78 A Monograph of the Mi/xogaatres. 



§ § Sjjwes smooth. 

 Stemonitis atra, Mass. (n. sp.)- 



Scattered ; sporangia cylindric-ovate, black, slightly iridescent ; 

 stem twice as long as sporangium, thin, equal, dull, black, 

 expanding at the base into a minute, circular hypothallus ; mass 

 of spores hroion with a lilac tinge ; columella as thick as the 

 stem, equal, reaching to apex of sporangium ; main branches 

 scattered, remaining simple for a short distance then branching 

 and forming a network, the meshes becoming smaller towards 

 the periphery where they equal the spores in diameter ; all the 

 tranches of the network of equal thickness, very stout. So — 4 fx 

 diameter; dark brown; spores globose, dingy lilac-brown, s?/ioo^/i, 

 10 /x diameter. 



On wood. New Zealand. 



Remarkable in the scattered habit, 6 — 8 mm. high. Readily 

 distinguished by the very thick threads of the capillitium. 

 The columella sometimes breaks up into branches a short 

 distance below the apex of the sporangium. 



Stemonitis acuminata, Mass. (n. sp.). 



Gregarious, or often densely crowded on a well-developed, 

 iridescent hypothallus ; sporangia cylindrical, elongato-acicminate 

 at the a'pcx ; wall blackish-purple, iridescent, disappearing; 

 stem equal to or shorter than sporangium, filiform, slightly 

 attenuated upwards; blackish, shining; mass of spores black 

 with purple tinge ; capillitium continuing to the apex of the 

 sporangium, primary branches scattered, short, sui)2^orting a 

 network of irregularly polygonal meshes which are large and 

 everywhere of equal size, 40 — 50 n in diameter ; spores globose, 

 smooth, 13 — 14 /x diameter. 



On rotten wood. Cape of Good Hope (Table Mountain). 



Agreeing with Stemonitis Morgani in the large-meshed 

 capillitium, but distinguished by the acuminate apex of the 

 sporangium and the larger spores ; 1"5 cm. high. 



