Capillitium of
slender pale brown threads; these branch several times with lateral
anastomosing branchlets, forming a rather open network of small meshes,
ending with very short free extremities. Spores globose, even, pale
ochraceous, 6-7 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old pine wood. Sporangium .3-.6 mm. in height by .3-.5 mm. in
width, the stipe usually a little longer than the sporangium.

On the strength of the clear descriptions and beautiful drawings of
Celakowsky, _Myxomyceten Boehmens_, p. 52; Taf. 2, Figs. 7 and 8, this
elegant little species as described by my colleague Professor Morgan
was, in the former edition, referred to _C. laxa_ Rost. It was then
reported from New Jersey only. Since then we have specimens from Ohio
and from southern Missouri, all true to form, almost identical. It seems
wise accordingly, while recognizing the relationship of the form to both
_C. laxa_, and to _C. nigra_ as well, to give it here an individual
place again. It is very small; but once studied may thereafter be easily
recognized by a hand-lens. The form is definite, clean-cut, and the
spores are pronouncedly smaller than in either of the two related
species.

15. COMATRICHA SUBCAESPITOSA _Peck._

PLATE XII., Figs. 17, 17 _a_.

1890. _Comatricha subcaespitosa_ Peck, _N. Y. Mus. Rep._ 43, p. 25.

Sporangia scattered or sometimes in loose clusters, cylindric, obtuse,
about 1.5-2 mm., dark brown, stipitate; stipe short, one-fifth total
height; hypothallus minute; capillitium regular, the branching quite
uniform parallel, flexuous, brown with a tinge of violet, not dense;
columella well-defined, almost percurrent; spores brown in mass, under
lens dusky, nearly smooth, 9-10 mu.

The larger spores, regular, erect form, and clustered habit separate
this form from others with which it will be naturally associated. See
page 283 under _Addenda_.

=4. Diachaea= _Fries_

1825. _Diachaea_ Fries, _Syst. Orb. Veg._, I., p. 143.[38]

Sporangia distinct, globose or cylindric, the peridium thin, iridescent,
stipitate; the stipe and columella surcharged with lime, white or
yellowish, rigid, thick, tapering upward; capillitium of delicate
threads free from lime, radiating from various points on the columella,
branching and anastomosing as in _Comatricha_ to form a more or less
intricate network, the ultimate branchlets supporting the peridial wall.

Rostafinski placed this genus near the _Didymieae_ on account of the
calcare