110 A Monograph of the Myxogastres. 



last branches meeting at the surface of the sporangium' by twos 

 or threes at a very sharp angle, where their slightly thickened 

 ends are joined together by minute, nieinbranaceous plates. 

 Sporangium wall not apparent, except a slight collar around 

 the stipe as it enters the sporangium ; spores brown in mass, 

 very light-violet, almost colourless, under the microscope, per- 

 fectly smooth, 7 8 mm. in diameter. 



On rotten logs, Philadelphia, Pa. 



This plant has been found during three seasons in Fairmont 

 Park, Philadelphia, Pa., in many localities. The plasmodium 

 has a dirty-brown colour. When erecting, the dark, granular 

 substance of the mass is left in the matter which is to form 

 the stipe, and the globule of the sporangium becomes milky 

 white. Before the stipe has reached its full height, say in the 

 upper fifth, the sporangium mass leaves behind it, clustered 

 around the stipe, several (2 8) clear, highly-refractive, minute 

 globules, which, in a recently-matured plant, sparkle like dew- 

 drops. The plant continues erecting, but from the place where 

 the globules are left behind, the stipe very frequently suddenly 

 narrows, sometimes to a mere filament. As the plants become 

 old, the dew-like globules become amber-coloured, but remain 

 transparent. These clear globules have been occasionally noted 

 by the writer on the sporangium wall of Comatrichas, and have 

 been considered as an indication of some degree of immaturity, 

 hence they have not been mentioned in the description as 

 having a specific value. In the plants, as found in different 

 places, they are constant, though sometimes fused into one 

 mass. The finer filaments of the capillitium, in fluid under 

 the microscrope, are almost colourless. The plants are more 

 or less sociable, sometimes forming patches an inch or so in 

 diameter, and may readily be mistaken for a mould. (Wing.) 



OrtliotrwJm microccphala, Wingate, in Proc. Acad. Nat. Science, 

 Philadelphia, 1886, p. 125; Sacc., Syll., vii., pt. I., n. 



Exsiccs Ellis and Everhart, N. Arner. Fung., Ser. II., n. 2498. 



A very beautiful and at the same time puzzling form. I am 

 not at all convinced in my own mind as to whether the present 

 genus belongs to the present division or to the Peritricheae. 



