim, India (B.M. 416) ; Philadelphia (B.M. 2314). 



52. P. Serpula Morgan Myx. Miami Valley, 101 (1896). 

 Plasmodium ? Sporangia sessile, subglobose or forming 

 long straight or flexuose, simple, branched or ring-shaped 

 plasmodiocarps, 03 mm. diam., yellow or ochraceous ; 

 sporangium-wall membranous, with dense evenly distributed 

 deposits of yellow lime-granules. Capillitium consisting 

 of numerous angular and branching pale yellow lime-knots, 

 connected by short and scanty hyaline threads. Spores 

 purplish-brown, spinulose, with a paler and smoother area of 

 dehiscence, 10 to 12 /x diam. — Lister in Journ. Bot., xxxvi. 116 

 (1898); Macbr. N. Am. Slime-Moulds, 29. P. gyrosum 

 Mass. Mon., 307 (1892), in part. Badhamia decipiens Lister 

 Mycetozoa, 32 (1894), in part. 



PI. 57. — a. plasmodiocarp (Philadelphia) ; b. capillitium and spores, with 

 fragment of sporangium-wall ; c. spore. 



Various attempts were made to unite this well-marked form with 

 previously known species, until the late A. P. Morgan established its 

 position by publishing it as Physarum Serpula. In Schweinitz's 

 herbarium at Philadelphia it was named P. reticulatum Alb. & Schw., 

 (syn. Cienkowskia reticulata Rost.); it was distributed as P. gyrosum 

 Rost. by Ellis (X. Am. Fungi, no. 1396) ; and in the first edition of the 

 present work it was included under a nearly related species, Badhamia 

 decipiens Berk., from which it differs in the paler lime-knots being 

 connected by hyaline threads, and in the spores being distinctly paler 

 and smoother on one side. 



Hab. On dead leaves. — Shawangunk Mountains, New York (B.M. 

 1181) ; Philadelphia (B.M. 1870) ; Ohio (B.M. 1180). 



53. P. aeneum R. E. Fries in Arkiv Bot,, i. 62 (1903). Plas- 

 modium ? Sporangia sessile, subglobose, or forming straight 

 or curved, simple branching or net-like plasmodiocarps, 

 0-3 to 04 mm. diam., pinkish-brown or bronze-colour, glossy ; 

 outer sporangium-wall somewhat cartilaginous, brown, 

 brittle, with deposits of lime-granules, separating and folding 

 back above from the shining membranous inner wall. Capilli- 

 tium a network of hyaline threads with numerous rather 

 small round or angular dark or pale brown Hme-knots, which 

 sometimes unite to form a pseudo-columella. Spores pale 

 brownish-violet, nearly smooth, 6 to 8 //, diam. — P. murinum 

 var. aeneum Lister in Journ. Bot., xxxvi. 117, t. 385, 

 fig. 4 (1898). 



PI. 58. — a. sporangia (Bolivia) ; 6. capillitium and spores, with fragment of 

 sporangium-wall ; c. spore. 



