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Physanim didermoides, Rost., Mon., p. 97, figs. 74, 87; Cooke,
Brit. Myx., p. 11, figs. 74, 87; Saoc., Syll., n. 1171; Raunk.,
Myx. Dan., p. 72.
Didymium congestum, B. and Br., Ann. Nat. Hist. (1850),
p. 365; Cooke, Hdbk., n. 1130.
Spmimria licheniformis, Sz. (specimen from Schweinitz in
Herb. Berk.).
Exsicc.—Saco., Myo. Ven., 269 (as Didymium congestum,
B. and Br.).
On grass, twigs, bark, &c. Britain (King’s Cliffe, Bulmer,
Yorks.; Carlisle); France; Germany; Italy; Russia; Sweden;
United States; Ceylon.
Usually crowded or gregarious in considerable numbers,
springing from a tough, common hypothallus ; sporangia I'o—2
mm. long, stem variable in length, usually shorter than sporangium,
generally very weak, flattened or twisted. When
sessile the sporangia are sometimes shorter than usual.
(Rostafinski's Synonyms.)
Spumaria didermoides, Ach., in Pers., Syn., p. xxix (1801). '
Diderma ollongum, Sebum., Saell., n. 1423 (1803); Flor.
Dam, t. 1973, f. 1; Fr., S. M., iii., 103.
Claustria didermoides, Fr., S. V. S., 451 (1849).
Didymium congestum, B. and Br., Ann. Nat. Hist. (1850),
p. 365 ; Cooke, Hdbk., n. 1130.
Didymium farinaceum, Purt., M. F., p. 273.
Physarum imitans, Racib.
Sporangia hemispherical, umbilicate, greyish-white, dehiscing
ii'regularly, stipitate, erect or slightly nodding, stem subulate,
brownish-black, slightly longer than tbe sporangium, rigid;
columella absent, capillitium white, copious, forming an irregular
net, nodes irregular, sometimes filled with lime; spores 9'5—10
mm. diam., violet, warted.
Racib., Myx. Crac,, p. 5, f, 3, a, h; Sacc., Syll., 1205.
On branches. Poland. Sporangia (stem included) up to
1 mm. high.
Physarum pulcherrimum, B. and R.
Sporangia globose or broadly elliptical, sometimes slightly
umbilicate below, stipitate, varying in colour from clear deep
rose-red to p in k ; stem similarly coloured, varying length from
once to twice the length of the sporangium, slender, expanding
at the base into a circular hypothallus, filled with particles of
lime, longitudinally wrmkled ; columella absent; capillitium
variable, sometimes scanty, at others rather copious, threads
tbin, forming an irregular network, colourless, or tinged pink,
swollen portions ellip>tieal, small, mimher variable, interstitial,
rarely produced at tbe nodes, containing pink granules of
lime; spores globose, reddish-lilac, very minutely verruculose,
8—10 g diameter.
Physarum pulcherrimum, B, and Rav., Grev., vol. ii., p. 65,
fig. 84; Cke., Brit. Myx., fig. 84; Sacc., Syll., vii., 1, n. 1178;
Rost,, Mon. Append., p. 8.
(Type in Herb. Berk., Kew, n. 10,781.)
On wood, &c. United States; Paraguay.
A slender, delicate species, stem tbin, erect; sporangium
covered with a smooth crust composed of minute granules of
lime. The hypothallus is usually pale oohraceous and wrinkled.
Gregarious, sometimes becoming crowded, rarely 2—3 sporangia
supported on a common stem, from 1'5—2 mm. high.
* Epispore smooth.
Physarum Carlylei, Mass. (figs. 240, 241).
Sporangia stipitate, broadly pyriform, orange-vermilion, minutely
furfuraceous; stem about equal in length to diameter
of sporangium, thick, rugulose, vermilion, expanding downwards
into a small wrinkled hypothallus; threads of capillitium tbin,
yellow, forming a dense net, swollen at tbe angles and there
containing orange-coloured granules of lime; columella absent;
spores globose, smooth, dirty violet, 7—8 g diameter.
Grev., vol. xvii., March (1889).
On rotten wood. Carlisle. (Dr. Carlyle.)
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