In 1876, Harkness and Moore collected in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, forms of Diderma which are described by Phillips, Grev., V., p. 113, as D. geasteroides and D. laciniatum. English authorities who have examined the material agree that the forms described constitute but a single species, and Lister makes them identical with D. trevelyani (Grev.) Fr. Rostafinski's figures, 161, 162, are a curious reproduction, evidently, of Fried. Nees von Esenbeck's, Plate IX., Fig. 4. Massee describes a columella; Lister says there is none. What may occasion such divergence of statement none may say; such forms as come in so far from our western mountains have no columella.
17. Diderma asteroides List.
[Plate XVIII.], Figs. 3, 3 a
- 1902. Diderma asteroides List., Jour. Bot., XL, p. 209.
- 1911. Diderma asteroides List., Mycetozoa, 2nd ed., p. 113.
Sporangia globose or ovoid-globose, the apex more or less acuminate, sessile, sometimes narrowed at the base to a short, thick stalk, brown or chocolate tinted, marked at the apex by radiant lines, and at length dehiscent by many reflexing lobes revealing the snow-white adherent inner peridium on the exposed or upper side; columella also white, globose or depressed-globose; capillitium generally colorless, somewhat branched, especially above; spores dark violaceous, verruculose, 10–12 µ.
Oregon, the Three Sisters Mountains; Colorado; California.
A very beautiful species, recognizable at sight; when unopened, by the peculiar chocolate brown, the sporangia smaller than in D. radiatum. When opened, the snow-white flower-like figure, flat against the substratum, is definitive. Very near number 16 preceding; the dehiscence more regular.
18. Diderma floriforme (Bull.) Pers.
[Plate VIII.], Figs. 1, 1 a, 1 b.
- 1791. Sphaerocarpus floriformis Bulliard, Champ., p. 142, t. 371.
- 1794. Diderma floriforme (Bull.) Persoon, Röm. N. Mag. Bot., p. 89.