134 * ENDOSPOHE*. [AMATJROCHjETE. 



Order II. — AMAUEOCHjETACEiE. Sporangia combined into an 

 sethalium. Oapillitium dark purple-brown, of irregular strands 

 and threads, or of complex structure. 



KEY TO THE GENERA OF AMATJROCHMTACE^. 

 Oapillitium of irregularly branching threads. 



(20) AMAUROCHiETE. 



Fig. 28. — Amauroclicete atra Eost. 

 a. ^thalium. Half natural size. 

 h. CapilUtimn. Magnified 10 times. 



Oapillitium of horizontal threads, with many-chamhered vesicles. 



(21) Beepeldia. 



Fig. 29. — Brefeldia maxima Eost. 

 a. ^thalium. Natural size. 

 h. Oapillitium and spores. Magnified 50 times. 



Fig. 29. 



Genus 20.— AMAUROCH^TE Eostafinski, Versuch, p. 8 

 (1873). ^thaha pulvinate, composed of elongated closely com- 

 pacted confluent sporangia ; sporangium- walls not developed. 

 Oapillitium rising from the broad membranous base, consisting 

 of dark purple-brown irregularly flattened ragged strands, 

 dividing into many anastomosing branches, which vary much in 

 length and thickness. 



1. A. atra Eost., Versuch, p. 8 (1873). Plasmodium creamy- 

 white, emerging from recently felled fir-wood. ./Ethalium pulvinate 

 or variously shaped, 2 mm. to 4 cm. or more broad, black, covered 

 with a silvery evanescent membrane ; individual sporangium- 

 walls undeveloped. Oolumella none. Oapillitium as described in 

 the genus, often very scanty. Spores dull purple, spinulose, 11 

 to 13 [x. diam. — Mon., p. 211 ; Oooke, Myx. Brit., p. 52 ; Blytt, 

 Bidr. K. Norg., Sop. iii. (1892), p. 9;' Mass., Mon., p. 89. 

 Lycogala atrum Alb. & Schw., Oonsp. Fung.; p. 83 (1805). 

 Retieidm-ia atra Fr., Syst. Myc, iii., p. 86. 



Plate LI., A. — a. oapillitium, x 20; J. spore, x 600 (England). • 



Hah. On fir-wood. — Halse House, Somerset (B. M. 17) ; Scotland 

 (Edin. Herb.) ; Lyme Eegis, Dorset (LiB.M.lOl) ; Poland (Strassb. 

 Herb.) ; Maine, U.S.A. (K. 800). 



