st._

PLATE III., Figs. 1, 1 _b_.

1794. _Trichia clavata_ Pers., _Roem. N. Bot. Mag._, I., p. 90.
1873. _Hemitrichia clavata_ Pers., Rost., _Versuch_, p. 14.
1875. _Hemiarcyria clavata_ (Pers.) Rost., _Mon._, p. 264.
1893. _Hemiarcyria ablata_ Morg., _Jour. Cin. Soc._, p. 30.
1893. _Hemiarcyria funalis_ Morg., _Jour. Cin. Soc._, p. 32.

Sporangia clavate or turbinate, gregarious, scattered or crowded,
yellow, olivaceous or brownish, stipitate; the peridium generally thin,
evanescent above, breaking away so as to leave a more or less definite
cup beneath; stipe about one-half the total height, reddish,
reddish-brown, or blackish, hollow about half-way down; capillitium
various, yellow or ochraceous, made up of slender threads more or less
freely branched and netted, bearing four or five regular, even, spiral
plates which project sharply and are generally smooth, the free
extremities numerous or almost none, swollen, or simply obtuse;
spore-mass concolorous, spores by transmitted light pale yellow,
globose, minutely but distinctly warted, 8-9 mu.

This cosmopolitan species is generally one of the first brought in by
the collector, its color and comparatively large size, 2-3 mm. high,
making it conspicuous. Nevertheless, we are not able to recognize it in
the descriptions of the older authors. Rostafinski quotes Schmiedel,
_Icones_, 1776, as affording the earliest account of the species, but
neither his description nor figure is definitive. Even Bulliard fails us
here, and is differently interpreted by different authors. Persoon's
description is none too good, but is reenforced by Fries and
Rostafinski. The capillitium is variable both in the degree of
smoothness presented, and the number of free ends, and the amount of
branching. The spores in all specimens we have examined are remarkably
constant in size and surface. In typical specimens free ends are easily
discoverable, the branching forms a definite net, and the perfectly
formed capillitial thread is smooth. In some American forms--developed
under less favorable circumstances?--the net is less determined, the
free ends are many, and the spirals minutely rough. Here may be placed
_H. funalis_ Morgan, _l. c._

Widely distributed. New England to Colorado, south to Mexico.

9. HEMITRICHIA STIPITATA (_Mass._) _Macbr._

1889. _Hemiarcyria stipitata_ Mass., _Jour. Mic. Soc._, p. 354.
1893. _Hemiarcyria plumosa_, Morg., _Jour. Cin. Soc._, p. 29.

S