LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED FROM ESSEX. 37
P. cinereum Pers.—Fairly common on dead leaves in autumn.
P. vernum Somm.—The typical robust form has not been
recorded from Essex ; the var. iridescens Lister, a small form
with globose or vermiform iridescent sporangia, is usually
abundant on dead holly leaves in autumn ; this variety is
nearly related to P. cinereum, from which it differs in its larger
lime-knots and dark spores.
P. sinuosum (Bull.) Weinm.—Frequent on twigs, and on
dead elm and bramble leaves, in autumn and winter, especially
in Wanstead Park ; the white plate-like or frilled plasmodiocarps
form conspicuous objects on the dark leaves.
P. bitectum Lister.—Frequent, and often found associated
with the preceding, which it closely resembles ; P. bitectum
can usually be distinguished in the field by the outer layer
of the sporangium-wall peeling back from the inner layer
and by the much larger lime-knots.
P. virescens Ditm.—Not common, appearing in summer
on moss and grass ; unless observed in the bright yellow plas-
modium stage, this species with its small greenish-grey clusters
of sporangia may be easily overlooked. The var. obscurum
Lister occurs on dead holly leaves in autumn and winter ; it
has been observed several times in Epping Forest.
Fuligo septica (L.) Gmel.—Very abundant on dead wood
throughout the summer and early autumn. The aethalia are
usually yellow, sometimes white or brick-red.
F. muscorum Alb. & Schw.—Apparently not common.
It appeared in great abundance developing from apricot-coloured
plasmodium on heather and living holly sprays, in September
and October 1909, and again in October 1916 near Theydon.
The mature aethalia are very easily overlooked, having the
appearance of small lumps of yellowish-grey clay.
F. cinerea (Schw.) Morgan var. ecorticata Lister.—This
has been recorded twice from Essex. The pale grey aethalia
were found developing from white plasmodium on bracken
and dead leaves in the forest at Theydon, in October.
Craterium minutum (Leers) Fries.—Common on dead leaves
from summer to spring, most abundant in autumn.
C. leucocephalum Ditmar.—Not unfrequent from July to
November amongst dead leaves.
C. aureum (Schum.) Rost.—One gathering of this beautiful