Chapter IX: BADHAMIA, Berk. Sporangia large, subglobose or obovoid, sometimes

depressed, substipitate or sessile; the wall a thin membrane, with an outer layer of minute roundish granules of lime, irregularly dehiscent. Stipe poorly developed, sometimes a mere strip of the hypothallus, often wanting. Capillitium of thick tubules, attached on all sides to the wall of the sporangium, combined into a net-work of large meshes, more or less expanded at the angles; the tubules containing minute roundish granules of lime throughout their whole extent. Spores large, subglobose, dark violaceous.

The peculiar character of this genus is that the granules of lime are distributed along the whole interior of the tubules of the capillitium; this makes the net-work rigid, and on this account a firmer support for the wall of the sporangium.

1. BADHAMIA CAPSULIFERA, Bull. Sporangia subglobose or obovoid, sessile, on a thin pallid or yellowish hypothallus, which sometimes sends out narrow bands or strings of membrane of variable length, bearing sporangia singly or in clusters. Wall of the sporangium a thin pellucid membrane, mostly even or somewhat rugulose and iridescent, coated by a very thin layer of white granules of lime. Capillitium of rather slender tubules, forming an open net-work of very large meshes, only slightly expanded at the angles; the tubules coated within by a very thin layer of white granules of lime. Spores subglobose or obovoid, adhering together in clusters of six to twenty or more, distinctly warted on the outer exposed surface, dark violaceous, 10-13 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old bark, leaves, etc. Sporangia .8-1.4 mm. in diameter. _Badhamia hyalina_ and _B. capsulifera_ of Rostafinski's monograph are here included together; he distinguished the former by the "sporangia in clusters always exactly globose," a distinction first made by Chevallier; otherwise the characters are the same in both.

2. BADHAMIA UTRICULARIS, Bull. Sporangia subglobose or obovoid, sessile, on a thin pallid or yellowish hypothallus, which often separates into narrow strips and strings of membrane of variable length, bearing the sporangia singly or in clusters. Wall of the sporangium a thin violaceous membrane, rugulose and iridescent, shining with purple, blue, and violet tints, with a thin layer of white granules of lime. Capillitium of thick tubules, forming an open net-work of large meshes, more or less expanded at the angles, the tubules coated within by a thin layer of granules of lime. Spores subglobose, minutely warted, dark violaceous, 10-13 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old wood, bark, herbaceous stems, etc. Sporangia .5-1.0 mm. in diameter, usually growing in clusters, sometimes suspended by the strings of membrane. Rostafinski's distinction between this and the preceding species in regard to the spores holds good so far as my specimens are concerned. _Badhamia magna_ Peck, I have never seen. George Massee includes all four of these species in one composite species, which he names _Badhamia varia_.

3. BADHAMIA PAPAVERACEA, B. & Rav. Sporangia subglobose or obovoid, substipitate or sessile, growing close together; the wall a thin violaceous membrane, rugulose and iridescent, with a very thin coat of white granules of lime. Stipe very short, brown or blackish, sometimes reduced to merely a thickened blackish base to the sporangium. Capillitium of thick tubules, forming an open net-work of large meshes, more or less expanded at the angles; the tubules with an inner lining of very minute white granules of lime. Spores adhering together in clusters of six to twenty, each spore subobovoid, the free portion more distinctly warted, 10-12 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old wood, bark, etc. Sporangia .6-1.0 mm. in diameter. Readily distinguished by its black base or black stipe and the elegant clusters of its spores, which stick together most persistently.

4. BADHAMIA ORBICULATA, Rex. Sporangia much depressed, orbicular or somewhat irregular, umbilicate often both above and below, gregarious, sometimes growing close together and confluent, stipitate or sessile. The wall a thin pellucid membrane, with a thin layer of minute granules of lime, which are sometimes raised into small scales and fine ridges. Stipe very short, black, sometimes reduced to merely a blackish base to the sporangium. Capillitium of thick tubules, forming a scanty irregular net-work, with wide expansions at the angles; the tubules filled with white granules of lime. Spores subglobose, very minutely warted, dark violaceous, 12-15 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old bark, herbaceous stems, etc. Sporangia .4-.8 mm. in diameter, sometimes by confluence larger. This species seems near _Badhamia verna_ Smfdt, but the latter everywhere is described as sessile, while in the former the short black stipe is nearly always distinguishable.

5. BADHAMIA AFFINIS, Rost. Sporangium hemispherical, or much depressed, the base flattened or umbilicate, stipitate, erect or often cernuous; the wall a thin pellucid membrane, coated with minute white granules of lime, which are frequently raised into scales and ridges. Stipe short, erect or bent at the apex, black, expanding at the base into a small hypothallus. Capillitium of thick tubules, forming an open net-work of large meshes, more or less expanded at the angles; the tubules filled with white granules of lime. Spores subglobose, minutely warted, dark violaceous, 14-18 mic. in diameter.

Growing on mosses and upon the bark of maple trunks. Sporangium .6-1.0 mm. in diameter, the stipe about the same length. Rostafinski's description is based upon a specimen found in Chili, South America, by Bertero; it is recorded in this country by Peck. I find it in some seasons quite abundant. The spores are very large, in some specimens averaging 17 mic.

6. BADHAMIA DECIPIENS, Curtis. Sporangia gregarious, sessile, globose, oval or oblong, by confluence sometimes more elongated; the wall a somewhat thickened and firm yellow or yellow-brown membrane, covered with large, thick scales of lime, tawny to golden yellow or orange in color. Capillitium of thick tubules, forming an open network, more or less expanded at the angles; the tubules filled throughout with yellow granules of lime. Spores globose, very minutely warted, lilac, 10-12 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old wood and bark. Sporangia .6-1.0 mm. in length by .6-.7 mm. in thickness. My specimens were determined by Dr. George A. Rex by comparison with a specimen from Curtis in the herbarium of the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences. This species should not be confused with what we have described as _Physarum serpula_. _Physarum chrysotrichum_, B. & C., is no doubt the same thing. _Badhamia nitens_ Berk., which is also golden yellow, has not yet been found in this country; it will readily be distinguished from the present species by its clustered spores.

7. BADHAMIA PANICEA, Fr. Sporangia sessile, subglobose or oblong, more or less irregular, gregarious; the wall a thin, pellucid membrane, covered with large, irregular, very thick, white scales of lime. Capillitium of thick tubules, forming a loose net-work of rather small meshes, with wide expansions at the angles; the tubules filled with white granules of lime, sometimes confluent toward the base of the sporangium. Spores subglobose, very minutely warted, dark violaceous, 11-14 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old wood, bark, leaves, etc. Sporangia .8-1.6 mm. in length, with a thickness of .7-1.0 mm. This species appears to be rare; the only specimens known to me in this country I have from Professor Thos. A. Williams, of South Dakota; they are identical with European specimens received from Lister. _Physarum paniceum_ Fries, S. M., III, p. 141; it approaches _Physarum cinereum_ Batsch.

8. BADHAMIA LILACINA, Fr. Sporangia globose or obovoid, sessile or rarely substipitate, closely crowded together on a thin, brownish hypothallus; the wall a firm, hyaline membrane, with a thick, smooth, continuous outer-layer of lime, varying in color from gray-white or drab to lilac and flesh color. Capillitium of very thick tubules, forming a dense net-work of small meshes; the tubules stuffed with granules of lime, which are white or colored somewhat as those in the wall, often confluent in the center of the sporangium. Spores globose, minutely warted, dark violaceous, 11-14 mic. in diameter.

Growing on wood, leaves, mosses, etc. Sporangium .5-.7 mm. in diameter. The outer crustaceous layer of lime on the wall crumbles and falls away, as in some species of _Diderma_. The white form is _Diderma concinnum_ B. & C.; the lilac or flesh-colored form is _Physarum lilacinum_ of Fries, S. M., p. 141. I have seen it colored only white and drab. Under a high magnifying power the sculpturing of the spores is seen to be peculiar.