252 ENDOSPOREAE [PERICHAENA 



liceoides, characterised by the scanty capillitium of free threads and tho 

 spores measuring 9 to 10 fx ; Zopf, on the other hand, quotes it as a 

 synonym for P. corticalis ; and this view is confirmed by the not in- 

 frequent occurrence of forms of the latter species with scanty or no 

 capillitium, and spores measuring from 10 to 12 fi. The type of Lachno- 

 bolus pygmaeus Zukal, from Carinthia, appears to be the same variety ; 

 preparations courteously submitted to us by Prof. F. v. Hohnel show 

 minute sporangia, 0"1 to - 2 mm. diam., with walls free from angular 

 deposits, and with scanty, irregular capillitium : the spores in one 

 sporangium measure 10 to 12 fx, and in another 13 to 15 p.. The 

 sporangia of P. corticalis often closely resemble those of Trichia contorta 

 and Hemitrichia Karstenii, from which they may be distinguished by 

 the capillitium being more slender and showing no trace of spiral 

 markings. 



Hab. On dead bark and wood. — Cornwall (B.M. 3130) ; Batheaston, 

 Somerset (B.M. 309) ; Lyme Regis (B.M. 3131) ; Salisbury (B.M. 1528) ; 

 Warleigh, Somerset (B.M. 364) ; Brentwood, Essex (B.M. 1527) ; Shrews- 

 burv (B.M. 322); Boynton, Yorks (B.M. 1160); Alnwick, Northum- 

 berland (B.M. 3132); Ireland (B.M. 3133); France (B.M. 1161); 

 Holstein (B.M. 2276); Finland (B.M. 767); Sweden (K. 1702) ; 

 Switzerland (Strassb. Herb.); Russia (Herb. Dr. Sturgis) ; Ceylon 

 (B.M. 3134); Singapore (B.M. 3135); Tasmania (K. 1710); British 

 Columbia (B.M. 3136); Ohio (B.M. 1529); Florida (B.M. 987): var. 

 affinis. — Alresford, Hants. (B.M. 3137) ; Aldborough, Yorks. (B.M. 

 3138) ; Portugal (B.M. 3139) : var. liceoides— Berlin (B.M. 3140). 



5. P. pulcherrima Petch in Ann. Perad., iv. 305 (1909). 

 Plasmodium ? Sporangia scattered and stalked, or clustered 

 and almost sessile on an irregular hypothallus, globose, 

 0-5 mm. diam., glossy, purple-red or purple-brown ; 

 sporangium-wall dehiscing irregularly, of two closely adhering 

 layers, the outer rather stout, purplish-red, with scattered 

 granular deposits, the inner hyaline. Stalks 0-1 to 03 mm. 

 high, red-brown, furrowed, containing granular refuse-matter. 

 Capillitium a loose inelastic network of reddish-brown threads, 

 3 to 4 ^ diam., with few free ends and few attachments to the 

 sporangium-wall ; thickenings in the form of scattered warts 

 and straight or curved spines 1 to 2 p. long. Spores purplish- 

 brown in mass, when magnified pale reddish-brown, closely 

 spinulose, 15 to 17 fi diam. — Petch I.e., 370. 



PI. 188. — a. cluster of sessile sporangia ; b. capillitium and spores with fragment of 

 sporangium-wall ; c. spores, and capillitium showing attachment of threads to sporan- 

 gium-wall ; d. spore and capillitium ; (Ceylon). 



This species has been found on one occasion only, on the branches 



of Theobroma cacao and Erythrina lithosperma by Mr. Petch at Ukuwela, 



Ceylon. He obtained a further development a few days later from the 



same branches after keeping them in a moist chamber. In some cases 



the sporangium-wall is marked with a reticulation corresponding to 



the impression of the spoi'es. P. pulcherrima is distinguished from 



other species of the genus by the colour of the sporangia, which resembles 



that of Physarum pulcherrimum Berk. & Rav.,andby the comparatively 



stout brown capillitium threads. 



Hab. On dead wood,— Ceylon (B.M. 3141). 



