BADHAMIA 43 



nodulose; spore-mass black; spores dark, violaceous-brown by trans- 

 mitted light, distinctly warted, or reticulate, the reticulations re- 

 sembling somewhat those of some of the trichias, as T. affinis, 10-15 /t. 



Easily recognizable, generally at sight, by its peculiar color. White 

 forms, however, occur; often lilac-tinted and white from the same 

 Plasmodium. A perfectly white colony seems to be rare. Both colors 

 are shown in specimens distributed. A^. A. F., 2494. 



Common eastward, Ontario, New England, Pennsylvania, Ohio, 

 etc. Not reported west of the Mississippi River. 



Whatever the color, the spores are in every case positively diag- 

 nostic. The episporic markings are unlike those of any other species 

 in the present order. Dr. Rex describes some New York forms as 

 provided with a short but distinct stipe. Such forms resemble exter- 

 nally Scyphium rubiginosum (Chev.) Rost. The hypothallus is also 

 unique. V. next species. , 



16. Badhamia rubiginosa {Chev.) Rost. 



Plate X., Figs. 1, la, lb, I c. 



1826. Physarum rubiginosum Chev., Fl. Par., p. 338. 



1872. Craterium obovatum Peck, Rep. N. Y. Mus., XXVL, p. 75. 



1875. Scyphium rubiginosum (Chev.) Rost., Man., p. 148. 



1876. Badhamia rubiginosa (Chev.) Rost, Mon. A pp., p. 5. 

 1892. Craterium rubiginosum Massee, Mon., p. 270. 



Sporangia gregarious, obovoid, grayish brown, stipitate, the perid- 

 ium simple, membranous, above thin, pale, more or less calcareous 

 below, more persistent blending with the stipe; stipe erect, reddish 

 brown or purplish, expanded below into a small hypothallus, above, 

 prolonged within the sporangia more than half its height as a 

 definite columella ; capillitium very dense, snow white, long persist- 

 ent with the lower two-thirds of the sporangial wall ; spore-mass dark 

 brown ; spores by transmitted light, dark violet or purple-brown, 

 minutely roughened or spinulose, not adherent, 12-14 fx. 



This is probably the most common badhamia in the country and 

 in the world. It is found every year, in the woods, on masses of 

 decaying leaves, especially those of various species of oak. The Plas- 

 modium is yellow. The fructifications are very distinct, not likely 



