ONITIS HERBATICA Pk.

PLATE XVI., Figs. 14, 14 _a_, 14 _b_.

1874. _Stemonitis herbatica_ Peck, _Rep. N. Y. Mus._, XXVI., p. 75.
1899. _Stemonitis axifera_ (Bull.) Macbr., _N. A. S._, p. 120,
in part.
1911. _Stemonitis herbatica_ Pk., Lister, _Mycetozoa_, p. 148.

Sporangia clustered, in scattered tufts, cylindric, obtuse, pallid
ferruginous, stipitate or sometimes nearly sessile; stipe fuscous or
jet-black, only slightly expanded below, much shorter than the
columella; hypothallus scanty or none; columella lessening upward,
sometimes attaining the apex of the sporangium, sometimes dissolved in
capillitial threads some distance below; capillitium of rich brown
threads forming the usual inner network of medium density, with many
wide expanded nodes, the surface net made up of delicate, almost
colorless threads surrounding small polygonal meshes; spore-mass
ferruginous, spores by transmitted light very pale, brownish, minutely
warted, 7-9 mu.

The plasmodium of this species is variously cited from white to yellow.
Probably each report is true, dependent on the relative time of the
observation.

The low tufts of brown sporangia with short black stipes, borne often as
Dr. Peck found them, assembled on living leaves, distinguish this little
species. In the former edition this form was tentatively enrolled under
_S. axifera_ (Bull.); but see further under that species.

Probably widely distributed, but confused with short forms of other
species; sometimes also on rotten wood or other substratum; so reported.

New York to Iowa; Washington and Oregon. Reported also from Europe.

=3. Comatricha= (_Preuss_) _Rost._

1851. _Comatricha Preuss_, _Linnaea_, XXIV., p. 140.
1873. _Comatricha_ Rostafinski, _Versuch_, p. 7.

Sporangia cylindric or globose, stipitate; stipe prolonged upward to
form a more or less extended and tapering columella bearing branches on
every side, which by repeated divisions and reunions form the
capillitium; ultimate branch-tips free, not supporting a surface net
parallel to the peridial wall; peridium evanescent, perhaps sometimes
not developed at all.

The genus _Comatricha_ was set off from _Stemonitis_ by the joint effort
of Preuss (1851) and Rostafinski (1873-5). Preuss included in his genus,
_Comatricha_, alien forms, and besides failed to give an accurate
definition; included, however, in his list some species which have since
been known by his generic name.

The