Stemonitis. 77 



of the sporangium, then dividing into 2 — 5 branches ; threads 

 of capillitiuni much more rigid at the base than in the ulterior, 

 very loose network, nodes often triangular, ultimate branches 

 arcuate, transversely joined, some free and excurrent; spores 

 pale violet, warted, 5 — 6 /u diameter. 



Comatriclia affinis, Rost., Mon., p. 202 ; Sacc, Syll, vii., 1 

 n. 1359. 



Germany, 



Stemonitis confluens, Cke. and Ellis, 



Forming compact tufts about 2 mm. high, from 8 — 15 ; 

 individuals spring from a firm, spreading, venulose hypothallus ; 

 stems usually simple and distinct, dark brown, wrinkled to- 

 wards the base, about -5 mm. high, then hrcaking up into 

 from 2 — 4 main tranches or columellas which anastomose later- 

 ally tcith those of other individuals forming an irrcg^dar 

 plasmodiocarp, covered with a blackish-violet, evanescent, 

 common cortex; mass of spores black with violet tinge; the 

 main branches springing from the columellas form a dense 

 network, threads arcuate, many of the meshes closed by a 

 thin membrane ; spores globose, dingy violet, minutely warted, 

 7 — 8 ^ diameter. 



St&monitis confluens, Cke. and Ellis, Grev., vol. v., p. 51. 



Comatricha confluens, C. and E,, Myx., U. States, p. 896. 



On oak bark. United States. 



A very interesting species, and highly instructive in showing 

 how the fundamental simple form becomes modified by con- 

 fluence. The general mass of the plasmodiocarp is sometimes 

 spherico-depressed, and even at others the columella of one 

 individual of the colony remains simple and projects above 

 the mass as a finger-like projection; in others all the individuals 

 are more or less free at the tips. When the wall and spores 

 are completely blown away, the resemblance of the capillitiuni 

 to that of Heticularia is striking. 



