In outward appearance this species resembles _L. physaroides_, but is easily recognizable by its very peculiar capillitium. This, in its primary branching, resembles a comatricha. In typical forms, the columella branches at the apex only, generally into two strong divisions which then break up irregularly and anastomose in every direction. This seems to have been the form present to Rostafinski when he wrote "columella truncate." In Central American and some North American specimens, the branching is very different; the twigs leave the columella at various points almost down to the annulus, and the entire effect is dendroid. The columella is lost almost at once. A small form of this species was formerly distributed in the United States as _Comatricha friesiana_ DeBy. This circumstance led the present author to describe Central American forms as _C. shimekiana_. Judging from a remark by Massee (_Mon._, p. 97), a similar confusion seems to have prevailed in Europe. As a matter of fact, the resemblance between _C. friesiana_, i. e. _C. nigra_, and the present species is sufficiently remote. _Lamproderma minutum_ Rostafinski seems to be a small form of this species. Rostafinski bases his diagnosis upon the branching of the columella, which is, as we have seen, inconstant, and upon the colorless capillitium. This feature in specimens examined is also inconstant. Occurring in large colonies on barkless decaying logs of various species; the plasmodium almost colorless. New England, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Louisiana, Texas, Mexico, Nicaragua; Vancouver's Island; Ontario, Toronto,--_Miss Currie._ =4. Echinostelium= _DeBary_ 1873. _Echinostelium_ DeBary, Rost., _Versuch_, p. 7. Sporangia distinct, globose, minute, the structure limited to a few imperfect rib-like, loosely joined branches developed from the short columella or stem-top, sustaining the spores. A single species:-- 1. ECHINOSTELIUM MINUTUM _DeBy_. 1873. _Echinostelium minutum_ DeBy., Rost., _Versuch_, p. 7. PLATE XIX., Figs. 11 and 11 _a_ Sporangia distinct, scattered, globose, very minute, 40-50 mu, stipitate; the stipe, hair-like subulate, granular but hyaline; columella minute or none; capillitium consisting of a few arcuate spinose threads loosely united supporting the uncovered spores, spores globose, colorless, smooth, 7-8 mu.--_Rostafinski._ This very singular and diminutive form, the least of all slime-moulds, is probably widely distributed but the accident of discovery is rare. DeBary found it once only, at Frankfurt am Main. Miss Lister reports its occurrence in England and Austria. In the United States it has been seen but once on certain laboratory material from Massachusetts, studied by Dr. Thaxter. Our drawing is after Rostafinski, IV., 68; Miss Lister follows No. 54, and so finds a bit of peridium below the two spores shown in the figure, one on each side of a microscopic _columella_.