CRIBRARIA 221 



Similar to the preceding, but generally much larger and not so 

 much inclined to brown. The size, however, is extremely variable 

 in sporangia from the same Plasmodium (reported white), some no 

 larger than those of the species reckoned most minute. 



Oregon. Professor Morton Peck. 



5. Cribraria splendens {Schroder) Rest. 



Plate XIX., Fig. 10. 



1797. Dictydium splendens Schrad., Nov. Gen., p. 14. 



1801. Cribraria splendens (Schrad.) Pers., Syn. Fung., p. 191. 



Sporangia gregarious, globose, dusky yellow when filled with spores, 

 dull or dusky brown when these are discharged, stipitate ; stipe long, 

 3-4 times the sporangium, subulate, erect-nodding, brown; hypo- 

 thallus none; network brown, with large meshes, imperfectly defined 

 nodes and flattened threads ; calyculus none, its place supplied by nine 

 or ten distinct, firm ribs which radiate from the stipe and support 

 the net, branching to blend with its reticulations; spore-mass yellow, 

 spores by transmitted light, colorless, smooth or nearly so, 6-7.5 fx. 



Of this species two specimens only are before us, one from Musca- 

 tine County, Iowa, and one from Washington (state). The species 

 seems thus to have wide range, but to be exceedingly rare. It differs 

 from all other American forms, so far described, in the peculiar 

 development of the calyculus. Rostafinski emphasizes the persistence 

 of the peridial wall and the peculiar gleaming of the metallic tints, 

 displayed by all the structures. These particulars we have not been 

 able to verify. Such characters may be incident to age or conditions 

 of development. At all events, in forms which in all other respects 

 seem to agree exactly with Rostafinski's descriptions, the colors are 

 dull and without any noticeable iridescence. The spores in our speci- 

 mens are also a little larger than quoted. Rostafinski gives 5-6 /a; 

 Massee, 5-7 /x. 



6. Cribraria aurantiaca Schradcr. , 



Plate XVII., Fig. 3, and XIX., Fig. 7. 

 1797. Cribraria aurantiaca Schrad., Nov. Gen. PL, p. 5. 

 Sporangia gregarious, spherical, dusky or yellowish stipitate, nod- 



