Observations on the Genus Lamproderma

SUMMARY

It is proposed that the genus Lamproderma be recognized mainly on the basis that most of the capillitium arises from the apex of the columella. It is considered that the presence of a persistent peridium is too inconsistent to use as the major delimiting characteristic. Two new species are described. Their names and major characteristics are given below: Lamproderma biasperosporum, capillitium branching at the apex to form a weak, lax net, threads straight, becoming hyaline at the tips, sporangia widely scattered and less than 0.5 mm in diam, spores with clusters of larger, darker warts; Lamproderma acanthosporum, sporangia sessile, spores 18–20 μ in diam with spines reaching 2.0 μ in length. The species Lamproderma fusiforme is transferred to the genus Comatricha, and becomes C. fusiforme. Lamproderma fuscatum Meylan is regarded as a good species and is reported for the first time from the Western Hemisphere. A key to all the world species of Lamproderma is included; 18 species are recognized by the author.