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§ § Spores smooth.
Stemonitis atra, Mass. (n. sp,).
Scattered; sporangia oylindrio-ovate, black, slightly iridescent;
stem twice as long as sporangium, thin, eqmd, dull, black!
expanding at the base into a minute, circular hypothallus; mass
of spores Iroiun with a lilac tin g e ; columella as thick as the
stem, equal, reaching to apex of sporangium; main branches
scattered, remaining simple for a short distance then branching
and forming a network, the meshes becoming smaller towards
the periphery where they equal the spores in diameter; all the
h-anehes of the network of equal thickness, very stout, S’o—4 g
diameter; dark brown; spores globose, dingy lilac-brown, smooth,
10/1 diameter.
On wood. New Zealand.
^ Remarkable in the scattered habit, 6—8 mm. high. Readily
distinguished by the very thick threads of the capillitium.
The columella sometimes breaks up into branches a short
distance below the apex of the sporangium.
Stemonitis acuminata, Mass. (n. sp.).
Gregarious, or often densely crowded on a well-developed,
iridescent hypothallus ; sporangia cylindrical, elongato-acuminate
at the apex; wall blackish-purple, iridescent, disappearing;
stem equal to or shorter than sporangium, filiform, slightly
attenuated upwards; blackish, shining; mass of spores Hack
with purple tinge; capillitium continuing to the apex of the
sporangium, primary branches scattered, short, supporting a
network of irregularly polygonal meshes which are large and
everywhere of equal size, 4 0 - 5 0 g in diameter; spores globose
smooth, 13—14 [j, diameter.
On rotten wood. Cape of Good Hope (Table Mountain).
Agreeing with Stemonitis Morgani in the large-meshed
capillitium, but distinguished by the acuminate apM of the
sporangium and the larger spores; I'o cm, high.
Stemonitis Bauerlinii, Mass. (n. sp.).
Densely gregarious on a well-developed, firm hypothallus;
sporangia elongato-fusiform, wall blackish, iridescent, very
evanescent, mass of spores hlaeJc with a violet tin g e ; stem erect,
black, shining, slightly tapering from the base; columella extending
to apex of sporangium; flexuous above; capillitium of
lower half of sporangium of large, equal meshes which are peripheral
only and supported on distant, thin, simple or rarely divided
branches springing from the columella, the main branches become
more and more momerous, thicleer, and irregular towards the apex
of the sporangium, and often form irregular, flattened expansions;
the branches forming the net are also much thicker, and the meshes
irregular, and not all peripheral as towards the base of the
sporangium; many of the branches of the network towards the
apex ^oith short free ends; spores globose, smooth, 5—6 g
diameter.
On wood. New Guinea (Strickland River).
From 1'5—2 cm. high. Distinguished by the capillitium
being very scanty and the network being entirely peripheral
below, becoming very dense towards the apex.
Stemonitis laxa, Mass.
Sporangia spherical, scarcely '5 mm. diameter; stem rigid,
black, not attaining to 1 mm. in length; columella almost
reaching to apex of sporangium, and then dividing into 2—3
branches; threads of the capillitium of equal width throughout,
very rigid, forming a regular, lax network, ultimate branches
arcuate, connected by transverse bauds, some remaining free and
furcately divided; spores smooth, lilac, 9—11 g diameter.
Gomatricha laxa, Rost,, Mon., p. 201; Saoc., Syll, vii., 1,
no. 1358.
Germany.
Stemonitis fluminensis, Speg.
Hypothallus very thin, broadly effused, mucedinous, black,
rather shining; stem erect, rather rigid, shining, black, 0'5—1