The plasmodium, watery white in color, infests preferably
very rotten logs of _Quercus_, on which in June the sporangia rise as
white or pallid columns. The peridium is exceedingly delicate, less
seldom seen here than in some other species, but likely to be overlooked
entirely. The spores when fresh have a distinct violet or bluish tinge;
in old specimens they are almost colorless. In any case they are well
marked by the large papillae already referred to.

_C. typhina_, var. _heterospora_ Rex, differs from the type in several
particulars: the sporangia manifest a closer habit; the capillitium is
made up of more slender threads and forms a yet denser network; the
spores between the large papillae are marked by a more or less perfectly
formed reticulation.[37]

As to nomenclature, this is our old friend _C. typhina_ (Pers.) Rost. It
should be, more properly, called _C. typhina_ Rost., for it is not
Persoon's species exactly. But Scopoli, _l. c._, by citing Hall,
Gleditsch, and Micheli, so describes our form as to leave small doubt
that he had before him our common species. Schaeffer's figures also come
to the rescue, which, though by no means satisfactory, yet can probably
refer to no other species. However, Bulliard gives the first good
account and figure, and in concord with the decision of our English
colleagues, the name afforded by the famous _Champignons_ is here
adopted.

Widely distributed. Maine to California, and from British America to
Nicaragua.

11. COMATRICHA ELEGANS (_Racib._) _List._

PLATE XVI., Fig. 12.

1884. _Rostafinskia elegans_ Racib., _Rozpr. Akad. Krak._, XII., 77.
1888. _Raciborskia elegans_ Berl., _Sacc. Syl._, VII., p. 400.
1894. _Raciborskia elegans_ Berl., List., _Mycet._, p. 133.
1909. _Comatricha elegans_ List., _Br. Mus. Guide to Mycet._, p. 31.

Sporangia loosely gregarious, globose, purplish-brown, small, 1-1.5 mm.
in total height, stipitate; stipe black, subulate, to 1 mm,; columella
at first divided into a few main branches, from which by repeated
subdivision the delicate, anastomosing, flexuose capillitial threads
take origin; spores pale brownish-violaceous, spinulescent, 8-10 mu.

South Carolina. Colorado:--_Dr. Sturgis._

12. COMATRICHA RUBENS _Lister._

1894. _Comatricha rubens_ List., _Mycet._, p. 123.

Sporangia gregarious, globoid or ellipsoidal, 1-1.5 mm., pink-brown,
stipitate; peridium persistent below; stipe .5-1 mm., black, shining;
columella