[Plate XVIII.], Figs. 12, 12 a, 12 b.
- 1860. Trichia metallica Berk. Hook., Fl. Tasm., 2, p. 168.
- 1866. Trichia flagellifera Berk. & Br., Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 3, XVII., p. 56.
- 1876. Prototrichia flagellifera (Berk.) Rost. Mon. App., p. 38.
- 1894. Prototrichia flagellifera Rost., List., Mycet. 2nd ed., p. 206.
- 1899. Prototrichia flagellifera (Berk. & Br.) Rost., Macbr., N. A. S., p. 199.
- 1892. Prototrichia metallica Mass., Mon., p. 127.
- 1911. Prototrichia metallica Mass., List., Mycet., 2nd ed., p. 260.
Sporangia sessile, scattered or sometimes crowded, brown, sometimes with a rosy tinge, about 1 mm. in diameter; peridium a thin, transparent, iridescent membrane, bearing in its inner surface the distal attachments of the capillitial threads; capillitium of numerous brown, spirally banded threads, which take origin in the base of the sporangium, become subdivided as they ascend, and are at length attached by their tips to the sporangium wall; spore-mass brown, spores by transmitted light pale, minutely roughened.
This curious form, with its spirally sculptured capillitial threads attached at both ends, stands intermediate between Dianema and Hemitrichia and Trichia. Berkeley called it a trichia, ignoring the attachment of the threads. Cooke notes this as sufficient to exclude the form from the genus. But it remained for Rostafinski to make the transfer by setting up for its reception the genus now adopted. He preferred the later (1866) specific name as more descriptive. Miss Lister reverts to the earlier name with the remark; "Little now remains of the type Prototrichia metallica Berk. from Tasmania; but the specimen is referred to Prototrichia flagellifera by Rostafinski who saw it in good condition."
Not uncommon in the abietine forests of the West. Alberta, Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada, Montana, Idaho, Colorado.
E. TRICHIACEÆ
Capillitium marked by spiral bands, sometimes scattered rings, etc., the threads entirely free, or at least loosely branched, and with free tips more or less numerous.
Key to the Genera of the Trichiaceæ
| A. Capillitium threads long, generally united to form a loose net, centrally attached. | ||
| a. Sculpture spiral | 1.Key to the Genera of the TrichiaceæHemitrichia | |
| b. Sculpture reticulate | 2. Calonema | |
| B. Capillitial threads shorter, entirely free, though sometimes branched. | ||
| a. Threads, elaters, marked by spiral bands | 3. Trichia | |
| b. Sculpture irregular or wanting | 4. Oligonema | |
1. Hemitrichia Rost.