94 A Monograph of the Mjixogastres. 



Lycogcda argcntea, Pers., Disp., 7 (1797). 

 Lycogala turhinatum, Pers., Syn., 157 (1801), 

 Strongylium fuliginoides, Ditm., t. 2, f. 1 (1809). 

 Fidigo lycapcrdon, Schum., Saell., 1409 (1803). 

 BcticiUaria argentca, Poir., Ency., vi., 20 (1806). 

 Rcticularia umhrina, Fr. S. M., iii., 87 (1829) ; Corda, Ic, vi., 

 f. 36 ; Eng. Fl., v., 308; Cooke, Hdbk., No. 1100. 



Sub-sect. 11. Lamprodermae. 

 Lamproderma, Rost. 



Sporangia globose or broadly obovate, usually stipitate, stem 

 continuous within the sporangium as a columella; threads of 

 the capillitium originating from the apex only of the columella, 

 primary branches either remaining simple for some distance 

 or branching irregularly from the base, the branches combining 

 to form an irregular network ; wall of sporangium usually 

 iridescent, soon disappearing. 



Lamproderma, Rost., Mon., p. 202 ; Cke., Brit. Myx., p. 49 ; 

 Sacc, Syll, vii., 1, p. 390 ; Zopf, p. 1 .56. 



Closely allied to Diachaca and Sicmonitis, but differing from 

 both in having the threads of tlie capillitium originating from 

 the apex of the columella only. 



Distrib. Europe; United States; Ceylon; Australia; New 

 Zealand. Species 18. 



A. Spores smooth. 



Lamproderma violaceum, Rost. (figs. 152 — 154). 



Gregarious on a strongly-developed hypothallus; sporangia 

 sub-globose, convex above, fiattmed or slightly umhilicatc Mow ; 

 wall thin, blackish, with a dark violet lustre ; stem elongated, 

 black, thick at the base, attenuated upwards ; columella about 

 half the height of the sporangium, filled with large colourless 

 cells; hrccnchcs of capillitiuni almost colourless, springing from the 

 apex and sides of the columella, irregularly branched and com- 



