16. Badhamia rubiginosa (Chev.) Rost.

[Plate X]., Figs. 1, 1a, 1b, 1c.

Sporangia gregarious, obovoid, grayish brown, stipitate, the peridium simple, membranous, above thin, pale, more or less calcareous below, more persistent blending with the stipe; stipe erect, reddish brown or purplish, expanded below into a small hypothallus, above, prolonged within the sporangia more than half its height as a definite columella; capillitium very dense, snow white, long persistent with the lower two-thirds of the sporangial wall; spore-mass dark brown; spores by transmitted light, dark violet or purple-brown, minutely roughened or spinulose, not adherent, 12–14 µ.

This is probably the most common badhamia in the country and in the world. It is found every year, in the woods, on masses of decaying leaves, especially those of various species of oak. The plasmodium is yellow. The fructifications are very distinct, not likely to be mistaken for those of any other species; the stipes constitute a very prominent feature in every gathering I have seen. Sometimes these are more or less coalescent, especially toward the base, where they are apt to be also wrinkled or longitudinally striate; in other specimens the stipes are well differentiated, long, terete, with little or no hypothallus.

Badhamia curtisii (Berk.) Rost. is according to Lister (Mon., p. 35) a sessile phase of this species. The only specimens known are in the herbarium of Berkeley, now at Kew. The species is based upon a gathering from S. Carolina. Berkeley thought it a didymium, called it D. curtisii.

Reported from western Europe; the typical form abundant in the forested regions of eastern N. America, especially in the Mississippi valley.

17. Badhamia subaquila Macbr.

Sporangia closely gregarious or crowded, globose or sub-globose, sessile, brown, the peridium a thin but persistent brown membrane, rupturing above irregularly and remaining as a cup after spore dispersal; hypothallus none; capillitium strongly developed, thoroughly calcareous, the meshes large, the nodular thickenings broad, white; spores globose, in mass black, by transmitted light brown, very rough-warted, large, 15–18 µ.