STEMONITIS 169 



Fries had in mind a form with larger spores, having indeed yellow 

 Plasmodium; but see number 13 below. 



It is for the present assumed that the Plasmodium of our American 

 S. axifera is white. So far, there are few or no observations which 

 establish the fact. The color, the small smooth spores, the fine- 

 meshed capillitial net and the general dimensions determine the 

 reference. 



13. Stemonitis flavogenita Jahn. 



Plate XX., Figs. 10, 10 a, 10 b. 



1829. Stemonitis ferruginea Ehr., Fries, Myc. III., p. 158, Syn. excl. 



1899. Stemonitis axifera (Bull.) Macbr., A'^. A. S., p. 120, in part. 



1904. Stemonitis flavogenita Jahn, Abh. Bot. Ver. Brandenb., XLV, p. 265. 



1911. Stemonitis flavogenita Jahn, List., Mycetozoa, 2nd ed., p. 149. 



Sporangia cylindric, obtuse, closely fasciculate, "cinnamon brown," 

 stipitate, 5-7 /x; stipe short, black, columella ceasing abruptly below 

 the apex; capillitium a loose net-work with many broad expansions; 

 the peridial net very delicate, the meshes small but uneven, 6-15 /i,, 

 with many projecting points; spores pale ferruginous, verruculose, 

 7-9 /x. 



This is S. ferruginea Ehr. of Fries with its Plasmodium yellow. 

 Fries says "flavicat," becomes yellow, if one may follow the analogy 

 of corresponding Latin verbs of color, so that the record of color- 

 changes in the present species is yet to be recorded. 



Until further experience may advise to the contrary, we may as- 

 sume that all stemonites cinnamon-brown in color, with widened 

 columella-tip, and pale yellowish spores 7-9 fi. in diameter, have at 

 some time in their history a yellow Plasmodium, and accordingly 

 represent in America the new-found species. 



The larger spores, and, the strange proliferate development of the 

 columella-tip, to which Miss Lister has happily called attention, 

 constitute the essential diagnostic features here. 



Our only specimens so far are from Oregon. 



14. Stemonitis pallida JVingate. 



Plate XIII., Fig. 3 



1897. Stemonitis pallida Wing., A^. A. F., Ell. and Ev., No. 3498. 



1899. Stemonitis pallida Wing., Macbr., A^. A. S., p. 123. 



1911. Stemonitis pallida Wing., List., Mycetozoa, 2nd ed., p. 149. 



