LEPIDODERMA.] 
DIDYMIACEyE. 
107 
nodules, separating more or less from the membranous, pale-brown 
inner layer. The columella is hemispherical or hardly evident, brown, 
of spongy texture within, densely charged with rounded nodules of 
lime ; the capillitium is a network of pale-brown, hya,line threads, 
with numerous wide membranous expansions, containing scanty 
deposits of lime in the form of rounded nodules 20 to 30 /x diam. ; the 
spores are purpHsh-black, closely spinulose, 15 to 30 /x diam. The 
cartilaginous sporangium-wall, with its crystalline deposits of lime 
and the structure of the columella, appears to mark this species, which 
is represented by a solitary gathering, as a Lepidoderma. Although 
lime does not occur in well-developed capillitium of the Didymiaceoi, 
it is occasionally found in nodular deposits in the threads of Didymium 
squamidosum and D. farinaceum. It is possible, from its presence in 
the capillitium of Dr. Harkness' gathering, that this is not a perfect 
development, and this view is supported by the great variety in the 
size of the spores. 
Plate XLIl., A.— «. sporangia, x 20 ; &. capillitium and spores, with 
fragment of sporangium-wall, x 280 (California). 
SPECIES NOT MET WITH IN THE QUOTED COLLECTIONS. 
3. L. Chailletii Rest., Men., p. 189, fig. 179. Sporangia hemi- 
spherical, adnata on a broad base to the hypothallus or substratum, 
violet-black, covered with many pearl-like, brown protuberances ; 
columella small, brownish- ochre ; capillitium of dull-violet threads 
forming a dense net ; spores dull violet, warted, 10"8 to 12*5 /x. 
diam. 
Hah. Switzerland (Chaillet) ; Hammerstein (Opiz). The columella 
is composed of fibres forming numerous false chambers filled with 
crystalline nodules of lime. 
This description applies to a sessile form of L. tigrinuin. 
4. L. obovatiim Mass., Mon., p. 254, Sporangia broadly 
obovate, stipitate; wall dirty ochraceous, thick, stu.dded with 
large innate patches of lime ; stem short, thick, dark brown, 
wrinkled ; columella none ; threads of capillitium 3 to 4 /x thick, 
dingy violet, branching dichotomou.sly with a swelling at the base 
of each branch, the whole combined into an irregular net ; spores 
dingy violet, minutely warted, 11 to 13 /x diam. 
Hah. On grass and twigs. — Sweden ; Kew Herb. 
I have seen no specimen thus named in Kew Herb. The figures 
(45 — 47) are given by Massee in the text of his Monograph as repre- 
senting this species, but they refer to other species for which they are 
elsewhere quoted. 
The description of L. Kurzil Berk. (Mass., Mon., p. 255), taken from 
the MS. in Berkeley's Herb., has no mention made of the capillitium, 
and is too brief to be instructive. 
SPECIES EXCLUDED FROM THE GENUS. 
L. reticulatum Mass. = Badhamia decipiens Berk. 
L. atellatuvi Mass. = Physarwm comjmctum List. 
