"The stems are branched in a furcate manner and confluent at the base, forming a compact tuft. The capillitium is membranaceous at the angles; spores very large compared with allied species, being 12 µ. The specimens were too fully matured for more satisfactory description."
Such is the original description of this unique and interesting species. The sporangia occur in close-set tufts or clusters, are distinct, separate at their tips and bases only; perhaps not always at base. The capillitium rises by branching from the columella, rather more prolific than usual, and combines to form a distinct superficial net of large even meshes. From the outer arcs of the bounding net spring rather long acute processes which should support the peridium. This, however, is altogether rudimentary. In most places there is no sign of peridium at all, but here and there between contiguous sporangia opposite processes unite and at their point of union a tiny circular disk of the peridial membrane appears. At intervals, therefore, over the entire sporangium are seen these small brown disks, each about equalling in diameter the size of the average mesh. At other points the sporangia do not seem at all coalescent, but where the opposing processes do meet the union is perfect and the little disk seen edgewise looks like some delicate counter strung upon a wire.
The interest attaching to this in view of what has been said about Amaurochaete and Brefeldia is obvious.
Under the lens the spores and capillitium are concolorous, dark fuscous, the spores distinctly verruculose, about 12.5 µ.
The original gathering here described was from New Jersey; twenty years later Mr. Ellis was so fortunate as to find again fine specimens all on oak bark. The sporangia are quite small, only 3 mm. high, when blown out concolorous with the habitat.
2. Stemonitis trechispora (Berk.) Torr.
[Plate XX]., Figs. 11, 11 a, 11 b, 11 c.
- 1909. Stemonitis fusca (Roth) Rost. var. trechispora (Berk.), Fl. Myxom., Torrend, p. 141.
- 1911. Stemonitis fusca var. trechispora Torr., List., Mycetozoa, 2nd ed., p. 144.
Fructification in form of aggregations of more or less coalescent, small, dark-brown or dull black, sessile sporangia; hypothallus continuous, well-developed; columella black, gently tapering to a point beneath the apex, the capillitial branches, irregular, few, but passing into an open rather evenly-meshed net, the mesh several times the spore-diameter, free-ending branch-tips not lacking; the spores by transmitted light distinctly brown, the epispore a beautiful reticulation, a dozen or more cells to the hemisphere, 10–12 µ.
This is entered sometimes as a variety of S. fusca to which species relationship would seem remote. The differences lie in form, color and structure. The spores alone are distinctive; there are none such, so far, none just like them, elsewhere in the genus. Torrend and Lister both enter the form as varietal; why not set it out, and save questions? The habitat approaches that of Amaurochaete, but the sporangia are distinct.