TRICHIA 269 



2. Trichia contorta (Ditmar) Rost. 



Plate XIIL, Figs. 7, 7 a. 



1811. Lycogala contortum Ditmar, Sturm, Deutsclu Fl. III., Tab. 5. 

 1872. Tric/iia reniformis Peck., Rep. N. Y. Mus., XXVI., p. 74. 

 1875. Trichia contorta Kost., Mow., p 259. 



Sporangia gregarious, or crowded, small, ellipsoid or reniform, arcu- 

 ate, dark red brown, sessile ; hypothallus none ; capillitial mass ochra- 

 ceous or dull yellow, the elaters few, irregular, the spirals uneven, 

 irregular, often projecting and thin, though generally flat or obscure, 

 the apices more or less swollen, ending in a curved tip; spore-mass con- 

 colorous, spores beneath the lens bright yellow, papillose, 10-12 jx. 



This species resembles the preceding in color, but is of less aggre- 

 gate habit, and the sporangia are more plasmodiocarpous, reniform, 

 arcuate, etc. The capillitium is also distinctive, the sculpture irregu- 

 lar, uneven with general lack of symmetry. Our description is made 

 up from specimens of T. reniformis Peck, which appears to be the 

 American form of Rostafinski's species. 



Rare. New York, Montana? 



3. Trichia iowenis Macbr. 



Plate III., Figs. 3, 3 a, 3 Z' ; Plate X., Fig. S. 

 1892. Trichia iowensis Macbr., la., Bull. Lab. Nat. Hist., II., p. 133. 



Sporangia sessile, gregarious, spherical or reniform, with no hypo- 

 thallus, purple brown ; spores and spore-mass yellow ; elaters with three 

 or four spiral bands unevenly distributed, and with occasional infla- 

 tions, sparingly branched, spinulose, especially where inflated, spinules 

 long, 3-6 ju, recurved, often bifid or trifid, especially at or near the 

 acuminate tip; spores delicately warted, 9-11 [x. 



This species occurs not rarely and is found on the bark of Populus, 

 so far, exclusively. 7'he sporangia are inconspicuous until opening 

 by fissure they display the yellow spores and capillitial threads. The 

 species is immediately recognized by its elaters, whose numerous and 

 lengthened spinules are unlike those of any cognate form, remind- 

 ing one of the capillitium of Ophiotheca. Related to the two preced- 

 ing, but distinct by its spinulose capillitium. 



Iowa, Missouri; Black Hills, South Dakota. 



