Chondrioderma. 201 



Chondrioderma geasteroides, Phil. - 



Sporangia sessile or shortly stipitate, globose or broadly 

 pyriform, ochraceous-brown, polished, dehiscing in a stellate 

 manner into five or six unequal, acute segments which become 

 strongly reflexed, inner surface of wall white, rough with 

 granules of lime ; stem, when present, shorter than sporangium, 

 thick, obscure brown; columella globose, ochraceous-brown; 

 threads of capillitium brownish or almost colourless, repeated 

 branching in a dichotomous manner, and anastomosing laterally 

 to form a network; base of each bifurcation swollen and dark- 

 coloured; spores globose, brown, minutely . warted, 11 14 ju, 

 diameter. 



Chondrioderma geasteroides, Phil., in Herb. 



Diderma geasteroidcs, Phil., Grev., v., 5, p. 113, t. 87, fig. 1, 

 a f ; Sacc., Syll., 1293. 



Diderma laciniatum, Phil., Grev., v., 5, p. 113, t. 87, fig. 2, 

 a f; Sacc., Syll., n. 1294. 



(Types in Herb., Phillips.) 



On rotten wood, mosses. &c. California. 



For an opportunity of examining the present and other types 

 of Myxogastres from California, I am indebted to the kindness 

 of Mr. Wm. Phillips, F.L.S., of Shrewsbury. 



Gregarious or scattered, f 1 mm. high. After dehiscence 

 the present species is a very beautiful object under a low power, 

 the snow-white inner surface of the reflexed segments standing 

 out in contrast to the purple-black mass of spores, and the 

 ochraceous-brown or fulvous outside colour. Distinct from C. 

 radiatwn, its nearest ally, in the peculiar structure of the 

 capillitium and the colour and coarsely granular inside of the 

 sporangial wall, the spores are also larger in the present species. 



Chondrioderma Lyallii, Mass. (n. sp.)>Acv*a. mv 



VAv. Uv- 



Scattered or aggregated ; sporangia globose or broadly obovate, 

 stipitate, wall thick, polished, whitish or pallid, splitting in an 

 irregularly stellate manner ; stem shorter than sporangium, 



