f the sporangium in the only species is very variable, but in
typical cases is vasiform, the peridial wall at the apex introverted.
The capillitium is like that of _Tilmadoche_, except for the presence of
the "straight tubes" emphasized in the original description. These are
very remarkable and at once diagnostic. They take origin in the
sporangial wall and pass across to the "columella"; but at the
dehiscence of the sporangium, in typical cases, they remain attached at
the points of origin, projecting as stout spine-like processes.

PHYSARELLA OBLONGA (_Berk. & C._) _Morg._

PLATE VIII., Figs. 4, 4 _a_, 4 _b_, 4 _c_; PLATE XVI., Figs. 1, 1 _a_, 1
_b_, and 6.

1873. _Trichamphora oblonga_ Berk. & C., _Grev._, II., p. 66.
1876. _Tilmadoche oblonga_ (Berk. & C.) Rost., _Mon. App._, p. 13.
1876. _Tilmadoche hians_ Rost., _Mon. App._, p 14.
1882. _Physarella mirabilis_ Peck, _Bull. Torr. Bot. Club_, IX.,
p. 61.
1893. _Physarella oblonga_ (Berk. & C.) Morg., _Jour. Cin. Soc._,
p. 79.
1894. _Physarella mirabilis_ Peck, List., _Mycet._, p. 68.
1899. _Physarella oblonga_ (Berk. & C.) Morg., Macbr., _N. A. S._,
p. 71.
1911. _Physarella oblonga_ Morg., List., _Mycet., 2nd ed._, p. 91.

Sporangia scattered or gregarious, typically cup-shaped or
sub-infundibuliform, stipitate, erect or cernuous, but varying through
low salver-shaped cups, to irregular applanate and sessile masses, the
peridium thin but firm, tawny, roughened by numerous yellowish
calcareous scales, at length ruptured above and often reflexed in the
form of petal-like segments from which project upwards the spiniform
trabecules of the capillitium; stipe when present long, terete, red,
arising from a scant hypothallus and extended within the sporangium to
meet the tubular "columella"; capillitium of delicate violaceous threads
seldom branched or united, radiating from the columella with few
calcareous nodular expansions, but supported by stout yellow calcareous
trabecules, running parallel to the capillitial threads, long adherent
to the sporangial wall; spores smooth, globose violet-brown, 7-8 mu.

Not uncommon in wet places. New York, Ohio, Iowa, South Dakota,
Louisiana, Nicaragua; reported also from Ceylon, Java, etc.

Not the least remarkable feature of this remarkable species is the
variation in the form of the fruit or sporangia. We have specimens from
Louisiana (Rev. Langlois) which show no trace of c