This genus differs from Arcyria in the capillitium springing from numerous points of the sporangial wall.
1. Lachnobolus 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 mass, 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. Lachnobolus 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 mass, 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, circumscissile 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 pass 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.]