stipitate; the wall thickish, dull tawny-brown above, shading to dark
brown at the base. Stipe simple, erect, brown or blackish in color. Mass
of capillitium and spores bright yellow; elaters simple, rarely
branched, cylindric, 3.5-4 mic. in thickness, ending in smooth tapering
points, 10-12 mic. in length; spirals, four in number, perfectly smooth.
Spores globose, minutely warted, 11.5-12.5 mic. in diameter.
On old wood and bark, Adirondack Mountains, New York. Dr. George A. Rex.
Sporangium .5-.8 mm. in diameter, the stipe equal in height to the
diameter of the sporangium.
4. TRICHIA ERECTA, Rex. Sporangium globose to globose-turbinate,
stipitate; the wall of both sporangium and stipe with a rough outer
layer of brown scales and granules, which, on the upper surface of the
sporangium, soon breaks up into irregular patches. Stipes long, erect,
usually simple, rarely fasciculate and connate. Mass of capillitium and
spores, bright yellow; elaters simple, cylindric, 4 mic. in thickness,
ending in smooth points, 4-6 mic. long; spirals four, often united by
intervening branches, covered with numerous irregular spinules. Spores
globose, minutely warted, 12-14 mic. in diameter.
Growing on old wood and bark, Adirondack Mountains, New York, Dr. Geo.
A. Rex. Sporangium .5-.8 mm. in diameter, the stipe about 1 mm. in
height. This Trichia is conspicuous by the checkering or areolation of
the upper surface in the mature sporangia, affording a sharp contrast
between the brown patches and the yellow bands.
Sec.2. CHRYSOPHIDIA. Sporangia globose, obovoid or somewhat irregular,
sessile, rarely with a short stipe, usually closely crowded. Spores
globose, the surface minutely warted.
_a. Elaters perfectly smooth._
5. TRICHIA VARIA, Pers. Sporangia globose, obovoid or somewhat
irregular, gregarious and scattered or crowded, yellowish, ochraceous or
olivaceous, sessile, or with a very short brown or blackish stipe. Mass
of capillitium and spores yellow; elaters long, simple or sometimes
branched a time or two, 4-5 mic. in thickness, ending in a smooth
tapering point, 8-12 mic. long; spirals only two, smooth, very prominent
in places, causing the elater to appear notched. Spores globose, oval or
somewhat irregular, minutely warted, 10-14 mic. in diameter.
Growing in patches on old wood; a very common species. Sporangium .6-.8
mm. in diameter, or when irregular sometimes elongated to 1 mm. or more.
Extremely variable as to the form of the sporangium, but readily
recognized by its elaters.
6. TRICHIA ANDERSONI, Rex. Sporangia globose or obovoid, sessile,
gregarious, closely crowded, or sometimes scattered, the wall thickened
with minute scales, in color brownish-ochre or olivaceous. Mass of
capillitium and spores yellow; elaters long, simple, 3-4 mic. in
thickness, ending in a very long flexuous point, 14-18 mic. in length;
spirals three or four, winding evenly and closely, perfectly smooth.
Spores globose, minutely warted, 10-12 mic. in diameter.
Growing on the inside of bark of Acer. Sporangium .4-.5 mm. in diameter.
The capillitium is deep orange and the spores olivaceous, but this
difference in shade of color between spores and capillitium occurs in
other species. _Trichia advenula_, Mass., is a closely related species,
the swellings in the elaters having no specific value.
7. TRICHIA INCONSPICUA, Rost. Sporangia very small, subglobose, sessile,
collected together in clusters, or scattered, without any hypothallus;
the wall brown, smooth and shining. Mass of capillitium and spores
yellow; elaters long, simple, cylindric, 3-4 mic. in thickness, ending
in smooth tapering points, 6-7 mic. in length; spirals three or four,
close, not prominent, perfectly smooth. Spores globose, minutely warted,
10-12 mic. in diameter.
Growing on bark of Platanus, etc. New York, _Peck_; Iowa, _McBride_. The
sporangia spherical or reniform and very small.
_b. Elaters spinulose._
8. TRICHIA IOWENSIS, McBride. Sporangia subglobose, sessile, gregarious,
scattered, or sometimes close and confluent; the wall thickened with
minute scales, reddish-brown in color. Mass of capillitium and spores
yellow; elaters quite variable, usually very long, but sometimes very
short, simple, rarely branched, the thickness unequal, 3-4 mic. in the
same elater, with occasional thicker swellings, bearing numerous
scattered spines, usually about as long as the thickness of the elater,
but sometimes much longer, those at the ends being similar; spirals
three or four, fine and close, in places nearly obsolete. Spores
globose, or more or less irregular, minutely warted, 9-11 mic. in
diameter.
Growing on old bark of Populus; Iowa, McBride. Sporangia .4-.5 mm. in
diameter. This is a very curious species of Trichia; it suggests
_Ophiotheca Wrightii_, but the elaters are short and simple, and there
is no question as to the spirals upon them. I could find no branched
elaters in my specimen.
9. TRICHIA SCABRA, Rost. Sporangia globose or somewhat irregular,
sessile and closely crowded on a well-developed hypothallus; the wall
thin, gold-yellow or orange to yellow-brown in color, smooth and
shining. Mass of capillitium and spores orange or golden-yellow; elaters
long, simple, 4-5 mic. in thickness, ending in a smooth tapering point,
5-8 mic. in length; spirals three or four, covered with numerous short
acute spinules. Spores globose, minutely warted, 9-11 mic. in diameter.
See Plate I, Fig. 23.
Growing on old wood in patches, sometimes several centimeters in extent.
Sporangia .6-1 mm. in diameter. "The papillae, which cover the spore,
show, when highly magnified, a distinct net-like pattern," _McBride_.
The elaters of this species are subject to much irregularity in the way
of abnormal swellings, duplicating the spines at the apex, etc.; the
spinules are sometimes quite obsolete on some or all of the elaters of a
sporangium.
Sec.3. GONIOSPORA, Fr. Sporangia obovoid to oblong, sessile and closely
crowded on a well-developed common hypothallus. Spores with thick ridges
upon the surface, which are combined into a more or less incomplete
network of polygonal meshes.
The ridges of the epispore are 1-2 mic. in height, and do not present to
the view more than two or three perfect polygons on a hemisphere of the
spores; more often the reticulation is imperfect, the ridges being
interrupted and defective. When highly magnified these ridges are seen
to be "perforated through their thickness with one, two or three rows,
or with clusters of cylindrical openings or pits, or are sculptured into
intricate plexuses of minute reticulations with quadrilateral
interspaces."
10. TRICHIA AFFINIS, DeB. Sporangia obovoid to oblong, sessile and
closely crowded on a common hypothallus; the wall thin, golden-yellow to
tawny or brownish-yellow, smooth and shining. Mass of capillitium and
spores golden to tawny-yellow; elaters long, simple, 4-5 mic. in
thickness, ending in a smooth tapering point, 6-10 mic. in length;
spirals four, usually spinulose, rarely smooth. Spores angularly or
irregularly globose, 10-12 mic. in diameter.
Growing on old wood and bark in small patches of a few millimeters to a
centimeter or more in extent. Sporangia .6-.8 mm. in height by .4-.5 mm.
in diameter. _Trichia Jackii_, Rost., is included in this species.
11. TRICHIA CHRYSOSPERMA, Bull. Sporangia oblong-obovoid to cylindric,
sessile and closely crowded on a well-developed hypothallus; the wall
thin, pale citron to olive-yellow, smooth and shining. Mass of
capillitium and spores, golden to ochre-yellow; elaters long, simple,
6-8 mic. in thickness, ending in a smooth tapering point, 3-7 mic. in
length; spirals four or five, usually smooth, rarely spinulose. Spores
angularly or irregularly globose, 12-14 mic. in diameter.
Growing on old wood, in small patches, one to several centimeters in
extent. Sporangia 1-2 mm. in height and .5-.6 mm. in diameter. This is
readily distinguished from _Trichia affinis_ by the larger and
differently colored sporangia.
IV. OLIGONEMA, Rost. Sporangia subglobose, more or less irregular,
sessile and closely crowded, often in heaps, one upon another, the wall
thin, smooth and shining; hypothallus none. Capillitium scanty, composed
of elaters habitually irregular and abnormal, intermingled with the
spores; elaters simple or sometimes branched, commonly very short, but
varying greatly in length, even in the same sporangium; the surface
marked with faint spirals, with a few annular ridges, minutely
punctulate or altogether smooth. Spores globose, yellow.
The species of this genus are to be regarded as degenerate Trichias. Of
course, the abnormality is exhibited most markedly by the elaters;
nevertheless, the sporangia of some of the species have a peculiar habit
of heaping themselves upon each other.
_A. Surface of the spores reticulate._
_a. Elaters with projecting rings._
1. OLIGONEMA NITENS, Lib. Sporangia subglobose, irregular, sessile,
closely crowded and heaped upon each other, the wall thin, yellow,
smooth and shining. Mass of capillitium and spores yellow; elaters
simple or sometimes branched, 3-4 mic. in thickness, with a few distant
projecting rings, the surface smooth between, or with very faint
spirals, the extremities obtuse, or sometimes with a minute apiculus.
Spores angularly or irregularly globose, the surface reticulate, 11-14
mic. in diameter.
Growing in small patches on and within rotten wood. Sporangia .4-.5 mm.
in diameter; the elaters variable, some with as many as a dozen
projecting rings, some with but a few or nearly smooth. _Trichia
nitens_, Libert.
2. OLIGONEMA PUSILLA, Schr. Sporangia subglobose, irregular, sessile,
scattered or collected together in heaps; the wall thin, yellow, smooth
and shining. Mass of capillitium and spores yellow; elaters simple or
sometimes branched, 4 mic. in thickness, sometimes with thicker inflated
portions, the surface marked with low faint spirals or perfectly smooth;
the extremities rounded and usually terminating in a smooth point, 3-5
mic. in length--this point either curved, bent to one side or turned
back, and twisted around the extremity as a ring. Spores angularly or
irregularly globose, the surface reticulate, 11-14 mic. in diameter.
Growing in small clusters in rotten wood. Sporangia .3-.5 mm. in
diameter; the elaters variable in length, scarcely exceeding 100 mic.
and often much shorter. _Trichia pusilla_, Schroeter.
_b. Elaters with no projecting rings._
3. OLIGONEMA FLAVIDUM, Peck. Sporangia obovoid to oblong, sessile,
closely crowded and irregular from mutual pressure; the wall thin,
yellow, shining, punctulate or minutely granulose. Mass of spores and
capillitium yellow; elaters simple or sometimes branched, 3-4 mic. in
thickness, sometimes with thicker inflated portions; the surface
punctulate or minutely warted, occasionally marked with very faint
spirals; the extremities usually rounded and obtuse, sometimes acute,
and rarely with a minute apiculus. Spores angularly or irregularly
globose, the surface reticulate, 11-14 mic. in diameter. See Plate I,
Fig. 24.
Growing in dense patches on old wood and mosses. Sporangia .4-.6 mm. in
diameter, and reaching 1 mm. in height, the elaters usually rather long,
sometimes quite long and branched.
4. OLIGONEMA BREVIFILA, Peck. Sporangia subglobose, irregular, sessile,
crowded, forming clusters or effused patches; the wall thin, yellow,
densely granulose and venulose. Mass of capillitium and spores
ochre-yellow; elaters simple or sometimes branched, often very short and
fusiform, when elongated having long tapering extremities, sometimes
with irregular swollen portions; the surface minutely granulose and
rugulose, here and there a few spinules, occasionally with indistinct
spirals. Spores angularly or irregularly globose, the surface
reticulate, 11-12 mic. in diameter.
Growing on old wood and mosses. Sporangia .4-.5 mic. in diameter, the
elaters varying greatly in length, some not more than 20 or 30 mic.
long, others more than 100 mic. in length.
_B. Spores minutely warted._
5. OLIGONEMA FULVUM, Morgan n. sp. Sporangia rather large, subglobose,
sessile, closely crowded and more or less irregular; the wall tawny
yellow, very thin and fragile, smooth, shining and iridescent. Mass of
capillitium and spores tawny yellow; elaters simple or sometimes
branched, mostly very short, 4 mic. in thickness, sometimes with thicker
swollen portions; the surface marked with low smooth spirals, in places
faint and obsolete; the extremities rounded and obtuse, usually with a
very minute apiculus, 1-3 mic. in length. Spores globose, minutely
warted, 10-13 mic. in diameter.
Growing on an old effused Sphaeria. Sporangia .6-.8 mm. in diameter, the
elaters mostly 40-80 mic. in length, rarely much longer and sometimes
shorter; the longer elaters and those that are branched often arise from
confluence of the shorter ones.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE I.
Fig. 13.--Perichaena depressa, Lib.
Fig. 14.--Ophiotheca Wrightii, B. & C.
Fig. 15.--Lachnobolus globosus, Schw.
Fig. 16.--Arcyria Cookei, Massee.
Fig. 17.--Arcyria minor, Schw.
Fig. 18.--Heterotrichia Gabriellae, Massee. (After Massee.)
Fig. 19.--Hemiarcyria plumosa, Morgan.
Fig. 20.--Hemiarcyria funalis, Morgan.
Fig. 21.--Calonema aureum, Morgan.
Fig. 22.--Trichia fallax, Pers.
Fig. 23.--Trichia scabra, Rost.
Fig. 24.--Oligonema flavidum, Peck.
NOTE.--Each figure exhibits the sporangium as it appears magnified about
100 diameters, and the capillitium and spores magnified about 500
diameters.
[Illustration: The Journal of the Cin. Soc. Natural History.
VOL. XVI. PLATE I.]
* * * * *
THE MYXOMYCETES OF THE MIAMI VALLEY, OHIO.
BY A. P. MORGAN.
Third Paper.
(Read February 6, 1894.)
ORDER VI. STEMONITACEAE.
Sporangia globose or ovoid to oblong and cylindrical, stipitate; the
wall very thin and fragile, soon disappearing. Stipe tapering upward and
continued within the sporangium as a more or less elongated columella.
Capillitium of slender brown threads, arising from numerous points of
the columella, repeatedly branching and usually anastomosing to form a
network, persistent and rigidly preserving the outline of the
sporangium. Spores globose, brown or violaceous.
This order is readily distinguished by the brown persistent capillitium,
arising from a lengthened columella, and rigidly maintaining the form of
the sporangium.
Table of Genera of Stemonitaceae.
_A. Stipe and columella brown or black._
_a. The columella scarcely reaching the center of the sporangium._
1. CLASTODERMA. Threads of the capillitium forking several times, but
not combined into a network.
2. LAMPRODERMA. Threads of the capillitium branching and anastomosing to
form a network.
_b. The columella extending beyond the center of the sporangium._
3. COMATRICHA. Threads of the capillitium forming only an interior
network, attaining the wall by numerous more or less elongated free
extremities.
4. STEMONITIS. Threads of the capillitium forming an interior network of
large meshes and a superficial network of smaller meshes.
5. ENERTHENEMA. Threads of the capillitium pendent from a discoid
membrane at the apex of the columella.
_B. Stipe and columella white or yellowish._
6. DIACHAEA. Threads of the capillitium branching and anastomosing to
form a network.
I. CLASTODERMA, Blytt. Sporangium regular, globose, stipitate; the wall
very thin and fragile. Stipe elongated, tapering upward, entering the
sporangium as a very short or nearly obsolete columella. Capillitium
arising by a few branches from the apex of the columella, these branches
forking several times at a sharp angle, but not combined into a network,
the ultimate branchlets long and free, or only connected together at
their tips by persistent fragments of the sporangial wall. Spores
globose, violaceous.
The claim of this genus to be distinguished from Lamproderma must rest
upon the fact that the branchlets of the capillitium do not anastomose
and form a network. It is the same as the genus Orthotricha of Wingate.
1. CLASTODERMA DE BARYANUM, Blytt. Sporangium very small, globose; the
wall early disappearing, except the minute fragments which persist at
the extremities of the capillitium, and a narrow collar at the base of
the columella. Stipe very long, thick and brown below, tapering upward
to a pellucid oblong swelling, thence abruptly narrowed to the apex; the
columella extremely short, capillitium of very slender pale-brown
semi-pellucid threads, divergently forking, the ultimate branchlets
often joined 2-4 together at their tips by fragments of the sporangial
wall. Spores globose, even, violaceous, 8-9 mic. in diameter. See Plate
XI, Fig. 25.
Growing in rather a scattered way on old rotten wood. Sporangium .20-.25
mm. in diameter, the stipe .7-1.3 mm. long. _Orthotricha microcephala_,
Wingate. Blytt's species was found in Norway, Wingate's in Pennsylvania;
I have met with it several times in this locality. It is possibly more
common than it appears, as by reason of the difficulty of seeing the
minute sporangium it is passed by as some mold. Blytt's spore
measurements are 9.5-11 mic.; in some specimens I have seen a few spores
of this size, but they are abnormal.
II. LAMPRODERMA, Rost. Sporangia regular, globose, stipitate; the wall
thin and fragile, rugulose, shining with metallic tints, breaking up
irregularly and gradually falling away. Stipe more or less elongated,
smooth, brown or black in color, arising from a hypothallus, tapering
upward and entering the sporangium as a short columella scarcely
reaching the center. Capillitium of numerous threads radiating from the
columella, usually forking several times and combined into a net by
lateral anastomosing branchlets. Spores globose, brown or violaceous.
Lamproderma is distinguished by the shining metallic tints of the
sporangial wall, and by the short columella scarcely reaching half the
height of the sporangium.
1. LAMPRODERMA PHYSAROIDES, A. & S. Sporangium globose; the wall with a
silvery metallic luster, at length breaking up and falling away. Stipe
long, slender, brown or blackish, arising from a small circular
hypothallus; columella clavate, obtuse, not reaching the center of the
sporangium. Capillitium of brownish-violet threads, arising from the
upper part of the columella; these branch repeatedly at a sharp angle,
form an intricate network of elongated meshes, terminating at the wall
in numerous short free branchlets. Spores globose, minutely warted,
bright brown, 12-14 mic. in diameter.
Growing on old wood, moss, etc., New York, _Chas. H. Peck_.
Distinguished by the pale silvery sporangial wall and the clear brown
spores.
2. LAMPRODERMA ARCYRIONEMA, Rost. Sporangium small, globose; the wall
dark bronze, with a silvery sheen when loosened from the spores, soon
breaking into scales and falling away. Stipe long and slender, smooth,
shining and black, rising from a thin hypothallus; the columella short
cylindric, variable in length, but not attaining the center of the
sporangium. Capillitium arising by division of the apex of the columella
into several primary branches; these immediately separate into numerous
slender flexuous brown threads, which unite and form a dense network of
small arcuate meshes, the ultimate branchlets not free. Spores globose,
even, violaceous, 6-7 mic. in diameter. See plate XI, Fig. 26.
Growing on old wood of Juglans and Carya. Sporangium .3-.5 mm. in
diameter, the stipe three or four times as long. The columella is
somewhat variable, it sometimes forks or divides immediately on entering
the sporangium, at other times it is longer and cylindric, with more
slender primary branches. The meshes of the capillitium resemble those
of Arcyria, whence the name. This is the _Stemonitis physaroides_, A. &
S. var. _suboeneus_ of Lea's Catalogue.
3. LAMPRODERMA VIOLACEUM, Fr. Sporangium depressed-globose, convex above
and more or less flattened and umbilicate beneath; the wall shining with
steel or violet, blue and purple tints, deciduous. Stipe short, stout,
brown or blackish in color, arising from a thin, brown, common
hypothallus; columella cylindric, or tapering slightly to an obtuse
apex, attaining the center of the sporangium. Capillitium of numerous
slender threads, radiating from the upper part of the columella; these
threads are brown below, with a variable outer portion colorless; they
branch a few times and form an interior network of elongated meshes,
outwardly arching and freely anastomosing they give rise to an external
network of small irregular meshes, they then attain the wall by
innumerable short, simple, or forked free branchlets. Spores globose,
minutely spinulose, violaceous, 9-11 mic. in diameter. See plate XI, Fig
27.
Growing on old wood, mosses, etc., late in Autumn. Sporangium .5-.8 mm.
in diameter, the stipe about the same length. The capillitium is
sometimes most of it colorless and flaccid; sometimes it is all brown
and rigid except the minute free extremities.
4. LAMPRODERMA ARCYRIOIDES, Somm. Sporangium globose or ellipsoid, and
somewhat elongated; the wall with tints of violet, purple, and blue,
deciduous. Stipe usually short, or sometimes nearly obsolete, brown or
blackish in color, arising from a strongly-developed hypothallus; the
columella cylindric or slightly tapering upward, and obtuse, reaching
nearly to the center of the sporangium. Capillitium of numerous
pale-brown threads, radiating from the apex of the columella; these fork
directly from the base, are bent and flexuous, and are combined into a
dense, intricate net, with abundant free extremities. Spores globose,
spinulose, violaceous, 13-16 mic. in diameter.
Growing on old leaves, wood, etc. Sporangium .5-.8 mm. in diameter, the
stipe variable in length from very short to 1 mm. long or beyond.
_Lamproderma columbinum_, Pers. is a doubtful species, the forms of that
name being easily distributed between the present species and _L.
physaroides_.
5. LAMPRODERMA SCINTILLANS, B. & Br. Sporangium globose; the wall
shining with colors of blue, purple, and bronze, deciduous. Stipe long,
slender, smooth, and shining, brown or blackish, rising from a thin,
brown, common hypothallus; columella cylindric or slightly tapering to
the obtuse apex, not reaching the center of the sporangium. Capillitium
of numerous brown threads, originating about the apex of the columella;
these fork several times, with few anastomosing branchlets, and
terminate at the wall in long, free extremities. Spores globose,
minutely warted, violaceous, 7-9 mic. in diameter. See Plate XI, Fig.
28.
Growing on old leaves, moss, etc., in early Spring. Sporangium .3-.5 mm.
in diameter, the stipe from once to twice as long. This is _Lamproderma
irideum_ of Massee's Monograph. I am indebted to Arthur Lister, Esq., of
London, for the identification of my specimens with _Stemonitis
scintillans_, B. & Br., and with _Lamproderma irideum_, Cke.
III. COMATRICHA, Preuss. Sporangia various in shape, from globose or
ovoid to oblong and cylindric, stipitate; the wall very thin and
fugacious. Stipe more or less elongated, smooth and black, arising from
a common hypothallus, tapering upward, entering the sporangium and
prolonged nearly or quite to the apex as a columella. Capillitium
arising from numerous points of the columella throughout its entire
length; the threads immediately branching and anastomosing to form an
interior network, attaining the wall by numerous more or less elongated
free extremities. Spores globose, brown or violaceous.
This genus is not sharply limited from Stemonitis. The species with very
short free ends, and consequently with superficial meshes approximate to
the wall, are near the form of Stemonitis. But it may be observed that
in these species, the meshes of the capillitium become smaller gradually
outward, the sides of the superficial meshes are arched away from the
wall, and they are in contact with it only by the free extremities.