236 THE NORTH AMERICAN SLIME-MOULDS 



peridium thin, the vesicles comparatively few, in irregular patches 

 which are more or less confluent ; capillitium as in preceding species, 

 the tubules slender and branching ; spore-mass pale, ochraceous, spores 

 by transmitted light colorless, almost smooth, 5-6 fi. 



Found in the same situations as No. 1, and at the same season. 

 Recognizable by its gregarious habit, not crowded nor superimposed, 

 small size, and dusky color. The little spheres occur a dozen or 

 more in a place, dark lead-colored, shading to black, opening rather 

 regularly at the top. It looks like a depauperate L. epidendrum, 

 but seems to be constantly collected. 



Our specimens are from Ohio, Iowa, Missouri, Canada. 



4. Lycogala conicum Pers. 



1801. Lycogala conica Pers., Syn. Fung., p. 159. 



1875. Dermodium conicum (Pers.) Rost., Man., p. 284. 



i^thalia scattered, sometimes two or three together, small 2-4, mm. 

 high, conical, sessile, pallid, grayish brown, marked by obscure black 

 reticulations, opening regularly at the somewhat acuminate tip ; perid- 

 ium thin in structure, as in L. epidendrum, but more delicate ; cap- 

 illitium made up of abundant, slender, uniform threads almost smooth, 

 simple, the free ends obtuse, taking origin in the cortex much as in 

 the preceding species; spores in mass ochraceous, by transmitted 

 light colorless, minutely warted or faintly reticulate, about 5 /x. 



A very distinct and rare little species. Well described by Persoon, 

 who also appears to have observed the Plasmodium "primo rubra." 

 The color of the mature form varies with age; at first somewhat 

 purplish. Dr. Rex collected it in Pennsylvania; Mr. Morgan has it 

 from Ohio; our specimens are from southeastern Missouri. 



Order V 

 TRICHIALES 



Fructification sporangial, rarely plasmodiocarpous, the sporangia 

 stalked or sessile, gregarious or closely crowded, limeless throughout; 

 the capillitium of definite threads, free or attached to the sporan- 

 gial wall, isolated or combined into a net; spores generally some 

 shade of yellow, never purple or black. 



