Prototrichia metallica

Prototrichia metallica (Berk.) Massee, Jour. Roy. Micr
Soc. 1889:350. 1889.
Trichia metallica Berk, in Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. 2: 268. 1859.
Trichia fiagellifer Berk. & Br. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. III. 18: 56. 1866.
Prototrichia fiagellifer Rost. Monog. Append. 38. 1876.
Prototrichia elegantula Rost. Monog. Append. 39. 1876.
Prototrichia cuprea Massee, Jour. Roy. Micr. Soc. 1889: 351. 1889.
Prototrichia chamaeleontina Massee, Monog. 130. 1892.
Prototrichia Schrbteri Meylan, Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sci. Nat. 53: 462. 1921.
Sporangiate, sessile or short-stalked, rarely subplasmodiocarpous, 0.5-2 mm. in diameter, orange-brown to dull brown, sometimes rosaceous; peridium thin, transparent, iridescent, bearing on its inner surface the persistent ends of the capillitial threads ; capillitium of numerous brown, spirally banded threads, originating at the base and becoming subdivided as they ascend, the branches often spirally interwoven, sometimes anastomosing to form a network at the bases and tips, the extremities attached to the upper wall; spores orange-brown to brown in mass, pallid or pinkish by transmitted light, spiny, 10-13 (15) p in diameter; Plasmodium white.
Type locality: Tasmania.
Habitat: Dead wood and bark, usually of conifers.
Distribution :, Nortl^ Carolina; Alberta to Washington, Colorado, and California; Kurope;