COMATRICHA 173 



tt Columella lamprodermoid, and on leaves 

 12. C. rubens 

 ttt Columella stemonitoid 



13. C. pulchella 

 tttt Columella furcate at tip 14. C. ellisii 

 ttttt Columella almost percurrent. 



IS. C. subcaespitosa 



1. COMATRICHA C/«SPITOSA Sturgis. 



Plate XL, Figs. 12, 13, 14. 



1893. Comatricha caespitosa Sturg., Bot. Gaz., XVIII., p. 186. 



1894. Diachaea thomasii Rex, var.. List., Mycetozoa, p. 92. 

 1899. Comatricha caespitosa Sturg., Macbr., A'^. A. S., p. 124. 

 1911. Diachaea caespitosa Lister, Mycetozoa, 2nd ed., p. 121. 



Sporangia densely crowded or cespitose, sub-sessile or short stipi- 

 tate, clavate, 1—1.5 mm. high, the peridium gray, iridescent with blue 

 tints, comparatively permanent but finally disappearing; columella 

 attaining two-thirds to three-fourths the height of the sporangium, 

 giving rise throughout its length to the dense blackish capillitium; 

 hypothallus delicate, inconspicuous; capillitium, the main branches 

 thick at the point of origin, frequently anastomosing, and becoming 

 gradually thinner toward the surface of the sporangium, the tips 

 pointed, free, forming the network; spores blackish-violet in mass, by 

 transmitted light pale brownish-violet, rough, 9.5-13 /x. 



A very distinct and curious species. The sporangia are densely 

 crowded, though by the nature of habitat somewhat tufted. The 

 shape of the individual sporangium is quite uniformly clavate or ob- 

 ovate, decidedly truncate above. The spores are uniformly verrucu- 

 lose and plainly unequal. 



This species, as indicated, was by its author described as a coma- 

 tricha. To transfer it to another genus seems idle, especially when 

 long established generic boundaries must be seriously disturbed ex- 

 pressly to admit the new arrival. 



New England, North Carolina, on moss and lichens. — Dr. 

 Sturgis. 



2. Comatricha cylindrica (Bilgram) Macbr. 



1905. Diachaea cylindrica Bilgram, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad., 524. 

 1911. Diachaea cylindrica Bilgram, List., Mycetozoa, 2nd ed., p. 121. 



Sporangia cylindrical with obtuse apex, sessile, gregarious, irides- 



