amaurochaete] amaurochaetaceae 



171 



Capillitium of horizontal threads, with many chambered 

 vesicles. 



(25) Brefeldia 



Fig. 33. — Brefeldia maxima Rost. 

 o. Aethalium. Natural size. 

 b. Capillitium and spores. Magnified 50 times. 



Fig. 33. 



Genus 24.— AMAUROCHAETE Rostafinski Versuch, 8 

 (1873). Aethalium pulvinate, composed of elongated closely 

 compacted confluent sporangia ; sporangium-walls not 

 developed within the aethalium. Capillitium radiating from the 

 broad membranous base, consisting of numerous erect dark 

 purple-brown irregularly flattened ragged strands, dividing 

 into many anastomosing branches, which vary much in 

 length, thickness and regularity. 



This genus appears to be closely allied to Stemonitis. 



1. A. fuliginosa Macbr. N. Am. Slime-Moulds, 109 (1899). 

 Plasmodium creamy-white. Aethalium pulvinate or variously 

 shaped, 2 mm. to 4 cm. or more broad, black, covered with 

 a silvery fragile cortical membrane ; individual sporan- 

 gium-walls undeveloped. Capillitium as described in the 

 genus, often scanty. Spores dull purple, paler on one side, 

 spinulose, 11 to 13 jx diam. — Lycoperdon fuliginosum Sow. 

 Engl. Fung., t. 257, with description (1803). Lycogala atrum 

 Alb. & Schw. Consp. Fung., 83 (1805). Demordium inquinans 

 Link in Mag. Ges. Nat. Fr. Berk, iii. 25 (1809) ? Strongylium 

 majus Fr. Symb. Gast., 9 (1817). Lachnobolus cribrosus Fr. 

 Syst. Orb. Veg., 148 (1825) ? Reticulata atra Fr. Syst. Myc, 

 iii. 86 (1829). Amaurochaete atra Rost. Versuch, 8 (1873) ; 

 Mon., p. 211 ; Mass. Mon., 89 ; Lister Mycetozoa, 134. 



PI. 136. — a. capillitium (England); b. c. spores. 



Sowerby's illustration of Lycoperdon fuliginosum with the accompany- 

 ing note so well represents the present species, that his specific name 

 must take precedence over that of Albertini and Schweinitz which, 

 though given later, has been usually adopted. 



Hob. On dead coniferous wood. — Halse House, Somerset (B.M. 

 17) ; Lyme Regis (B.M. 1416) ; Woking, Surrey (B.M. 2693) ; Haslemere 

 (B.M. 2695) ; Hull, Yorks (B.M. 2694) ; Scotland (B.M. 2696) ; 

 Norway (B.M. 1417) ; Germany (Berlin Herb.) ; Poland (Strassb. 

 Herb.); Portugal (B.M. 2697); Japan (B.M. 2698); Maine, U.S.A. 

 (K. 800). 



