_Cke. & Balf._

PLATE I., Figs. 5, 5 _a_, 5 _b_, and XIX., 6, 6 _a_, 6 _b_.

1881. _Cribraria dictydioides_ Cke. & Balf., _Rav. Fung. Am._, 475.

Sporangia gregarious, of medium size, globose, cernuous, stipitate; the
stipe long, slender, tapering upwards, dull brown in color; hypothallus
none; the calyculus variable, sometimes well developed, as in _C.
aurantiaca_, sometimes rudimentary or represented only by irregular,
node-like ribs; the network delicate, the meshes small, few-sided; the
nodules large, prominent, brown, irregular, with several radiating,
free, projecting threads, beside the single continuous filaments which
pass from node to node; spore-mass pale, ochraceous; spores nearly
smooth, colorless, 5-7 mu.

This seems to be the most common _Cribraria_ in the Mississippi valley.
It is generally distinguished by the scant calyculus and the beautiful
richness of its clear delicate net. The stellate nodules especially
above, emit filamental rays in all directions, but are, notwithstanding,
united by single, unpaired threads only. The calyculus is often entirely
absent, and this has been supposed the typical condition; but, on the
contrary, there often may present itself a cup as distinct as in _C.
aurantiaca_. See, for this variation, _Bot. Gaz._ XIX., p. 398. The
rather large sporangia, .6-.7 mm., the nodes joined by single threads,
the remaining radiant threads, many or few, but very short--these seem
to be the most distinctly diagnostic characters, and these are
sufficiently constant to separate this species easily from _C.
intricata_ on the one hand and _C. tenella_ on the other. Mr. Lister
considers this merely a form of the next species.

Abundant on rotten logs of every sort, especially oak; common on the
lower side of rotting pine planks in wooden walks along the streets
everywhere. N. A. F., 2095, seems to belong here.

Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska.

8. CRIBRARIA INTRICATA (_Schrad._) _Rost._

1797. _Cribraria intricata_ Schrad., _Nov. Gen. Pl._, p. 7.

Sporangia gregarious, globose, large, .7-1 mm. in diameter, nut-brown or
olivaceous, erect, stipitate; stipe long, slender, purplish brown,
flexuous; calyculus variable, sometimes occupying one-third of the
sphere, when it is delicately costate, concolorous with the stipe, and
passes over to the net by a distinctly toothed or serrulate margin,
sometimes represented by irregular ribs or costae onl