1020 



MANUAL OF DETERMINATIVE BACTERIOLOGY 



Die Polyangiden, Geb. Borntraeger, 



Leipzig, 1924,71.) 



Etymology: Named for Dr. Roland 

 Thaxter. 



Swarm stage (pseudoplasmodium) : 

 Vegetative stages not observed. Either 

 no germination or prompt cessation of 

 growth on dung extract. May be trans- 

 ferred on dung. 



Fruiting body: Usually 0.25 to 0.5 

 mm, occasionally 0.75 mm in diameter. 

 Irregularly rounded, superficially sulfur 

 yellow. Upon pressure numerous red- 

 dish convoluted tubules are observed 

 embedded in a yellow slime. The 

 average diameter of the tubules is about 

 50 microns . No membrane surrounds the 

 tubes. They contain the shortened rods. 



The fruiting body is bleached by alcohol 

 or heat, becoming yellowish. Envelop- 

 ing slime is variable. In w-ell developed 

 specimens the slime forms a stalk, giving 

 the whole the appearance of a morel. 

 In small specimens the rods are embedded 

 in the slime. The fruiting bodies stand 

 loosely separated on surface of dung, 

 never in large groups. Shortened rods 

 (spores) 0.5 micron by 3 microns, very 

 slender. 



Source and habitat : According to Jahn 

 rare, on rabbit dung. Races with well 

 developed stalks even less common. 



Illustrations: Jahn (loc. cit.), PI. 1, 

 Fig. 1 and 2. Krzemieniewski, Acta Soc. 

 Bot. Poloniae, 4, 1926, PI. II, Fig. 27. 



Germs II. Stelangium Jahn. 



(Kryptogamenflora der Mark Brandenburg, V, Pilze I, Lief. 2, 1911,205.) 

 Etymology: Greek stele, pillar or column and angion, vessel. 



Diagnosis : Fruiting bodies are columnar or finger-like, somstimes forked, without 

 definite stalk, standing upright on the substrate. 

 The type species is Stelangium muscorum (Thaxter) Jahn. 



1. Stelangium muscorum (Thaxter) 

 Jahn. {Chondromyces muscorum Thax- 

 ter, Bot. Gaz., 37, 1904, 411; Jahn, 

 Kryptogamenflora der Mark Branden- 

 burg, V, Pilze I, Lief. 2, 1911, 205.) 



Etymology: Latin rnuscus, moss. 



Swarm stage (pseudoplasmodium) : Not 

 described. 



Fruiting body: Bright yellow-orange. 



90 to 300 microns long, 10 to 50 microns 

 wide, without differentiated stalk, simple 

 or rarely furcate, upright, elongate, 

 compact or slender, narrowed at tip. 

 Rods (spores) 1 to 1.3 by 4 to 6 microns. 



Source and habitat : According to 

 Thaxter (loc. cit.) on liverworts on living 

 beech trunks in Indiana. 



Illustrations: Thaxter (loc. cit.) PI. 

 27, Figs. 16-18. 



