nula_, Mass., is a closely related species,
the swellings in the elaters having no specific value.

7. TRICHIA INCONSPICUA, Rost. Sporangia very small, subglobose, sessile,
collected together in clusters, or scattered, without any hypothallus;
the wall brown, smooth and shining. Mass of capillitium and spores
yellow; elaters long, simple, cylindric, 3-4 mic. in thickness, ending
in smooth tapering points, 6-7 mic. in length; spirals three or four,
close, not prominent, perfectly smooth. Spores globose, minutely warted,
10-12 mic. in diameter.

Growing on bark of Platanus, etc. New York, _Peck_; Iowa, _McBride_. The
sporangia spherical or reniform and very small.

_b. Elaters spinulose._

8. TRICHIA IOWENSIS, McBride. Sporangia subglobose, sessile, gregarious,
scattered, or sometimes close and confluent; the wall thickened with
minute scales, reddish-brown in color. Mass of capillitium and spores
yellow; elaters quite variable, usually very long, but sometimes very
short, simple, rarely branched, the thickness unequal, 3-4 mic. in the
same elater, with occasional thicker swellings, bearing numerous
scattered spines, usually about as long as the thickness of the elater,
but sometimes much longer, those at the ends being similar; spirals
three or four, fine and close, in places nearly obsolete. Spores
globose, or more or less irregular, minutely warted, 9-11 mic. in
diameter.

Growing on old bark of Populus; Iowa, McBride. Sporangia .4-.5 mm. in
diameter. This is a very curious species of Trichia; it suggests
_Ophiotheca Wrightii_, but the elaters are short and simple, and there
is no question as to the spirals upon them. I could find no branched
elaters in my specimen.

9. TRICHIA SCABRA, Rost. Sporangia globose or somewhat irregular,
sessile and closely crowded on a well-developed hypothallus; the wall
thin, gold-yellow or orange to yellow-brown in color, smooth and
shining. Mass of capillitium and spores orange or golden-yellow; elaters
long, simple, 4-5 mic. in thickness, ending in a smooth tapering point,
5-8 mic. in length; spirals three or four, covered with numerous short
acute spinules. Spores globose, minutely warted, 9-11 mic. in diameter.
See Plate I, Fig. 23.

Growing on old wood in patches, sometimes several centimeters in extent.
Sporangia .6-1 mm. in diameter. "The papillae, which cover the spore,
show, when highly magnified, a distinct net-like pattern," _McBride_.
The elaters of this species are