278 THE NORTH AMERICAN SLIME-MOULDS 



even, 2-6 mm., or (b) multiple, several sporangia united by their 

 pale brown or reddish-brown, striate, weak, closely adherent or united 

 stems ; hypothallus small or none ; capillitial-mass bright brick-red 

 cut-off from the stem-cavity, such as may be, and enclosed by a 

 thick, firm opaque peridium, which opens above in fragmental or pe- 

 taloid lobes, leaving a craterium-like cup below, to persist in flower- 

 like fashion long after the contents have blown away; elaters fusi- 

 form, extremely long, to 50 fi; about 5 /a in width at the widest 

 (middle) point, long acuminate, adorned with usually four clean-cut 

 even, regular, taeniae, uniformly spaced and carried forward on 

 the progressive acumination, almost to the smooth, straight spine-like 

 point; spores in mass brick-red, by transmitted light, orange-brown 

 almost smooth, 10-12 ju,. 



This showy and remarkable species is set out from T. botrytis Pers. 

 with which it has been more or less closely associated, for several 

 reasons. In the first place, it is easily recognized in the field, by its 

 size, color, and structure. Often simple throughout a colony entire, 

 nevertheless where the vegetative development has been stronger, sim- 

 ple and multiple fructifications may stand side by side, but the odd 

 fasciation is generally limited to few sporangia, perhaps three or four, 

 or at most, half a dozen. These fasciate forms generally shorter, or 

 less erect. The elaters, so far as our observation goes, are the longest 

 in the genus notable for their beautiful symmetry. The spores are 

 larger than in the red forms of T. botrytis as usually presented, 

 smoother and of different color. 



We have also a geographic limitation. Taken to Paris first from 

 southern Chile, it promises to be a Pacific coast species, found as it 

 now has been in North America from San Diego, to Vancouver. In 

 a deep forest near Monterey, California, a half-buried log showed 

 one colony a meter in length and from six to twelve centimetres in 

 width, hundreds of sporangia, each by gentlest explosion opening to 

 display its tuft of bright-tinted wool, a patch of color visible from 

 far. 



4. Oligonema. 



1875. Oligonema Rost., Mon., p. 291. 



Sporangia distinct, small, generally crowded together and superim- 

 posed ; hypothallus none ; capillitium scanty, the sculpture rudimentary 



