3. Stemonitis microspora, Lister. Plasmodium white. Sporangia elongated, subcylindric, tapering and obtuse at the apex, tapering gradually downward, growing closely crowded together on a strongly-developed brown hypothallus. Stipe and columella brown and smooth, tapering gradually upward and reaching nearly to the apex of the sporangium, the stipe shorter than the columella. Capillitium of slender tawny-brown threads; the primary branches simple or only branched above, or with a few lateral anastomosing branchlets, forming a rather loose network of large irregular meshes; these support a superficial network of very small polygonal meshes. Spores globose, even, tawny-brown, 5–6 mic. in diameter.
Growing on old wood, bark, leaves, etc.; very common in this region. Sporangium with the stipe 7–15 mm. in height, the sporangium .3-.4 mm. in thickness, the stipe shorter than the sporangium. Meshes of the superficial network 4–20 mic. in width. I am indebted to Arthur Lister, Esq., of London, for pointing out to me the difference between this species and the Stemonitis ferruginea of Fries and Rostafinski.
4. Stemonitis ferruginea, Ehr. Plasmodium lemon-yellow. Sporangia subcylindric, the apex obtuse, growing closely crowded together on a thin, brown hypothallus. Stipe and columella brown and smooth, tapering gradually upward and vanishing beneath the apex of the sporangium, the stipe much shorter than the columella. Capillitium of slender, tawny-brown threads, which immediately branch and anastomose, forming a dense interior network of large irregular meshes, supporting a superficial network of small polygonal meshes. Spores globose, very minutely warted, tawny-brown in color, 7–9 mic. in diameter.
Growing on old wood, leaves, grasses, etc. Sporangium with the stipe 4–10 mm. in height, the sporangium .3-.4 mm. in thickness, the stipe much shorter than the sporangium. The meshes of the superficial network varying from 6–30 mic. or sometimes from 10–40 mic. in width, according to the specimen. The species is certainly rare in this country, and my description is drawn up from British specimens. But I am unable to distinguish authentic specimens of Stemonitis herbatica, Peck, from these British specimens.
§2. Megalodictys. Threads of the capillitium arising from rather distant points of the columella, branching and anastomosing but a few times, thus forming an interior network of very large meshes; the superficial network consisting of large irregular meshes, varying from three or four to many times the diameter of the spores.
5. Stemonitis Webberi, Rex. Sporangia subcylindric, the apex obtuse, tapering gradually downward, growing close together on a common hypothallus. Stipe and columella black and smooth, the stipe very short, the columella extending nearly or quite to the apex of the sporangium, the upper part usually flexuous. Capillitium composed of slender, flexuous brown threads; these immediately branch and anastomose several times, forming an interior network of very large meshes; the superficial network consisting of large irregular meshes, sometimes much elongated. Spores globose, very minutely warted, brown, 7–9 mic. in diameter. [See Plate XI, Fig. 34.]
Growing on old wood, bark, etc. Sporangium with the stipe 5–10 mm. in height, the stipe 1–2 mm. in length, the sporangium .3-.4 mm. in thickness; meshes of the superficial net of the capillitium 40–100–150 mic. in extent. This is a much smaller species than Stemonitis splendens, and the structure of the interior network of the capillitium is entirely different.
6. Stemonitis splendens, Rost. Sporangia linear-cylindric, obtuse at the apex, growing close together on a conspicuous hypothallus. Stipe and columella black and shining, the stipe very short, the columella reaching nearly or quite to the apex of the sporangium, often flexuous above. Capillitium composed of brown threads, variable in thickness, often with membranaceous expansions; the primary branches some of them simple or only branched above, others with a few anastomosing branchlets, forming an interior network of extremely large meshes; the superficial network consisting of large, irregular, roundish or polygonal meshes. Spores globose, very minutely warted, brown, 7–9 mic. in diameter. [See Plate XI, Fig. 33.]
Growing on old wood. Sporangium with the stipe 15–25 mm. in height, the stipe 4–6 mm. in length, the sporangium about .4 mm. in thickness; the meshes of the superficial network of the capillitium 25–50-80 mic. or sometimes as much as 100 mic. in extent. This is Stemonitis Morgani, Peck.
V. ENERTHENEMA, Bowm. Sporangium regular, globose, stipitate; the wall thin and fragile, fugacious. Stipe stout, thick, tapering upward, entering the sporangium and prolonged to its apex, there expanding into a discoid membrane. Capillitium originating from the lower surface of the apical disk of the columella; the threads branched a few times and hanging downward, their extremities free. Spores globose, violaceous.