rangia, while often in single
series, are yet often superimposed. It resembles _Tubifera_ in its
simple sporangia, opening without the aid of a net; it is like
_Cribraria_ in the smooth ochraceous-olivaceous spores and granuliferous
peridium.

1. LINDBLADIA EFFUSA (_Ehr._) _Rost._

PLATE I., Figs. 3, 3 _a_, PLATE XII., Figs. 1, 2.

1818. _Licea effusa_ Ehr., _Sylv. Myc. Ber._, p. 26.
1875. _Lindbladia effusa_ (Ehr.) Rost., _Mon._, p. 223.
1879. _Perichaena caespitosa_ Peck, _Rep. N. Y. Mus._, XXXI., p. 57.

Sporangia minute, either closely combined and superimposed, so as to
form a pulvinate aethalium, or crowded together in a single layer,
sessile, or short-stipitate; the peridia thin, membranous, marked by
scattered plasmodic granules, often lustrous, sometimes dull
lead-colored or blackish, especially above; stipe, when present, very
short but distinct, brown, rugulose; hypothallus well developed,
membranous, or more or less spongiose in structure; spore-mass
ochraceous, under the lens, nearly smooth, almost colorless, 6-7.5 mu.

This very variable species has been well studied by Dr. Rex. See _Bot.
Gaz._, XVII., p. 201. In its simpler phases it presents but a single
layer of sporangia generally closely crowded together, sometimes free
and even short stipitate! In the more complex phase the sporangia are
heaped together in a pulvinate mass in which the peridia appear as
boundaries of minute cells. In this case the outermost sporangia are
often consolidated to form a cortex more or less dense and shining. In
any case the hypothallus is a prominent feature; generally laminated and
of two or three layers, it is in the more hemispheric aethalia very much
more complex, sponge-like. When thin this structure is remarkable for
its wide extent, 40-50 cm.! The simpler forms approach very near to
_Cribraria_ through _C. argillacea_. The most complex remind us of
_Enteridium_.

This is _Perichaena caespitosa_ Peck. In this country it has, however,
been generally distributed as _L. effusa_ Ehr. This author throws some
doubt on the species he describes by suggesting that the plasmodium may
be _red_. The description, however, and figures are otherwise good and
are established by the usage of Rostafinski. The plasmodium has much the
same color as the mature fruit.

Widely distributed. New England to the Black Hills and Colorado, south
to Arkansas. California, about Monterey.

=2. Tubifera= _Gmelin_

1791. _T