84 THE NORTH AMERICAN SLIME-MOULDS 



capillitial nodes scattered, fusiform, colorless or yellow; spores 16- 

 17 /x. It is evident that whatever Alassee may have had in hand as he 

 wrote it was not P. nicaraguense, which has spores 10—12 and re- 

 verses the remaining description. 



But Didymium echinosporum also defines T. reniformis since 

 Lister, Mon., p. 54, says they are based on two gatherings of one spe- 

 cies. Of this second species Massee says: "A superficial resemblancd 

 to T. nutans, but distinct in the capillitium which contains no trace 

 of lime; spores 12-14 /u,!" Again it is evident that whatever Massee 

 had in hand when he wrote, it was not P. nicaraguense which "has 

 capillitium almost Badhamia-like," i. e., burdened with lime! 



Worse than all; Mr. Massee's alleged types are in evidence; one 

 labelled P. reniforme'^ includes forms of P. didermoides and of P. 

 nicaraguense ; the other labelled by Berkeley P. nutans is P. nicara- 

 guense. So Mr. T. Fetch, Mycet. Ceyl., who enters our species as 

 from Ceylon, and the names cited from Berkeley, Massee, and oth- 

 ers, as synonyms. He remarks, "Probably Thwaites' 135 and 55 

 were mixed during examination" ! Doubtless ! and some other things 

 too! What Massee did have beneath his lens, no one now may say 

 but apparently not in either case cited, the physarum of Central 

 America. 



42. Physarum sulphureum Alb. & ScJiw. 



1805, Physarum sulphureum Alb. & Schw., Consp. Fung., p. 93, Tab. VI, 

 f. 1. 



1818. Physarum flavum Fries, Symh. Gast., p. 22. 



1875. Physarum sulphureum Alb. & Schw., Rost., Mon., p. 101. ^ 



Sporangia gregarious, sub-globose, rugulose-squamulose, .6-.8 mm., 

 sulphur-yellow, stipitate; peridium membranous, covered with calca- 

 reous scales; stipe stout, white, charged with lime, furrowed; colu- 

 mella none ; capillitium strongly calcareous, the nodules large, white ; 

 spores violaceous, rough, 9-1 1 n. 



Northern Europe. (Lusatia) Lausitz, Alb. & Schw.; dim old 



1 It would seem that M, Massee would have written T. reniformis, were 

 this authentic. 



- For further synonymy, see under P. auriscalpium. No. 49. 



