48 
RNDOSPOllE^R. 
[PHYSARUM. 
P. gcdheum Wing., Ell. & Everh., N. Am. Fung., 2491 . P. Petersii 
Mass., Mon., p. 295 (in part). 
Plate XIT., B.— «. sporangia, x 20 ; h. capillitium anil spores, x 2K0 ; 
e. spore, x 600 (United States). 
The red-brown stalks and the larger expansions of the capillitium 
at the axils of the branches distinguisli this species from P. viride. 
P. gctlbeum Wing.||(L:B.M.24) has globose orange-yellow sporangia, 
and orange-brown stalks entirely free from lime ; the capillitinm is a 
close network of threads expanded and flattened at the axils, with few 
or no deposits of lime. Similar forms have been found near Lyme 
Regis. They are here included under P. Berkeley/, but other 
gatherings from Lyme Regis connect these forms with P. virtde, making 
it doubtful whether P. Berheleyi is not merely a marked variety of 
that species. The specimen from Iowa (B. M. 1017) resembles the 
type of P. galbewn, except that the capillitium consists of a close net- 
work of large branching knots, densely charged with yellow lime- 
granules, connected by few branching hyaline threads ; the spores 
measure 8 /n. This form is nearly related to a specimen from Moss- 
man's Bay, Sydney, Australia (K. 346), marked Tilmadoche muiabilis, 
with capillitium 'of a Badhamia-like character, the threads being 
charged throughout with yellow lime-granules ; the spores are spinulose 
and measure! 10 to 13 /x. This is connected with P. viride by a series 
of intermediate specimens from Ceylon (also in Kew Herb.) with 
unusually extended lime-knots and large spores, but the rigid persis- 
tent capillitium brings it under the definition of P. Berkeleyi. 
Hah. On dead wood. — Swan River, Australia (K. 1328) ; Iowa 
(B. M. 1017) ; So. Carolina (B. M. 439, 870, 993) ; Massachusetts 
(L:B.M.24). 
16. P. polymorphum Rest., Men., p. 107 (1875). Plasmodium 
occurring in masses of decaying leaves or in rotten logs, at first 
colourless, as it emei-ges for fructification white, then yellow, 
spreading far over all adjacent objects (Macbride). Total height 
1-5 to 2 mm. Sporangia much compressed, lenticular, and um- 
bilicate, undulate, or lobed convolute and often confluent, stipitate, 
solitary or in clusters of 5 to 10 together, grey or yellow; 
sporangium-wall membranous, with scattered thin innate, clusters 
of white or yellow lime-granules. Stalks subulate, slender, inclined, 
often fasciculate, 5 to 10 combined, yellow or tawny, translucent, 
without deposits of lime. Columella none. Capillitium a loose 
network of ^delicate threads with many flat expansions at the axils ; 
lime-knots yellow, very variable in shape, size, and abundance. 
Spores violet-brown, minutely spinulose, 8 to 10 /a diam. — Mass., 
Mon., p. 283. Didymium polymorphum Mont., in Ann. Sci. Kat., 
Ser. 2, viii., p. 361 (iSST). Didymium luieo-griseum Berk. & Curt., 
in Grev., ii. (1873), p. 65. Didymium obrusseum Berk. & Curt., in 
Journ. Linn. Soc, x., p. 348 (1869). Physarum obrusseum Rest., 
Mon., App.,p.ll. Didymium, ienen-imumBevk & Curt., I.e.; Mass., 
Mon., p. 247. D. gyrocephalum Mont., in Ann. Sci. Nat., Ser. 2, 
viii., p. 362. Tihn'adoche gyrocephala Rost., Mon., 131; Mass., 
Mon., p. 335; Macbride, in Bull. Nat. Hist. Iowa, 1892, p. 152. 
o. obrusseum : sporangia simple. 
13. gyrocephalum : sporangia cluslei Gd. 
