and golden yellow in color. Aethalium very large, pulvinate, orbicular,
elongated, or quite irregular, extremely friable, the surface tawny or
ferruginous to ochraceous and whitish. The long narrow, sinuous
sporangia closely compacted, entirely grown together and inseparable,
covered by a thick common cortex, and seated on a much thickened
hypothallus; walls of the sporangia a thin pellucid membrane, coated by
a thin layer of white granules of lime. Capillitium of very slender
tubules, extending across from wall to wall, sparingly branched and
scarcely forming a network, not at all or only slightly expanded at the
angles; the tubules for the most part empty, here and there with slight
fusiform or elongated swellings containing granules of lime,
occasionally bearing roundish or ellipsoidal nodules of larger size.
Spores globose, nearly smooth, violaceous, 6-9 mic. in diameter.
Growing on old trunks in woods in great abundance from early Spring to
Winter. Aethalium 3-6 or sometimes many centimeters in extent and 1-2
cm. in thickness. The common cortex and the hypothallus are a millimeter
or more in thickness; they are composed of successive layers of thin
plates of membrane coated with granules of lime.
_b. Aethalium naked, i. e., without a common cortex._
2. FULIGO VIOLACEA, Pers. Plasmodium a soft effused mass, dark red or
wine-colored. Aethalium large, pulvinate or effused, orbicular or more
or less elongated and irregular, the surface minutely pitted and
perforate, furnished with a scanty layer of lime, whitish or yellowish
to brick-red in color, leaving naked purple and violet spots and
patches, seated on a thin membranaceous brick-red hypothallus. Sporangia
long, narrow, and sinuous, closely packed together; the walls a thin
violaceous membrane, rugulose and iridescent, with scattered granules,
or nearly destitute of lime. Capillitium of slender violet tubules,
forming a loose net-work, with slight expansions at the angles; the
tubules with numerous rather large vesicular expansions, ellipsoid or
fusiform in shape, and scantily furnished with lime. Spores globose,
nearly smooth, pale vinous, 6-8 mic. in diameter.
Growing on old trunks in woods; not uncommon in this region. Aethalium
1-3 or more centimeters in extent, and 5-10 mm. in thickness. The
vesicles of the capillitium vary from 15-30 or sometimes to 50 mic. in
diameter, their inner surface is usually coated by a single layer of
granules of lime, they are rarely filled with lime and sometimes are
naked entirely; when dry many of them are to be found collapsed.
3. FULIGO FLAVA, Pers. Plasmodium effused lemon-yellow. Aethalium mostly
effused, irregular, the surface reticulate, pitted and perforate,
entirely naked, pale yellow to lemon-yellow and greenish-yellow, the
hypothallus thin or scarcely evident. Sporangia laterally much
compressed, flexuous, and gyrose, not everywhere grown together, but
forming a dense reticulum; the walls a thin, pellucid membrane, with a
dense layer of lemon-yellow granules of lime. Capillitium of short and
very slender tubules, sparingly branched and scarcely forming a
net-work, not expanded at the angles; the tubules very scantily
furnished with lime, in scattered, small, fusiform nodules, white or
lemon-yellow. Spores globose, very minutely warted, violaceous, 7-9 mic.
in diameter.
Growing on mosses, old leaves, sticks, etc.; not common. Aethalia in
irregular patches 2-4 cm. or more in extent, sometimes almost reduced to
a simple plasmodiocarp. This species furnishes a clear notion of the
structure of the aethalium in the other species, on account of the
sporangia being but loosely compacted and not entirely grown together.
The _Fuligo vaporaria_ Pers., of the green-houses and gardens I have
never seen; the _Mucor septicus_ Linn., was thought to be the plasmodium
of this. Linnaeus's description is simply "_Mucor unctuosus flavus._"
Sec.2. AETHALIOPSIS, Zopf. Aethalium small; lime abundant in the
capillitium, the nodules numerous and large, angular and irregular.
4. FULIGO MUSCORUM, A. & S. Plasmodium effused, golden yellow. Aethalium
small, subpulvinate, irregular, the surface furnished with scattered,
irregular scales of lime, whitish or ochraceous to golden yellow in
color, arising from a thin, white, membranaceous hypothallus. Sporangia
closely packed and grown together; the walls a thin, violaceous
membrane, rugulose, with a thin, closely adherent layer of granules of
lime. Capillitium a loose net-work of tubules, widely expanded at the
angles; the tubules for the most part filled with lime, the nodules
white or yellowish, numerous, very large, angular and irregular,
sometimes confluent with pointed lobes and branchlets. Spores
irregularly globose, minutely warted, dark violaceous, 9-11 mic. in
diameter.
Growing on leaves, twigs, mosses, etc. Aethalium from 2 or 3 mm. to a
centimeter or more in extent. I have a specimen of _Fuligo simulans_
Karsten, from Karsten himself; it is identical with my specimens of
_Fuligo ochracea_ Peck. There could be no better representation of these
specimens made at that time than the description and figure of _Fuligo
muscorum_ A. & S., in the _Conspectus_.
5. FULIGO CINEREA, Schw. Plasmodium milk-white, changing to cinereous.
Aethalium effused, variable in extent, the surface rugulose and
perforate, white, the hypothallus thin or scarcely evident. Sporangia
variously contracted and grown together, forming a dense reticulum; the
walls a thin pellucid membrane, with a thick white outer layer of
granules of lime. Capillitium a loose net-work of tubules, widely
expanded at the angles, the tubules for the most part filled, with lime,
the nodules white, numerous, very large, angular, and irregular, lobed
and branched. Spores globose or oval, minutely warted, dark violaceous,
10-15 x 10-12 mic.
Growing on old leaves, herbaceous stems, etc. I find it most abundantly
about the horse barn, upon the old straw and manure, sometimes running
out onto the green herbage. Aethalium from a few millimeters to several
centimeters in extent. Upon the testimony of Dr. Geo. A. Rex this is
both _Enteridium cinereum_ and _Lachnobolus cinereus_ of Schweinitz's
_North American Fungi_ as represented in his herbarium. It is _Physarum
ellipsosporum_ of Rostafinski. It is no doubt also _Aethaliopsis
stercoriformis_ Zopf.
IX. BADHAMIA, Berk. Sporangia large, subglobose or obovoid, sometimes
depressed, substipitate or sessile; the wall a thin membrane, with an
outer layer of minute roundish granules of lime, irregularly dehiscent.
Stipe poorly developed, sometimes a mere strip of the hypothallus, often
wanting. Capillitium of thick tubules, attached on all sides to the wall
of the sporangium, combined into a net-work of large meshes, more or
less expanded at the angles; the tubules containing minute roundish
granules of lime throughout their whole extent. Spores large,
subglobose, dark violaceous.
The peculiar character of this genus is that the granules of lime are
distributed along the whole interior of the tubules of the capillitium;
this makes the net-work rigid, and on this account a firmer support for
the wall of the sporangium.
1. BADHAMIA CAPSULIFERA, Bull. Sporangia subglobose or obovoid, sessile,
on a thin pallid or yellowish hypothallus, which sometimes sends out
narrow bands or strings of membrane of variable length, bearing
sporangia singly or in clusters. Wall of the sporangium a thin pellucid
membrane, mostly even or somewhat rugulose and iridescent, coated by a
very thin layer of white granules of lime. Capillitium of rather slender
tubules, forming an open net-work of very large meshes, only slightly
expanded at the angles; the tubules coated within by a very thin layer
of white granules of lime. Spores subglobose or obovoid, adhering
together in clusters of six to twenty or more, distinctly warted on the
outer exposed surface, dark violaceous, 10-13 mic. in diameter.
Growing on old bark, leaves, etc. Sporangia .8-1.4 mm. in diameter.
_Badhamia hyalina_ and _B. capsulifera_ of Rostafinski's monograph are
here included together; he distinguished the former by the "sporangia in
clusters always exactly globose," a distinction first made by
Chevallier; otherwise the characters are the same in both.
2. BADHAMIA UTRICULARIS, Bull. Sporangia subglobose or obovoid, sessile,
on a thin pallid or yellowish hypothallus, which often separates into
narrow strips and strings of membrane of variable length, bearing the
sporangia singly or in clusters. Wall of the sporangium a thin
violaceous membrane, rugulose and iridescent, shining with purple, blue,
and violet tints, with a thin layer of white granules of lime.
Capillitium of thick tubules, forming an open net-work of large meshes,
more or less expanded at the angles, the tubules coated within by a thin
layer of granules of lime. Spores subglobose, minutely warted, dark
violaceous, 10-13 mic. in diameter.
Growing on old wood, bark, herbaceous stems, etc. Sporangia .5-1.0 mm.
in diameter, usually growing in clusters, sometimes suspended by the
strings of membrane. Rostafinski's distinction between this and the
preceding species in regard to the spores holds good so far as my
specimens are concerned. _Badhamia magna_ Peck, I have never seen.
George Massee includes all four of these species in one composite
species, which he names _Badhamia varia_.
3. BADHAMIA PAPAVERACEA, B. & Rav. Sporangia subglobose or obovoid,
substipitate or sessile, growing close together; the wall a thin
violaceous membrane, rugulose and iridescent, with a very thin coat of
white granules of lime. Stipe very short, brown or blackish, sometimes
reduced to merely a thickened blackish base to the sporangium.
Capillitium of thick tubules, forming an open net-work of large meshes,
more or less expanded at the angles; the tubules with an inner lining of
very minute white granules of lime. Spores adhering together in clusters
of six to twenty, each spore subobovoid, the free portion more
distinctly warted, 10-12 mic. in diameter.
Growing on old wood, bark, etc. Sporangia .6-1.0 mm. in diameter.
Readily distinguished by its black base or black stipe and the elegant
clusters of its spores, which stick together most persistently.
4. BADHAMIA ORBICULATA, Rex. Sporangia much depressed, orbicular or
somewhat irregular, umbilicate often both above and below, gregarious,
sometimes growing close together and confluent, stipitate or sessile.
The wall a thin pellucid membrane, with a thin layer of minute granules
of lime, which are sometimes raised into small scales and fine ridges.
Stipe very short, black, sometimes reduced to merely a blackish base to
the sporangium. Capillitium of thick tubules, forming a scanty irregular
net-work, with wide expansions at the angles; the tubules filled with
white granules of lime. Spores subglobose, very minutely warted, dark
violaceous, 12-15 mic. in diameter.
Growing on old bark, herbaceous stems, etc. Sporangia .4-.8 mm. in
diameter, sometimes by confluence larger. This species seems near
_Badhamia verna_ Smfdt, but the latter everywhere is described as
sessile, while in the former the short black stipe is nearly always
distinguishable.
5. BADHAMIA AFFINIS, Rost. Sporangium hemispherical, or much depressed,
the base flattened or umbilicate, stipitate, erect or often cernuous;
the wall a thin pellucid membrane, coated with minute white granules of
lime, which are frequently raised into scales and ridges. Stipe short,
erect or bent at the apex, black, expanding at the base into a small
hypothallus. Capillitium of thick tubules, forming an open net-work of
large meshes, more or less expanded at the angles; the tubules filled
with white granules of lime. Spores subglobose, minutely warted, dark
violaceous, 14-18 mic. in diameter.
Growing on mosses and upon the bark of maple trunks. Sporangium .6-1.0
mm. in diameter, the stipe about the same length. Rostafinski's
description is based upon a specimen found in Chili, South America, by
Bertero; it is recorded in this country by Peck. I find it in some
seasons quite abundant. The spores are very large, in some specimens
averaging 17 mic.
6. BADHAMIA DECIPIENS, Curtis. Sporangia gregarious, sessile, globose,
oval or oblong, by confluence sometimes more elongated; the wall a
somewhat thickened and firm yellow or yellow-brown membrane, covered
with large, thick scales of lime, tawny to golden yellow or orange in
color. Capillitium of thick tubules, forming an open network, more or
less expanded at the angles; the tubules filled throughout with yellow
granules of lime. Spores globose, very minutely warted, lilac, 10-12
mic. in diameter.
Growing on old wood and bark. Sporangia .6-1.0 mm. in length by .6-.7
mm. in thickness. My specimens were determined by Dr. George A. Rex by
comparison with a specimen from Curtis in the herbarium of the
Philadelphia Academy of Sciences. This species should not be confused
with what we have described as _Physarum serpula_. _Physarum
chrysotrichum_, B. & C., is no doubt the same thing. _Badhamia nitens_
Berk., which is also golden yellow, has not yet been found in this
country; it will readily be distinguished from the present species by
its clustered spores.
7. BADHAMIA PANICEA, Fr. Sporangia sessile, subglobose or oblong, more
or less irregular, gregarious; the wall a thin, pellucid membrane,
covered with large, irregular, very thick, white scales of lime.
Capillitium of thick tubules, forming a loose net-work of rather small
meshes, with wide expansions at the angles; the tubules filled with
white granules of lime, sometimes confluent toward the base of the
sporangium. Spores subglobose, very minutely warted, dark violaceous,
11-14 mic. in diameter.
Growing on old wood, bark, leaves, etc. Sporangia .8-1.6 mm. in length,
with a thickness of .7-1.0 mm. This species appears to be rare; the only
specimens known to me in this country I have from Professor Thos. A.
Williams, of South Dakota; they are identical with European specimens
received from Lister. _Physarum paniceum_ Fries, S. M., III, p. 141; it
approaches _Physarum cinereum_ Batsch.
8. BADHAMIA LILACINA, Fr. Sporangia globose or obovoid, sessile or
rarely substipitate, closely crowded together on a thin, brownish
hypothallus; the wall a firm, hyaline membrane, with a thick, smooth,
continuous outer-layer of lime, varying in color from gray-white or drab
to lilac and flesh color. Capillitium of very thick tubules, forming a
dense net-work of small meshes; the tubules stuffed with granules of
lime, which are white or colored somewhat as those in the wall, often
confluent in the center of the sporangium. Spores globose, minutely
warted, dark violaceous, 11-14 mic. in diameter.
Growing on wood, leaves, mosses, etc. Sporangium .5-.7 mm. in diameter.
The outer crustaceous layer of lime on the wall crumbles and falls away,
as in some species of _Diderma_. The white form is _Diderma concinnum_
B. & C.; the lilac or flesh-colored form is _Physarum lilacinum_ of
Fries, S. M., p. 141. I have seen it colored only white and drab. Under
a high magnifying power the sculpturing of the spores is seen to be
peculiar.
X. SCYPHIUM, Rost. Sporangium obovoid to oblong-obovoid, stipitate or
subsessile; the wall a thickened, brownish membrane, the surface
entirely naked or only the upper portion covered with granules of lime,
breaking up irregularly about the apex. Stipe variable in length,
arising from a common hypothallus and prolonged within the sporangium as
a columella. Capillitium of thick tubules, proceeding from numerous
points of the columella and forming a dense network; the tubules filled
with lime throughout their whole extent. Spores large, subglobose, dark
reddish-brown.
This genus differs from _Badhamia_ by the columella which gives origin
to the capillitium. The sporangia in the species composing it, resemble
those of _Craterium_, and to this genus they are referred by Massee, but
the capillitium is that of _Badhamia_.
1. SCYPHIUM RUBIGINOSUM, Chev. Sporangia gregarious, obovoid, stipitate;
the wall a thickened reddish-brown membrane, the upper part covered by a
thin layer of white granules of lime, the lower basal portion naked,
strongly venulose and more persistent. Stipe long, erect, reddish-brown,
expanding at the base into a brown hypothallus, prolonged within the
sporangium to more than half its height as a columella. Capillitium of
thick tubules, forming a dense net-work of small meshes; the tubules
stuffed with white granules of lime. Spores irregularly globose,
minutely warted, dark reddish-brown, 12-15 mic. in diameter.
Growing on old wood, mosses, etc. Sporangia .6-.8 mm. in height by .5-.6
mm. in diameter, the stipe from once to twice the height of the
sporangium. This is _Physarum rubiginosum_ Chevallier, _Flor de Paris_.
It is also _Craterium obovatum_ Peck.
2. SCYPHIUM CURTISII, Berk. Sporangia oblong-obovoid, stipitate or
subsessile, usually growing in clusters; the wall a thick, firm,
reddish-brown membrane, venulose and reticulate, nearly destitute of
lime. Stipes variable, commonly very short, sometimes confluent, arising
from a brown hypothallus, prolonged within the sporangium to about half
its height. Capillitium of thick tubules, forming a dense network of
small meshes; the tubules stuffed with white granules of lime. Spores
irregularly globose, minutely warted, dark reddish-brown, 12-15 mic. in
diameter.
Growing on old wood, leaves, grass, etc. Sporangium .4-.7 mm. in height
by .3-.4 mm. in diameter, the stipe often reduced to a mere point or
cushion on the hypothallus, and varying thence to nearly the length of
the sporangium. The sporangium is narrower than in the preceding
species, and the brown wall is usually without granules of lime. It is
_Didymium curtisii_, Berk. Rostafinski and Massee both preserve it
distinct from _S. rubiginosum_. See Plate XV. Fig. 73.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE XV.
Fig. 64.--Physarum glaucum, Phillips, _a._ Sporangia x 5. _b._
Sporangium x 90. _c._ Capillitium and spores x 500.
Fig. 65.--Physarum serpula, Morgan, _a._ Plasmodiocarp x 5. _b._ Piece
of plasmodiocarp x 90. _c._ Capillitium and spores x 500.
Fig. 66.--Fuligo violacea, Pers. _a._ Aethalium natural size. _b._
Capillitium and spores x 500.
Fig 67.--Fuligo flava, Pers. _a._ Portion of an aethalium x 5. _b._
Capillitium and spores x 500.
Fig. 68.--Fuligo cinerea, Schw. _a._ Portion of aethalium x 5. _b._
Capillitium and spores x 500.
Fig. 69.--Badhamia papaveracea, B. & Rav. _a._ Sporangia x 5. _b._
Sporangium together with transverse section x 90. _c._ Capillitium and
spores x 90. _d._ Portion of capillitium with clustered spores x 500.
Fig. 70.--Badhamia affinis, Rost. _a._ Sporangia x 5. _b._ Sporangia x
90, one with section showing capillitium. _c._ Capillitium and spores x
500.
Fig. 71.--Badhamia decipiens, Curtis, _a._ Sporangia x 5. _b._ Sporangia
x 90. _c._ Section of sporangium showing capillitium. _d._ Capillitium
and spores x 500.
Fig. 72.--Scyphium rubiginosum, Chev. _a._ Sporangia x 90. _b._
Sporangia x 90, with section showing capillitium. _c._ Capillitium and
spores x 500.
Fig. 73.--Scyphium curtisii, Berk. Sporangia x 5.
[Illustration: The Journal of the Cin. Soc. Natural History.
VOL. XIX. PLATE XV.
MORGAN ON MYXOMYCETES.]
Transcriber's Notes
The Table of Contents and List of Illustrations was added; not part of
the original papers.
Page 4 & Vol. XV, Plate III: 'Lycogola' changed to 'Lycogala'.
Page 18: 'exigum' changed to 'exiguum'.
Page 24: 'stiptiate' changed to 'stipitate'.
Page 27: 'fasiculate' changed to 'fasciculate'.
Page 35: 'A nactium' Unknown word. Unchanged.
Vol. XVI, Plate I: 'Cookii' changed to 'Cookei'.
Page 48: 'Stermonitis scintillans' changed to 'Stemonitis scintillans'.
Page 84, 85(2): 'circumcissile' changed to 'circumscissile'.
'Network' and 'net-work' are used interchangeably throughout.
Use of accents is inconsistent, especially in illustrations.
Links to Plates XIII, XIV and XV added in html version.
Plates moved closer to referencing text.