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be entirely absent from all the elaters next examined. These
annular thickenings are also met with on the threads of the
capillitium of some species of Cornuma, Bidymium, Tilmadoche,
&c. In rare instances the two ends of an elater coalesce and
form a closed ring, as figured hy Rostafinski in Oligonema nitens,
Rost., Mon., fig. 108.
Distrib. Europe; North Africa; North America. Species 7.
* Epispore retieulatcd.
Oligonema nitens, Rost. (figs. 193—195).
Sporangia densely crowded, in one or several superposed
layers, when scattered, sessile on a broad or slightly contracted
base, clear primrose-yellow, very smooth and shining; mass of
capillitium and spores yellow; elaters scanty, 4— 5 g thick,
simple or sparingly branched, very variable in marking, with
scattered, thick, projecting rings, or a very indistinct, open
spiral on the whole or part of an elater, or a combination of
both, not unfrequently perfectly smooth, tips obtuse or more
or less pointed; spores globose, with narrow raised ridges of
varying thickness, forming an irregular network, 1 1 '—13 g
diameter.
Oligonema nitens, Rost., Mon., p. 291, f. 198; Cke., Myx. Brit.,
f. 198; Schroeter, p. 108; Sacc., Syll, n. 1488 (the sporangium
described as of a gilvcnis colour by mistake); Mass., Rev. Trich
p. 347, f. 29.
Oligonema bavarica, Balf. and Berl., Sacc., Syll, n. 1490.
Oligonema nitens, a bavarica, Mass., Rev. Trich., p . 347, f. 25.
Trichia nitens, Libert, PL Cr. Ard., fasc. iii., n. 227.
Exsicc.— Lih., PL Crypt. Ard., fasc. iii., n. 227 (as Trichia
nitens); Klotzsch, Herb. Myc., (Raheuh.) 137 (as Trichia circtmi-
scissa); Euokel, F. Rhen,, 2198 (as Trichia nitens); de Thum.,
Myc. Univ., nos. 399 and 1497 (as Trichia Bavarica).
On wood, hark, &c. Britain (Carlisle, Bristol, Birmingham);
France; Bavaria; Germany.
Sporangia 'S— 1 mm. diameter, clear yellow, polished; the
elaters are extremely variable in marking, as is also the
epispore, but the latter always in the markings forming a
reticulation.
Oligonema flavidnm, Mass.
Sporangia crowded, sessile, bright yellow, shining, mass of
capillitium and spores bright yellow; elaters scanty, short,
4— 5 g thick, sometimes with an elliptical interstitial swelling,
tips variable, subacute or inflated, densely covered with mimite
raised points; spores globose, with thin raised bands combined
to form a very irregular network, bands not punctate, 7 9 g
diameter.
Perichaena fiavida. Peck, 26th Annual Repoid of New York
State Mus., p. 76 (1874).
On moss, wood, &c. United States.
The sporangia are irregular in form, circular, angular, or
elongated. Forming patches of considerable extent.
Superficially resembling 0. nitens, hut distinct in the elaters
and spores. The elaters agree with those of 0. mimittda in
being rugulose or covered with small points or hand-like
wrinkles, hut in the present species the spores are smaller and
the reticulations more irregular in form and size.
Oligonema minntulum, Mass.
Sporangia scattered, rai-ely aggregated, sessile on a narrow
base, lemon-yellow, dull, capillitmm very scanty, elaters simple,
short, cylindrical, 5 - 0 g thick, rugulose, and toith a very open,
indistinct spiral, tips obtuse, rounded; spores globose, and with
slightly raised, flattened bands forming a netioork of numerous,
almost regidar and eqiud-sized polygons, 12—14 g diameter.
Oligonema minutida, Mass., Rev. Trich., p. 348, fig. 20.
Type in Herb. Berk., Kew, no. 10902, marked “Trichia
minutula, D. R., et Montag., Algiers,” Algeria.
So far as I am aware, the present species has not been
described hy Montague. Related to 0. nitens, hut known by
the scattered, dull sporangia, and the very few, short elaters
having thick, rugulose walls, with au indistinct open spiral;