CRATERWM 103 



4. Craterium Trentepohl 



1797. Craterium Trentepohl, Roth, Catal, I., p. 224. 



Sporangia more or less distinctly cyathiform, stipitate, the peridium 

 generally plainly of two layers or even of three, opening at the top 

 by circumscission more or less definite, or by a distinct lid, the upper 

 part calcareous often to a marked degree, the lower, cartilaginous, 

 long persistent as a vasiform cup containing the capillitium and 

 spores, the calcareous nodes aggregating more or less to form a 

 pseudo-columella. 



This genus is distinguished from Physarum and Badhamia chiefly 

 by the form of the sporangia and the method of dehiscence. The 

 capillitium is in some specimens particularly, of the Physarum type; 

 in others, like that of Badhamia. There are accordingly species that 

 receive at the hands of different authors diverse generic reference as 

 one feature or another in the structure is emphasized in the different 

 cases. It is granted that it is hard to draw the line sometimes be- 

 tween forms in which the dehiscence is irregularly circumscissile and 

 those in which the wall breaks without any regularity whatever, since, 

 in all, the breaking up of the peridium usually begins at the top. 

 Species here included will, however, offer little ambiguity. 



Key to the Species of Craterium 



A. Dehiscence circumscissile or by the breaking up of the upper wall of 



of the sporangium. 



a. Sporangia violet or purple . . . 1. C. paraguayense 



b. Sporangia yellow 2. C. aureum 



c. Sporangia white-capped. 



1. Sporangia obovoid or globoid . 3. C. leucocephalum 



2. Sporangia cylindric, elongate . 4. C. cylindricum 



B. Dehiscence by a distinct lid. 



a. Capillitium pale brown .... 5. C. concinnum 



b. Capillitium white 6. C, minutum 



1. Craterium paraguayense (Speg.) List. 



1883. Didymium paraguayense Speg., Fung. Guar. Pug., 1, p. 141. 



1893. Craterium rubescens Rex, Proc. P/iilad. Acad. Nat. Sci., p. 370. 



1894. Craterium rubescens Rex, List., Mycetozoa, p. 71. 

 1899. Craterium rubescens Rex, Macbr,, A^. A. S., p. 75. 



1904. locraterium paraguayense (Speg.) Jahn, Hediuigia, XLII., p. 302. 

 1911. Craterium paraguayense List., Mycetozoa, 2nd ed., p. 95. 



