STEMONITIS 159 



Such is the original description of this unique and interesting spe- 

 cies. The sporangia occur in close-set tufts or clusters, are distinct, 

 separate at their tips and bases only ; perhaps not always at base. The 

 capillitium rises by branching from the columella, rather more prolific 

 than usual, and combines to form a distinct superficial net of large 

 even meshes. From the outer arcs of the bounding net spring rather 

 long acute processes which should support the peridium. This, how- 

 ever, is altogether rudimentary. In most places there is no sign of 

 peridium at all, but here and there between contiguous sporangia 

 opposite processes unite and at their point of union a tiny circular 

 disk of the peridial membrane appears. At intervals, therefore, over 

 the entire sporangium are seen these small brown disks, each about 

 equalling in diameter the size of the average mesh. At other points 

 the sporangia do not seem at all coalescent, but where the opposing 

 processes do meet the union is perfect and the little disk seen edge- 

 wise looks like some delicate counter strung upon a wire. 



The interest attaching to this in view of what has been said about 

 Amaurochaete and Brefeldia is obvious. 



Under the lens the spores and capillitium are concolorous, dark 

 fuscous, the spores distinctly verruculose, about 12.5 /n. 



The original gathering here described was from New Jersey; 

 twenty years later Mr. Ellis was so fortunate as to find again fine 

 specimens all on oak bark. The sporangia are quite small, only 3 mm. 

 high, when blown out concolorous with the habitat. 



2. Stemonitis trechispora (Berk.) Torr. 



Plate XX., Figs. 11, 11a, 11^, U c. 



1909. Stemonitis fusca (Roth) Rost. var. trechispora (Berk.), Fl. Myxom., 

 Torrend, p. 141. 



1911. Stemonitis fusca var. trechispora Torr., List, Mycetozoa, 2nd ed., 

 p. 144. 



Fructification in form of aggregations of more or less coalescent, 

 small, dark-brown or dull black, sessile sporangia; hypothallus con- 

 tinuous, well-developed ; columella black, gently tapering to a point 

 beneath the apex, the capillitial branches, irregular, few, but passing 

 into an open rather evenly-meshed net, the mesh several times the 



