378 MOXOGRAPH OF THE LABOULBEXIACE^. 
\ 
Ceratomyces rostratus Thaxter. Plate XXIY, figs. 18-27. 
Proc. Am. Acad. Arts and Sci. Vol. XXVIII, p. 188. 
Reddish or amber-brown. Receptacle long, slender, expanding slightly npward, consisting 
of about twelve superposed cells. Perithecium consisting of a clearly distinguished neck and an 
inflated oval basal portion, completely filled with spores and asci, which pushes the appendage to 
one side and continues directly the axis of the receptacle; the neck very elon^nte, irregularly 
cylindrical, straight or its terminal portion at maturity (in perfectly developed Bpccimons) 
abruptly bent upon itself, the recurved portion tapering slightly to the Innuliod asymmetrical 
apex ; the cell-rows made up of seventy cells, more or less. Appendage arising from a broad 
base flattened at maturity by pressure from the base of the pcrithccitini, consisting of about six 
superposed cells bearing numerous branches, uhich may in turn be several times branched. 
Spores about 75 x 3.5 //. Perithecia, basal portion, 110-150 x 65-00 // ; neck, inchiding recurved 
portion, longest, 1.17 mm. Appendage about 90-100 /x long, its longest branches about 200^. 
Receptacle, large, about 260 jx long by 65 /i at the distal end. 
On Hfjdrocomlus fimhriaUis Melsh., Massachusetts, Texas ; PldlhijdruB cinctus Say, [Maine. 
A variety on P. nehulosus Say, Maine. 
Tlie most remarkable species of the gems, the enormously elongated neck of the perithecium 
becoming hoolicd onlj- in tul'ly mature specimens, and serving an evident purpose in the spore 
dissemination during coitus. 
In perhaps a majority of specimens the neck is shorter nnd straight, and there are 
very considerable variations in size and form. The appendage is often very bro.d at its 
base, and projects outward, often at a considerable andc ; while its basal cells may be 
n-regularly divided and produce branches which, in son.e enso,,, even f.e,.„, to arise from the 
lower pentbecial wall-cells, forming a rather dense tuft, vbile in other cases they are more 
sparingly developed. The number of cells con.posing the receptacle is subject to considerable 
varmtion ; and the cell-rows of the perithecium present very great dilTeronces in (ho number of 
he,r componen cells. Unlike any other species, there is a distinct differentiation between the 
e m,„al conductive portion of the perithecium and its innated ascigerous base, uhich is, appar- 
ZltT T"7 "V"' r '"'"''' '"^^'-^ ^-i'-msM in many cases from the base of the 
m n an ■ , " T 7 ''""'''' ""^ ""^ anthero.oids of (bis sp-i^s, ,^-hich are peculiar 
d s" bid'Cf •' : "'""'^ ■'""'^^ '° ^P- -10>- ^"« typical form is probabh widely 
1 i lr;\; r ""rr™ "' "^ ""-""^ '^^'^^^ "- --•■'^^ »' ^^averlv and i„ some other 
It: ii^r^itctvrndr ''-'' -''T''"-' '""" ^ '-- ^"-""™ -^ "^'''- 
Maine, A small varietV i '2 ,^ :'"■'"?'{ ™ ''''"'^'"'^ «■-"« "' '^'"->- I""""' 
gin, and is represented in figs. 26, 27. 
P 
P 
intlhed f 1 m, ; "™ rT'' " ''"""" "" '^'^"^^ differences by whi 1 it can be dis- 
abdCcn an tir ' f T^ o the present species, which is found on the nferior surface of the 
^" occuis on c. mirabilu, but specifically distinct. 
