280 THE NORTH AMERICAN SLIME-MOULDS 



2. Oligonema brevifilum Peck. 



Plate XX., Figs. 5, 5 a. 

 1878. Oligonema brcvifila Peck, Rep. N. Y. Mus., p. 42. 



Sporangia small, cylindric, dull ochraceous-yellovv, sessile closely 

 crowded, sometimes superimposed, forming large, effused patches sev- 

 eral centimetres in extent; capillitium exceedingly scant, consisting 

 of nothing more than a few minute threads, very short, only three or 

 four times the diameter of the spore, smooth, or without any defin- 

 able sculpture, ochraceous ; spore-mass dark ochraceous, under the 

 lens the spores are brighter, marked with reticulations much as in 

 other species of the genus, 10-12 fi. 



Probably a variety of our No. 1, but constantly collected. 



Separate, however, from the following also in color and habit. To 

 the naked eye the fructification suggests Trichia persimilis; the color 

 much the same, and the sporangia similarly congested. The peculiarly 

 rudimentary condition of the capillitium is apparently also constant. 

 Iowa specimens accord perfectly with those from New York. 



Rare. New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Iowa, 

 Missouri, Oregon, Washington, California; Vancouver Island. 



3. Oligonema nitens (Lib.) Rost. 



Plate II., Figs. 8, 8 a, 8 b. 



1834. Trichia nitens Lib. PI. Cr. Ard., III., No. 227. 

 1875. Oligonema nitens (Lib.) Rost, Mon., p. 291. 

 1883. Trichia pusilla Schroet., Kr. FL Sc/iL, III., p. 114. 



Sporangia gathered in small, heaped clusters, irregularly spherical, 

 bright straw-color, or yellow, sessile, superimposed, the peridium thin, 

 smooth, shining; capillitium of short elaters, simple or branched, 

 smooth, adorned with an occasional projecting ring, often with faint 

 spiral sculpture spreading especially toward the apices, which are 

 blunt or anon acute, the point sometimes flexed or bent to one side, 

 never very long; spore-mass bright yellow, spores globose, beautifully 

 reticulate, 12-14 [x. 



Readily recognized at sight by its heaped, shining, or glistening 

 sporangia. The capillitial threads are further definitive, and serve 

 to distinguish it from everything else. 



