fers from all other
American forms, so far described, in the peculiar development of the
calyculus. Rostafinski emphasizes the persistence of the peridial wall
and the peculiar gleaming of the metallic tints, displayed by all the
structures. These particulars we have not been able to verify. Such
characters may be incident to age or conditions of development. At all
events, in forms which in all other respects seem to agree exactly with
Rostafinski's descriptions, the colors are dull and without any
noticeable iridescence. The spores in our specimens are also a little
larger than quoted. Rostafinski gives 5-6 mu; Massee, 5-7 mu.

6. CRIBRARIA AURANTIACA _Schrader._

PLATE XVII., Fig. 3, and XIX., Fig. 7.

1797. _Cribraria aurantiaca_ Schrad., _Nov. Gen. Pl._, p. 5.

Sporangia gregarious, spherical, dusky or yellowish stipitate, nodding;
the calyculus variable, generally prominent, more or less distinctly
marked by fine, delicate radiating venules, the margin denticulate, the
teeth numerous and slender, supporting the well-defined globose net;
network made up of very tenuous threads, forming rather small irregular
brownish nodules and showing only here and there a free extremity; stipe
generally short, two or three times the diameter of the sporangium,
sometimes longer, tapering upward, brown, slender, arcuate above;
spore-mass yellow or ochraceous, spores by transmitted light, colorless,
5-6 mu, almost smooth.

This widely distributed and very variable species is generally
recognized by the large sporangia, .5-.9 mm., comparatively short stipe,
simple net, and more or less orange color. The color is an uncertain
thing even in the sporangia, which rise from one plasmodium. Schrader,
however, made this feature so far diagnostic that he placed the more
pronouncedly yellow forms in the species _C. aurantiaca_ and set off as
_C. vulgaris_ forms in which more dusky tints prevail. The dark-colored
forms have also usually longer stipes, but so much is dependent upon the
climatic conditions prevalent at the time of fruiting, that this feature
also is indeterminate. Rostafinski's figures, 21 and 26, Tab. II., show
the characteristic nodules and the typical net structure. It is to be
observed that Fig. 21 represents higher magnification; otherwise the two
figures are very much alike.

New England, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and South, Ohio,
Washington, California; Canada, Toronto.

7. CRIBRARIA DICTYDIOIDES