The Myxomycetes of the Miami Valley, OhioMorgan, A. P. (Andrew Price)
Science
The Myxomycetes of the Miami Valley, Ohio
Morgan, A. P. (Andrew Price)
Myxomycetes -- Ohio -- Miami River Valley
The abnormal forms of this species which sometimes manifest themselves
are very singular; the sporangium has a tendency to dilate, becoming
funnel-form or even salver-shaped, the stipe shortening and even
disappearing. I have a large specimen which superficially resembles some
lichen, a _Physcia_, for example; the sporangia are pressed down,
flattened out, extremely irregular, and in many places confluent; the
rudimentary stipes are hidden beneath the leafy expansions. In all the
forms, however, may be uncovered the spiniform tubules mingled with the
slender threads. This is _Trichamphora oblonga_ B. & C. _Tilmadoche
oblonga_ of Rostafinski's monograph, and _Physarella mirabilis_ Peck.
V. CYTIDIUM, Morgan. Gen. nov. Sporangium globose or rarely ellipsoidal,
stipitate; the wall a thin membrane, with an external layer of minute
granules of lime, rupturing irregularly. Stipe more or less elongated,
tapering upward and entering the sporangium as a columella. Capillitium
of slender tubules, arising from the columella, repeatedly branching and
anastomosing to form a regular net-work, the extremities attached on all
sides to the wall of the sporangium, the tubules containing at intervals
nodules of lime. Spores globose, violaceous.
This genus is readily distinguished from _Physarum_ by the columella,
which gives origin to the capillitium; this feature indicates a
relationship to _Didymium_ and to _Lamproderma_.
§1. EUCYTIS. Sporangium globose, the columella not reaching its center.
1. CYTIDIUM PULCHERRIMUM, B. & R. Sporangium globose, stipitate; the
wall a thin lilac-tinted membrane, with a dense closely adherent layer
of granules of lime, dark purple or wine-colored. Stipe long, erect,
dark purple to purplish black, tapering upward and entering the
sporangium as a slight obtuse columella. Capillitium of slender lilac
tinted threads, forming a dense net-work of very small meshes, with
slight expansion at the angles; the nodules of lime very small,
numerous, dark purplish or vinose in color, ellipsoidal or obtusely
angular. Spores globose, even, lilac, 7-9 mic. in diameter.
Growing on old wood. Sporangium .4-.5 mm. in diameter, the stipe two or
three times as long; the lime-nodules about the size of the spores. The
purple stain, which the sporangia leave on white paper, is made by the
granules of lime; the spores color the paper violet. _Physarum
pulcherrimum_ B. & Rav., and _P. atrorubrum_ Peck.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account