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frequently of stellate crystals. Chondrioderma differs in having
the external wall of lime forming a polished, porcelain-like crust.
In the present genus the carbonate of lime is present in the form
of very minute amorphous lumps until near to maturity, when
it is dissolved and reappears as bicarbonate of lime deposited
in comparatively large flakes. The same change takes place
in Physarum granulatum, Balf. fib, and Mr. Harold Wingate, of
Philadelphia, has remarked tbe same conversion of carbonate
of lime into tbe bicarbonate in Chondrioderma Michelii, and
adds, “ I feel positive it takes place after the plant has matured,
and possibly after it has been dry and again subjected to
moisture.”
Distrib. Europe; West Indies; Ceylon; Java. Species 8.
A. Spores smooth.
Lepidoderma stellatum, Mass. (figs. 223—225).
Sporangia spherical, stipitate, slightly or not at all umbilicate
below, blackish-brotmi, variegated loith rather large white scales,
ruptured at maturity nearly to the base in a stellate manner, into
4—6 acute, irregular segments; stem rather thick, erect or
rarely curved, striate, white; columella hemispheriecd or sub-
clavate, rather prominent, whitish or tinged yellow; threads of
the capillitium very slender, branching at acute angles, hyaline,
flexuous; spores smooth, dingy violet, globose, 10—12 g diam.
Grevillea, vol. xvii., March (1889).
On rotten wood. Dominica (Ramage),
A very line and distinct species, 2'5—3'5 mm. h ig h ; scattered
or gregarious. When young the sporangia are pure white,
the outer coat becoming broken up into large white distinct
scales as tbe sporangium expands. Readily recognized by the
white stem, colourless capillitium, whitish columella and smooth
spores; tbe mode of dehiscence is also characteristic.
Lepidoderma retieulatum, Mass,
Sporangia gregarious, sessile on a broad base, convex, circular
or elongated, often flexuous and anastomosing in a reticulate
manner, wall thick, brown with a tinge of purple, furnished
with large, scattered, innate, yellow patches of lime; columella
absent; mass of spores purple-brown; capillitium very scanty,
threads 1—2 mm. thick, colourless; spores globose, smooth,
11—12 g diameter.
Licea reticulata, B. and Br., Journ. Linn. Soc., vol. xiv., p. 86
(1873).
Did.ymium retieulatum, B. and Br., in Herb. Berk.
On bark and mosses. Ceylon.
Distinguished from Lepidoderma Chailletii by the absence
of a columella, and from L. Garestianum by tbe smooth spores
and yellow patches of lime on the wall of the sporangium.
Lepidoderma fulvum, Mass. (n. sp.) (figs. 39, 40).
Sporangia stipitate, hemispherical, depressed, umbilicate
beneath,/w/toms, with scattered, large, superficial white or yellowish
scales; stem stout, equal, or very slightly attenuated upwards,
straight or a little bent, longitudinally rugulose, fulvous, hypothallus
well developed; columella large, hemispherical, brownish;
capillitium copious, threads slender, branched at acute angles,
flexuous, In'ownish-violet; spores globose, smooth, brownish-purple,
10—12 g diameter, some few much larger.
On mosses, twigs, &c. Britain (Yorks.); France.
(Type in Herb. Berk., 10,783.)
In groups of 2—4, springing from a firm, well-developed
hypothallus, 2'5—3 mm. high. Differing from Lepidoderma
stellatum, tbe only other stipitate, smooth-spored species, in the
coloured columella and stem. The calcareous scales on tbe
pileus very tbiu, glistening, not so regular and distant as in
L. fulvmm.
B. Spores warted.
Lepidoderma tigrinum, Rost. (figs. 41—43).
Sporangia hemispherical, depressed, stipitate, umbilicate
beneath, blachish-bro-ion, and furnished with rather distant, large
yellcnoish scales; stem erect, thick and equal, or slightly attenu