[Plate XII.], Figs. 15 and 15 a.
- 1894. Comatricha ellisii Morg., Jour. Cin. Soc., p. 49.
- 1899. Comatricha laxa Rost., Macbr., N. A. S., p. 127.
- 1911. Comatricha nigra Schroet., List., Mycet., 2nd ed., p. 152.
Sporangia short, erect, oval or ovoid to oblong. Stipe and columella erect, brown and smooth, rising from a thin pallid hypothallus, tapering upward and vanishing into the capillitium toward the apex of the sporangium, the stipe usually longer than the columella. Capillitium of slender pale brown threads; these branch several times with lateral anastomosing branchlets, forming a rather open network of small meshes, ending with very short free extremities. Spores globose, even, pale ochraceous, 6–7 mic. in diameter.
Growing on old pine wood. Sporangium .3–.6 mm. in height by .3–.5 mm. in width, the stipe usually a little longer than the sporangium.
On the strength of the clear descriptions and beautiful drawings of Celakowsky, Myxomyceten Böhmens, p. 52; Taf. 2, Figs. 7 and 8, this elegant little species as described by my colleague Professor Morgan was, in the former edition, referred to C. laxa Rost. It was then reported from New Jersey only. Since then we have specimens from Ohio and from southern Missouri, all true to form, almost identical. It seems wise accordingly, while recognizing the relationship of the form to both C. laxa, and to C. nigra as well, to give it here an individual place again. It is very small; but once studied may thereafter be easily recognized by a hand-lens. The form is definite, clean-cut, and the spores are pronouncedly smaller than in either of the two related species.
15. Comatricha subcaespitosa Peck.
[Plate XII.], Figs. 17, 17 a.
- 1890. Comatricha subcaespitosa Peck, N. Y. Mus. Rep. 43, p. 25.
Sporangia scattered or sometimes in loose clusters, cylindric, obtuse, about 1.5–2 mm., dark brown, stipitate; stipe short, one-fifth total height; hypothallus minute; capillitium regular, the branching quite uniform parallel, flexuous, brown with a tinge of violet, not dense; columella well-defined, almost percurrent; spores brown in mass, under lens dusky, nearly smooth, 9–10 µ.
The larger spores, regular, erect form, and clustered habit separate this form from others with which it will be naturally associated. See page 283 under Addenda.