terium-like cup below, to
persist in flower-like fashion long after the contents have blown away;
elaters fusiform, extremely long, to 50 mu; about 5 mu in width at the
widest (middle) point, long acuminate, adorned with usually four
clean-cut even, regular, taeniae, uniformly spaced and carried forward
on the progressive acumination, almost to the smooth, straight
spine-like point; spores in mass brick-red, by transmitted light,
orange-brown almost smooth, 10-12 mu.

This showy and remarkable species is set out from _T. botrytis_ Pers.
with which it has been more or less closely associated, for several
reasons. In the first place, it is easily recognized in the field, by
its size, color, and structure. Often simple throughout a colony entire,
nevertheless where the vegetative development has been stronger, simple
and multiple fructifications may stand side by side, but the odd
fasciation is generally limited to few sporangia, perhaps three or four,
or at most, half a dozen. These fasciate forms generally shorter, or
less erect. The elaters, so far as our observation goes, are the longest
in the genus notable for their beautiful symmetry. The spores are larger
than in the red forms of _T. botrytis_ as usually presented, smoother
and of different color.

We have also a geographic limitation. Taken to Paris first from southern
Chile, it promises to be a Pacific coast species, found as it now has
been in North America from San Diego, to Vancouver. In a deep forest
near Monterey, California, a half-buried log showed one colony a meter
in length and from six to twelve centimetres in width, hundreds of
sporangia, each by gentlest explosion opening to display its tuft of
bright-tinted wool, a patch of color visible from far.

=4. Oligonema.=

1875. _Oligonema_ Rost., _Mon._, p. 291.

Sporangia distinct, small, generally crowded together and superimposed;
hypothallus none; capillitium scanty, the sculpture rudimentary and
imperfect, scattered rings or mere roughenings, sometimes imperfect or
faint spirals; spores yellow.

The oligonemas are simply degenerate _Trichiae_, and show the vagaries
usually to be noted in a passing type. They are difficult to define, and
the species are indeed variable. Those here listed seem to offer
constant features throughout our range.

=Key to Species of Oligonema=

_A._ Spores reticulate.

_a._ Sporangia in broad effused patches 2. _O. brevifilum_

_b._