The Myxomycetes of the Miami Valley, Ohio Part 14

_B. Sporangia sessile._

11. PHYSARUM CONFLUENS, Pers. Plasmodiocarp roundish, oblong or elongated, and by confluence branched and reticulate; the wall a thin, violaceous membrane, rugulose, with a thin, closely adherent layer of minute granules of lime, over which are scattered small, white, roundish nodules, which sometimes acc.u.mulate into a thick, pulverulent coat.

Capillitium a loose net-work of tubules, widely expanded at the angles; the nodules of lime small, white, very numerous, roundish or ellipsoidal, by confluence elongated and irregular. Spores irregularly globose, minutely warted, dark violaceous, 9-11 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old wood, bark, leaves, etc. Plasmodiocarp .4-.5 mm. in thickness, varying from roundish to much elongated, creeping and reticulate. The sporangium before dehiscence is gray, whence Link's name, _Physarum griseum_; the loose pulverulent coating of lime easily falls away, leaving the sporangium dark colored, whence Rostafinski's name, _Physarum lividum_. The amount of lime on the wall and in the capillitium is variable.

12. PHYSARUM LUTEOLUM, Peck. Sporangia small, subglobose, sessile, closely gregarious; the wall a thin membrane, covered by a layer of small scales of lime, yellowish, inclining to tawny, in color, rupturing irregularly. Capillitium of slender tubules, forming a dense net-work of small meshes, scarcely expanded at the angles; the nodules of lime small, numerous, yellowish, roundish, or ellipsoidal. Spores globose, nearly smooth, violaceous, about 10 mic. in diameter.

Growing on living leaves of _Cornus canadensis_, Adirondack Mountains, New York. I have not seen a specimen of this _Physarum_, but from Professor Peck's description and figure it seems to be a unique species.

13. PHYSARUM THEJOTEUM, Fr. Sporangia very small, sessile, on a thin membranaceous hypothallus, closely crowded together and more or less connate, subobovoid or oblong, irregular from mutual pressure; the wall a thin violaceous membrane, closely covered with a thin layer of small irregular scales of lime, tawny or yellowish tawny in color, breaking up irregularly about the apex. Capillitium a loose irregular net-work of slender threads, more or less expanded at the angles; the lime nodules small, tawny or yellowish, not numerous, ellipsoidal or fusiform, by confluence elongated and irregular. Spores globose, even, violaceous, 6-7 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old wood, mosses, etc. Sporangia .2-.4 mm. in diameter at the apex, densely packed and their walls grown together, approaching the aethalioid structure; the lime-nodules from one to two or three times the diameter of the spores in thickness. I have described my specimens, which are abundant, very carefully, and judge them to be referable to this species; if so, they show that the species should be kept apart from _Physarum virescens_. _Didymium nectriaeforme_ B. & C., is evidently this same species.

14. PHYSARUM LATERITIUM, B. & R. Sporangia sessile, irregularly globose and gregarious, or by confluence more or less elongated and plasmodiocarp; the wall a thin violaceous membrane, rugulose and iridescent, closely covered with small irregular scales of lime, from testaceous or brick-red to bright red in color. Capillitium a dense irregular net-work of tubules, much expanded at the angles; the nodules of lime small, very numerous, roundish or angular, whitish or yellowish, sometimes tinged with red granules. Spores globose, very minutely warted, violaceous, 8-10 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old wood, sticks, leaves, etc. Sporangia .4-.6 mm. in diameter, by confluence sometimes much elongated; the lime-nodules two or three times the diameter of the spores in thickness. _Didymium lateritium_ B. & R. _Physarum inequale_ Peck, is the same species.

--2. SAXELLA. Lime in the capillitium abundant, the nodules large, angular or irregular, with pointed lobes and branchlets.

_A. Sporangia stipitate._

15. PHYSARUM IMITANS, Racib. Sporangium depressed-globose, the base flattened or umbilicate, stipitate, erect or cernuous; the wall a thin violaceous membrane, with a closely adherent layer of minute granules, over which are scattered rather large, roundish or irregular white scales of lime, splitting from the apex downward into a few irregular segments. Stipe short, thick at the base and tapering upward, longitudinally rugulose, from gray to brown or blackish, especially below. Capillitium a loose irregular network of tubules, widely expanded at the angles; the nodules of lime white, numerous, large, irregular, with pointed angles and lobes. Spores globose, very minutely warted, violaceous, 8-9 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old wood, mosses, etc. Sporangium .4-.5 mm. in diameter, the stipe about the same length or a little longer. The species superficially resembles the gray form of _Physarum nutans_, and quite likely is constantly overlooked on this account. Although I am not able to verify my reference, yet my specimens answer so well to the description of Raciborski that I am unwilling to invent a new name.

16. PHYSARUM ORNATUM, Peck. Sporangium globose or depressed-globose, stipitate; the wall a thin yellowish membrane, covered with minute granules and small irregular scales of lime, yellow to orange in color.

Stipe short, erect, blackish-brown, black at the base, longitudinally plicate, rising from a small hypothallus. Capillitium of tubules forming a rather dense net-work, with wide expansions at the angles; the nodules of lime large, numerous, yellow, irregular, sometimes confluently branched and reticulate. Spores globose, minutely warted, dark violaceous, 10-12 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old wood, bark, mosses, etc. Sporangium about .5 mm. in diameter, the stipe about the same length or shorter. _Physarum oblatum_ McBride, can not be distinguished from this. Specimens of this species in the herbarium of Schweinitz are labeled _Physarum sulphureum_; this is without doubt a mistake.

17. PHYSARUM GRAVIDUM, Morgan, n. sp. Sporangium depressed-globose, the base umbilicate, stipitate; the wall a thin, violaceous membrane, brownish at the base, with a thin coat of small, white scales and minute granules of lime. Stipe long, erect, brown or reddish-brown, darker below, tapering upward, expanding at the base into a small hypothallus.

Capillitium of slender tubules forming a loose net-work, more or less expanded at the angles and for the most part filled with lime; the nodules white, slender, much elongated and branched, with pointed lobes and branchlets. Spores globose, very minutely warted, dark violaceous, 11-13 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old stalks of _Zea mays_. Sporangium .5-.6 mm. in diameter, the stipe about twice this length. The lower part of the capillitium is sometimes entirely filled with lime, so that the species approaches Badhamia in the structure of its capillitium.

18. PHYSARUM LEUCOPUS, Link. Sporangium globose, the base slightly flattened, stipitate; the wall a thin, violaceous membrane, with a white, pulverulent outer coat of minute granules of lime. Stipe short, thick, erect, snow-white, longitudinally rugulose, tapering upward, expanding at the base into small, white hypothallus. Capillitium a loose net-work of tubules, with wide expansions at the angles; the nodules of lime large, white, numerous, irregularly lobed and branched. Spores globose, very minutely warted, violaceous, 8-10 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old wood, leaves, etc. Sporangium .3-.4 mm. in diameter, the stipe about the same length as the diameter. Our specimens are a smaller form than the European, with smaller and smoother spores. Superficially the species resembles _Didymium squamulosum_, and it is _Didymium leucopus_ of Fries, S. M.

19. PHYSARUM GLAUc.u.m, Phillips. Sporangium globose, or the base slightly depressed, stipitate; the wall a thin, violaceous membrane, covered with minute, white granules and small roundish or irregular scales of lime.

Stipe short, stout, erect, black, longitudinally wrinkled, expanding at the base into a small hypothallus. Capillitium of much-flattened tubules, forming a loose net-work, widely expanded at the angles; the nodules of lime numerous, large, white, irregular, with pointed angles and lobes. Spores globose, very minutely warted, dark violaceous, 12-14 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old leaves: California. Sporangium .5-.7 mm. in diameter, the stipe not longer than the diameter. This is quite a robust species, both externally and in the broad, flat tubules of the capillitium.

20. PHYSARUM RELATUM, Morgan, n. sp. Sporangium globose, the base umbilicate, stipitate, often cernuous; the wall a thin, violaceous membrane, rugulose and iridescent, covered with small, roundish or irregular white scales of lime. Stipe long, erect or inclined, rising from a thin hypothallus, tapering upward, white or cream color to ochraceous. Capillitium a dense net-work of tubules, more or less expanded at the angles, and almost entirely filled with white granules of lime, leaving only here and there short, slender empty s.p.a.ces. Spores globose, nearly smooth, violaceous, 8-9 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old wood. Sporangium .5-.6 mm. in diameter, the stipe about twice this length. The capillitium is rigid, with the abundance of lime almost as in the genus _Badhamia_. Superficially the species much resembles _Cytidium globuliferum_ or _Physarum compactum_, but the disposition of the lime on the wall and in the capillitium is altogether different.

21. PHYSARUM AURISCALPIUM, Cke. Sporangia subglobose, depressed, substipitate; the wall a hyaline membrane with a thin, closely adherent layer of minute granules of lime, over which are scattered large, irregular, orange-red scales of lime. Stipe very short, sometimes almost obsolete. Capillitium of tubules forming a loose net-work, with widely expanded angles, and mostly filled with orange granules of lime, only here and there short, slender, empty s.p.a.ces. Spores globose, minutely warted, dark violaceous, 11-13 mic. in diameter.

Growing on rotten wood; South Carolina, Ravenel. Sporangia .6-.8 mm. in diameter, the stipe very short. Described in _Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York_, June, 1877. So fine a species ought to be found again. Cooke's specimen was examined by Lister, _Mycetozoa_, p.

61.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE XIV.

Fig. 56.--Craterium minimum, B. & C. _a._ Sporangia 5. _b._ Sporangium with lid 90. _c._ Capillitium and spores 500.

Fig. 57.--Craterium maydis, Morgan. _a._ Sporangia 5. _b._ Sporangium 90. _c._ Capillitium and spores 500.

Fig. 58.--Physarum obrusseum, B. & C. _a._ Sporangia 5. _b._ Sporangium 90. _c._ Capillitium and spores 500.

Fig. 59.--Physarum connexum, Link. _a._ Sporangia 5. _b._ Sporangium 90. _c._ Capillitium and spores 500.

Fig. 60.--Physarum polycephalum, Schw. _a._ Sporangia 5. _b._ Sporangia 90. _c._ Capillitium and spores 500.

Fig. 61.--Physarum lateritium, B. & C. _a._ Sporangia 5. _b._ Sporangia 90. _c._ Capillitium and spores 500.

Fig. 62.--Physarum imitans, Racib. _a._ Sporangia 5. _b._ Sporangium 90. _c._ Capillitium and spores 500.

Fig. 63.--Physarum relatum, Morgan. _a._ Sporangia 5. _b._ Sporangia 90. One divested of the wall and showing the rigid capillitium. _c._ Capillitium and spores 500.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Journal of the Cin. Soc. Natural History.

VOL. XIX. PLATE XIV.

MORGAN ON MYXOMYCETES.]

_B. Sporangia sessile._

22. PHYSARUM PLUMBEUM, Fr. Sporangia small, globose or obovoid, sessile, on a narrow base, gregarious, sometimes close but seldom confluent; the wall a thin violaceous membrane, with a very thin layer of small white scales and minute granules of lime, sometimes naked. Capillitium a loose net-work of slender tubules, with slight expansions at the angles; the nodules of lime white, numerous, more or less elongated, irregularly lobed and branched. Spores globose, even, violaceous, 7-9 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old leaves, sticks, etc. Sporangia .3-.4 mm. in diameter, quite regular in shape, attached by a narrow base, sometimes by a mere point, rarely confluent. The lime on the wall of the sporangium is rather scanty, sometimes altogether absent, and the nodules of lime in the capillitium are rather small. The species is figured by Micheli N.

P. G. Tab. 96, Fig. 9. It is named by Fries S. M., III, p. 142. It is figured again by De Bary, _Die Mycetozoen_, Tafel I.

23. PHYSARUM ATRUM, Schw. Sporangia sessile, subglobose or oblong, by confluence, more or less elongated, bent or flexuous and branched; the wall a thin violaceous membrane, rugulose, covered by a wrinkled and reticulate layer of white granules of lime, which sometimes become thin or disappear. Capillitium a loose net-work of tubules, more or less expanded at the angles; the nodules of lime white, numerous, large, irregularly lobed and branched. Spores globose, very minutely warted, violaceous, 8-10 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old leaves, bark, gra.s.ses, etc.; apparently the most common of these three cinereous species. Sporangia .3-.5 mm. in thickness, some of them roundish or oblong, others elongated to several millimeters. The sporangium is often elegantly reticulate as observed by Schweinitz even when the lime is quite scanty. In Saccardo's _Sylloge_ Berlese changed the name to _Physarum reticulatum_, but this is unnecessary, as the _Physarum atrum_ of Fries is not a Myxomyces.

24. PHYSARUM CINEREUM, Batsch. Sporangia large, subglobose, sessile, gregarious, sometimes close and confluent; the wall a thin violaceous membrane, with a closely adherent layer of minute granules, over which are scattered irregular white scales of lime. Capillitium of tubules forming a loose net-work, with wide expansions at the angles; the nodules of lime numerous, white, very large, with pointed angles and lobes, by confluence often branched and reticulate, and occasionally forming a pseudo-columella in the center of the sporangium. Spores globose, minutely warted, dark violaceous, 10-13 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old wood, leaves, etc. The sporangia .4-.6 mm. in diameter, more or less irregular. The great abundance of lime in the capillitium and the large distinctly warted spores distinguish this species.

_Physarum cinereum_ of Persoon's Synopsis, _Didymium cinereum_ of Fries'

_Systema_. The only American specimens I have of this species are from Iowa (_McBride_) and from Nebraska (_Webber_).

25. PHYSARUM VIRESCENS Ditm. Sporangia large, subglobose, irregular and unequal, sessile, gregarious, sometimes crowded, but not often confluent; the wall a thin membrane, violaceous, or in places yellowish, with a dense layer of yellow or greenish-yellow scales and granules of lime. Capillitium a loose net-work of tubules, with wide expansions at the angles; the nodules of lime large, numerous, yellow or greenish-yellow, more or less elongated, lobed, and branched. Spores globose or somewhat irregular, very minutely warted, violaceous, 9-11 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old leaves, mosses, etc. Sporangia .5-.8 mm. in diameter, occasionally by confluence more elongated. Though found in all parts of the country, the species seems rare. This is not the _Physarum virescens_ described by Rostafinski.