TRICHIA 267 



Sporangia crowded or heaped in scattered clusters; peridium thin, 

 golden yellow, adorned with intricate radiating veinlets capillitium 

 of threads more or less branched, attached below, free above, the sur- 

 face to the very tips venulose, interrupted with rings or fragmentary 

 spirals, the apices bulbous and obtusely conical ; spore-mass yellow, 

 spores by transmitted light bright yellow, covered by a network of 

 interlocking plates, as in T. favoginea, globose, 14-16 /x. 



A curious form, related to Hemitrichia, much as Oligonema is to 

 Trichia. Related to both the genera first named, but distinct, in 

 the peculiar sculpture, from Hemitrichia, and from Oligonema in 

 that the threads are not entirely free. Professor Morgan's original 

 determination, founded on Ohio materials is confirmed by material 

 sent us by Professor Underwood from Alabama. 



3. Trichia {Haller) Rost. 



1768. Trichia Haller, Hist. Stir p. Hel<v., III., p. 114, in part., 

 1875. Trichia (Haller) Rost., Mon., p. 243. 



Sporangia distinct, sessile or stipitate; capillitium of distinct elastic 

 threads, free acuminate at each end, yellow or more rarely reddish 

 or brown; spores generally yellow. 



The trichias are easily recognized among their kind by their 

 beautiful spirally wound, elastic capillitial threads, the elaters; these 

 are entirely free, about 3-4 mm. in length, simple or only rarely 

 branched, and generally acute at each extremity. The spiral bands, 

 sometimes called taeniae, are generally very uniform in thickness, 

 distance from each other, and pitch, and in many species are further 

 reenforced by minute longitudinal plications running from one spiral 

 to the next. Furthermore, the spirals may be smooth or spinulose 

 the elater uniform throughout or enlarged betimes by nodes and 

 swellings. Taken altogether, the trichias with the species of the 

 genus next following exhibit the highest degree of differentiation at- 

 tained by the Myxomyceles. 



Most of the earlier authors, including Haller, used the generic name 

 Trichia to cover a variety of forms. It is here used with the limits 

 sketched by De Bary in 1859 and 1864 {Die Myxomyceten), and 

 followed more exactly ten years later by his pupil, Rostafinski. 



