Closely resembles externally B. panicea, but is easily distinguished by larger and remarkably spinulose spores, in this particular unrivalled in the entire genus. European authors describe both sessile and stipitate forms. American specimens generally are sessile and for the most part closely crowded, almost heaped; but—Prof. Bethel finds this in winter everywhere on fallen rotting stems of Opuntia and on the bases of dead Yucca leaves, still attached. Associated with the typical phase and often occurring alone on the Yucca leaves is a discoidal form which when first sent in (1908) was called var. gracilis. Presented alone to one ignorant of its history and associations, it would surely pass for a distinct species. This stalked phase is very delicate; the stipe pale brown, or yellow. See [Plate II]., Fig. 9. See also Sturgis Col. Coll. Pub. XII., 408.
8. Badhamia orbiculata Rex.
[Plate XIV.], Fig. 4.
- 1893. Badhamia orbiculata Rex. Proc. Phil. Acad., p. 372.
- 1894. Badhamia macrocarpa Rost., Lister, Mycetozoa, p. 34 (in part).
- 1911. Badhamia orbiculata Rex., Lister, Mycetozoa, 2nd ed., p. 37
Sporangia stipitate or sessile, orbicular discoidal, irregularly elongated or plasmodiocarpous, averaging about 1 mm. in width, generally stipitate, and when stipitate, flattened or depressed above, plane or slightly umbilicate below; the peridium simple, more or less translucent from the varying number of innate granules, sometimes covered with circular flat masses of lime, gray except the point of attachment to the stipe which is brown; stipe short, black, rough, plicate; capillitium dense at the centre, radiant at the periphery where it meets the sporangial wall, white; spores violaceous black, minutely warted, 12–15 µ.
This is a beautiful species, easily known by its discoidal or almost annulate sporangia mounted upon short dark black stipes. The stipe in western collections is sometimes very short, but generally suffices to raise the sporangium, a little at least, above the substratum. Sessile and plasmodiocarpous forms do occur with the typical stipitate phase, but may be regarded here as elsewhere as indicative of incomplete development. Plasmodium cream-colored, or pale yellow.
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Colorado.
9. Badhamia magna Peck.
[Plate XIV.], Fig. 1.