38 



Genus 17. LYCOGALA 



The common species is L. epidendrum which is so abundant 

 and well known that it hardly needs description. The aethalia 

 are subglobose of a grayish to black color, but with yellowish, 

 reddish, or brownish tints occasionally. The average size is 

 about 10 mm. diam. with smaller and slightly larger ones in the 

 same development. The mass of spores in fresh material is 

 pinkish. There is no true capillitium, but short threads running 

 in from the cortex form a sort of pseudo-capillitium. There are 

 only two other species in the genus which are rarely collected. 

 L. conicum is smaller and conical in shape. L. flavo-fuscum is 

 much larger and looks like a puff ball. 



Genus 18. TRICHIA 



In all preceding genera where a capillitium is present, the 

 threads are smooth and not ornamented except in a few specific 

 instances where small spines appear. We now come to four 

 genera where the threads of the capillitium are ornamented in 

 various ways. Also, curiously, a columella is lacking in all 

 species of these genera. In Trichia the threads of the capillitium 

 are free and not attached to any part of the sporangium — there- 

 fore doubly terminated. This feature appears in only a few 

 species of the Mycetozoa other than in Trichia. In all others the 

 capillitium is attached to some part of the sporangium. In 

 Trichia the free threads, or elaters as they are called, are orna- 

 mented with from two to five spiral bands or thickenings which 

 wind around the elaters, usually like the threads of a left-handed 

 screw, but sometimes in the other direction. In addition, the 

 elaters are often marked with spines of varying lengths in dif- 

 ferent species. A number of species also have beautifully reticu- 

 lated spores. Specific distinctions are based on elater and spore 

 characters; the absence or presence of a stalk; and the character 

 and color of the sporangium-wall. Only one Trichia is red, and 

 that is T. fioriformis , a stalked form with reddish elaters and 

 spores. It resembles Hemitrichia vesparium in appearance but 

 has free elaters. The majority of the species are yellow in color 

 with yellow elaters and spores. Among them is T. varia, a com- 

 mon form, producing sessile or stalked sporangia, or short plas- 

 modiocarps, the stalks when present being short and black. 

 T. varia is the only Trichia with two spirals on the elaters, all 



