222 THE NORTH AMERICAN SLIME-MOULDS 



ding ; the calyculus variable, generally prominent, more or less distinct- 

 ly marked by fine, delicate radiating venules, the margin denticulate, 

 the teeth numerous and slender, supporting the well-defined globose 

 net; network made up of very tenuous threads, forming rather small 

 irregular brownish nodules and showing only here and there a free 

 extremity; stipe generally short, two or three times the diameter of 

 the sporangium, sometimes longer, tapering upward, brown, slender, 

 arcuate above; spore-mass yellow or ochraceous, spores by transmit- 

 ted light, colorless, 5-6 /x, almost smooth. 



This widely distributed and very variable species is generally 

 recognized by the large sporangia, .5-9 mm., comparatively short 

 stipe, simple net, and more or less orange color. The color is an un- 

 certain thing even in the sporangia, which rise from one Plasmodium. 

 Schrader, however, made this feature so far diagnostic that he placed 

 the more pronouncedly yellow forms in the species C. aurantiaca and 

 set of? as C. vulgaris forms in which more dusky tints prevail. The 

 dark-colored forms have also usually longer stipes, but so much is 

 dependent upon the climatic conditions prevalent at the time of fruit- 

 ing, that this feature also is indeterminate. Rostafinski's figures, 

 21 and 26, Tab. II., show the characteristic nodules and the typical 

 net structure. It is to be observed that Fig. 21 represents higher mag- 

 nification; otherwise the two figures are very much alike. 



New England, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and South, 

 Ohio, Washington, California; Canada, Toronto. 



7. Cribraria dictydioides Cke. & Balf.. 



Plate I., Figs. 5, 5 a, 5 b, and XIX., 6, 6 a, 6 b. 

 1881. Cribraria dictydioides Cke. & Balf., Rav. Fung. Am., 475. 



Sporangia gregarious, of medium size, globose, cernuous, stipitate ; 

 the stipe long, slender, tapering upwards, dull brown in color; hypo- 

 thallus none; the calyculus variable, sometimes well developed, as in 

 C. aurantiaca, sometimes rudimentary or represented only by irregu- 

 lar, node-like ribs; the network delicate, the meshes small, few-sided; 

 the nodules large, prominent, brown, irregular, with several radiat- 

 ing, free, projecting threads, beside the single continuous filaments 



