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. [See Plate XV. Fig. 69.]
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. [See Plate XV. Fig. 70.]
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. [See Plate XV. Fig. 71.]
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.