1. OPHIOTHECA CHRYSOSPERMA, Currey. Plasmodiocarp globose or oblong to elongated, and bent or flexuous, sometimes annular or branched and reticulate, dull brown in color; the wall a thin yellowish membrane, with a thin yellow-brown outer layer, irregularly dehiscent. Capillitium of slender loosely-branched threads, 2-3 mic. in thickness, the surface minutely spinulose. Spores subglobose, yellow, 8-9 mic. in diameter.

Growing on the inner surface of old bark of Quercus, etc. Plasmodiocarp .4-.5 mm. in thickness, variable in length. _Cornuvia circ.u.mscissa_ of Rostafinski's monograph.

2. OPHIOTHECA WRIGHTII, B. & C. Plasmodiocarp more or less elongated, bent and flexuous, very commonly in small rings, from brownish-ochre to brown or blackish in color, not polished; the wall a thin yellow membrane, with a thin brown outer layer, irregularly dehiscent.

Capillitium of slender loosely-branched threads, 2-3 mic. in thickness, furnished with numerous straight or bent long-pointed spinules. Spores subglobose, yellow, minutely warted, 10-12 mic. in diameter. See Plate I, Fig. 14.

Growing on the inside of bark of Acer, Carya, etc. Plasmodiocarp about .5 mm. in thickness, variable in length, often in small rings 1-2 mm. in diameter. The p.r.i.c.kly threads are quite characteristic; the spinules are 3-5 mic. in length. _Hemiarcyria melanopeziza_, Speg., is evidently the same thing.

3. OPHIOTHECA VERMICULARIS, Schw. Plasmodiocarp terete and more or less elongated, bent and flexuous, sometimes annular or reticulate, the surface not polished, brownish in color; the wall a thin yellow membrane, covered on the outside by a more or less thickened brown layer of scales and granules, irregularly dehiscent. Capillitium of slender loosely branched threads, 2-3 mic. in thickness, the surface with minute warts and ridges. Spores subglobose, yellow, 10-12 mic. in diameter.

Growing on the inside of old bark. Plasmodiocarp about .4 mm. in thickness and various in length; in my specimens the sporangia are mostly small rings. The species looks exactly like _Ophiotheca Wrightii_, but the character of the threads is quite different.

4. OPHIOTHECA PALLIDA, B. & C. Plasmodiocarp terete, oblong or elongated annular and flexuous, the surface dull, pale ochraceous; the wall a thin pellucid membrane, minutely granulate, with a thin pale ochraceous outer layer, irregularly dehiscent. Capillitium of slender loosely-branched threads, 2-3 mic. in thickness, the surface minutely warted or spinulose. Spores subglobose, pale yellow, 10-12 mic. in diameter.

Growing on dead stems of herbaceous plants. Plasmodiocarp .3-.4 mm. in thickness, variable in length, sometimes short and roundish or oblong, sometimes much elongated and flexuous. More delicate than _Ophiotheca vermicularis_, and distinguished by its pallid color throughout.

ORDER IV. ARCYRIACEae.

Sporangia regular and stipitate, rarely sessile; the wall a thin membrane, minutely granulose, colored as the spores and capillitium, the upper part soon torn away in a somewhat circ.u.mscissile manner, and early disappearing. Capillitium of slender tubules, repeatedly branching and anastomosing to form a complicated network of evident meshes, more or less expanded after dehiscence; the surface of the threads minutely warted or spinulose or with elevated ridges in the shape of rings, half rings or reticulations.

This order is specially distinguished by the threads of the capillitium forming a complicated network of evident meshes.

TABLE OF GENERA OF ARCYRIACEae.

1. LACHn.o.bOLUS. Capillitium of slender tubules, quite variable in thickness, proceeding from numerous points of the sporangial wall.

2. ARCYRIA. Capillitium of slender tubules, issuing from the interior of the stipe, the network without any free extremities.

3. HETEROTRICHIA. Capillitium issuing from the interior of the stipe, the peripheral portion of the network bearing numerous short acute free branches.

I. LACHn.o.bOLUS, Fr. Sporangia stipitate or sessile, the wall a thin delicate membrane, minutely granulose, rupturing irregularly. Stipe short or sometimes wanting. Capillitium of slender tubules quite variable in thickness, proceeding from numerous points of the sporangial wall and forming a complicated network, the surface minutely warted or spinulose. Spores globose, yellowish or flesh-color.

This genus differs from Arcyria in the capillitium springing from numerous points of the sporangial wall.

1. LACHn.o.bOLUS GLOBOSUS, Schw. Sporangia globose, stipitate, pale yellow, changing to clay-color; the wall thin and delicate, pellucid, minutely granulose, the upper part torn away and soon disappearing, the lower half more persistent. Stipe short, tapering upward, expanding at the base into a small hypothallus. Capillitium arising from the lower portion of the sporangium, forming a complicated network, the threads 3-5 mic. in thickness, the surface closely covered with minute warts.

Spores globose, pale yellow to clay-color in ma.s.s, 8-9 mic. in diameter.

See Plate I, Fig. 15.

Growing on the spines of Chestnut burs. Sporangia .5-.6 mm. in diameter, the stipe shorter than the sporangium.

2. LACHn.o.bOLUS INCARNATUS, A. & S. Sporangia globose or ellipsoidal, substipitate, closely crowded and seated on a common hypothallus; the wall thin and delicate, pellucid, minutely granulose, dehiscing irregularly. Stipe very short or often obsolete. Capillitium proceeding from the inner surface of the sporangial wall, forming a complicated network, the threads extremely variable in thickness, minutely warted and spinulose. Spores globose, flesh-color in the ma.s.s, 8-9 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old wood. Sporangia .5-.8 mm. in height, sessile on a narrow base or with a very short stipe; the threads of the capillitium are generally 3-5 mic. in thickness, but there are broader expansions at the nodes and elsewhere. My specimens are from Prof. McBride, of Iowa. The species is extremely variable, and these specimens differ much from those described elsewhere.

II. ARCYRIA, Hill. Sporangia regular ovoid to cylindric, stipitate; the wall a thin delicate membrane, circ.u.mscissile or torn away near the base, the upper portion evanescent, the lower part persistent, small and cup-shaped. Stipe more or less elongated, the interior containing roundish vesicles which become smaller upward, and gradually pa.s.s into the normal spores. Capillitium of slender tubules, issuing from the interior of the stipe, forming a complicated network, without any free extremities, the surface minutely warted or spinulose or with annular ridges. Spores globose, red, brown, yellow, cinereous.

--1. CLATHROIDES, Mich. Capillitium closely attached by a few threads which issue from the interior of the stipe, and are free from the calyculus (except in _A. punicea_), much elongated after dehiscence, weak and drooping or prostrate; the meshes open and irregular, not differing externally and internally, their threads similar throughout, the warts or ridges of the surface exhibiting a spiral arrangement.

1. ARCYRIA PUNICEA, Pers. Sporangium ovoid, more or less elongated; the calyculus small, plicate-sulcate. Stipe long, erect, brownish-red in color, expanded at the base into a small hypothallus. Capillitium firmly attached by numerous threads which are connate with the wall of the calyculus, much elongated after dehiscence, ovoid-oblong to cylindric, bright red in color, fading to red-brown or brownish-ochre; the threads uniform in thickness, about 3 mic., the surface with a series of prominent half-rings, which wind around the thread in a long spiral.

Spores globose, even, 6-8 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old bark, wood, mosses, etc. The stipe 1-2 mm. in length, the capillitium elongated 2-4 mm. The commonest of the species, conspicuous by reason of its bright red color.

2. ARCYRIA MINOR, Schw. Sporangium ovoid-oblong; the calyculus small, sulcate and ribbed, granulose. Stipe short, erect, brownish-red in color, standing on a thin hypothallus. Capillitium much elongated after dehiscence, oblong to cylindric, lax and prostrate, bright red to brownish in color; the threads uniform in thickness, 2.5-3 mic., the surface with a series of prominent half-rings, which wind around the thread in a long spiral. Spores globose, even, 7-9 mic. in diameter. See Plate I, Fig. 17.

Growing on old wood, bark, Polyporus, etc. The stipe .4-.7 mm. in length, the capillitium elongated 1.5-3 mm. Not uncommon, but it is usually referred to _A. adnata_.

3. ARCYRIA ADNATA, Batsch. Sporangium ovoid; the calyculus very small, finely ribbed and granulose. Stipe very short or entirely wanting.

Capillitium much expanded after dehiscence, globose or obovoid, pale red to brownish in color; the threads uniform in thickness, about 4 mic., the surface with a series of prominent half-rings with mingled warts and spines, which wind around the thread in a long spiral. Spores globose, even, 6-8 mic. in diameter.

Growing in small cl.u.s.ters on old wood. A small species, the capillitium expanded 1-2 mm., the stipe extremely short, or altogether absent.

4. ARCYRIA NUTANS, Bull. Sporangium cylindric; the calyculus small, granulose, ribbed and sulcate. Stipe very short, arising from a common hypothallus. Capillitium greatly elongated after dehiscence, cylindric, drooping and pendulous, pale yellow or pale ochraceous; the threads 3-4 mic. in thickness, the surface covered with spinules, among which are rings and half-rings, with an indistinct spiral arrangement. Spores globose, even, 7-9 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old wood. The capillitium elongated 4-8 mm., the stipe very short. A very conspicuous species by reason of its long pale yellow capillitium.

--2. PLECTANELLA. Capillitium erect, firmly attached by numerous threads, which issue from the interior of the stipe, but are connate with the wall of the calyculus, after dehiscence not much expanded: the meshes at the surface of the network much smaller than those within, folded back and forth, narrow and irregular, their threads densely warted or spinulose; the meshes of the interior much larger, open and expanded, their threads with minute scattered warts or perfectly smooth.

5. ARCYRIA CINEREA, Bull. Sporangium ovoid or oblong-ovoid; the calyculus very small. Stipe long, erect, cinereous, becoming blackish, standing on a thin hypothallus. Capillitium not much expanded after dehiscence, ovoid-oblong, erect, pale cinereous, sometimes pale yellowish; the external threads densely spinulose, 2-3 mic. in thickness; the threads of the interior thicker, 3-5 mic., and very minutely warted or quite smooth. Spores globose, even, 6-8 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old wood. Capillitium 1-2 mm. long, the stipe about the same length.

6. ARCYRIA COOKEI, Ma.s.s. Sporangium ovoid-cylindric, the calyculus very small. Stipe long, erect, gray to mouse-color, darker below, arising from a thin hypothallus. Capillitium not much expanded after dehiscence, ovoid-cylindric, erect, gray to mouse-color; the superficial threads densely and uniformly covered with minute warts, 3-5 mic. in thickness; the threads of the interior thinner, about 2 mic. and smooth, or with very minute scattered warts. Spores globose, even, 6-8 mic. in diameter.

See Plate I, Fig. 16.

Growing on old wood, mosses, etc. Capillitium 1-2 mm. long, the stipe about the same length. It seems as common as _Arcyria cinerea_, and has heretofore been included in it. See Ma.s.see's Monograph, p. 154.

7. ARCYRIA DIGITATA, Schw. Sporangium cylindric, the calyculus very small. Stipe long, ascending, brownish in color, usually several fasciculate or to some extent connate, the sporangia divergent at the apex. Capillitium not much expanded after dehiscence, cylindric, pale cinereous, or pale yellowish; the threads variable in thickness. 2-4 mic., those at the surface densely and minutely warted, those of the interior nearly smooth. Spores globose, even, 6-8 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old wood. Capillitium 2-4 mm. long, the stipe about the same length. _Arcyria bicolor_, B. & C.

III. HETEROTRICHIA, Ma.s.see. Sporangia regular, oblong-ovoid, stipitate; the wall a thin delicate membrane, the upper part disappearing at maturity, leaving the basal portion as a small calyculus. Stipe filled with large thick-walled vesicles, which are sub-angular from mutual pressure; these become smaller upward, and pa.s.s gradually into normal spores. Capillitium issuing from the interior of the stipe, the central and superficial threads dissimilar, forming a complicated network, with numerous free extremities, the surface minutely warted, or with annular ridges. Spores globose, brownish.

Distinguished from Arcyria by the numerous free extremities of the peripheral portion of the network.

1. HETEROTRICHIA GABRIELLae, Ma.s.see. Sporangium oblong-ovoid, stipitate; the calyculus small, thin, smooth. Stipe very short, erect, yellowish-brown in color. Capillitium much elongated after dehiscence, cylindric-ovoid, sub-erect; the threads of the central portion about 1.5 mic. thick, with slightly elevated ridges partly encircling the tube, nearly colorless; threads of the peripheral portion bright yellow, 5-6 mic. thick, with numerous short acute free branches, the surface densely and minutely warted. Spores in ma.s.s, yellowish-brown, globose, even, 7-8 mic. in diameter. See Plate I, Fig. 18.

Growing on wood; S. Carolina, _H. W. Ravenel_. The sporangia densely crowded, becoming scattered toward the margin of the cl.u.s.ter. Ma.s.see's Monograph of the Myxogasters.