MYXOMYCETES. 53 



tlie middle and upper stratum with a capillitium of very thin equal 

 threads radiating from the centre, united to each other and to the 

 boundary of the sporangia. Rtfki. Man., 212. 



Genus 22. BREFELDIA. If. 



.ZEthalium naked, with the surface warted ; threads of the capil- 

 litium combined at the boundary of the sporangia into polycellular 

 vesicles, of a very complex structure. Rtjki. J\lon., 212. 



63. Brefeldia maxima. (/>.) 



^Ethaliurn naked, with the surface warted, purple-black, now and 

 then olive by reflection ; seated on a strongly-developed, silvery- 

 lustrous hypothallus ; spores violet, spinulose. Rtfki. Mon. } 213. 



On trunks of felled trees. (Figs. 60, 65, 66, 69, 70.) 



Lijcoperdon epidendrum, Sow., 400, f. 2, 3 (1809). 



Dermodium inquirians, Fr. Gast., 9 (1817). 



Reticularia maxima, Fr. S. M., iii., 85 (1829) ; Eng. Fl. v., 308 ; 

 Cooke Hdbk., No. 1097 ; Fungi Britt., ii., 518. 



Lycoptrdon echiniformis, Sow., t. 400, f. 1, 



Licta perreptans, Berk. Gard. Chron. (1848), 451 ; Ann. Nat. 

 Hist., No. o92 ; Cooke Hdbk., No. 1196. 



Family 10. ECHINOSTELIACE^. 



Sporangia stipitate, but without columella ; capillitium originat- 

 ing at its base from the stem, combined into a loose net. Rtfki. 

 Man., 215. 



Genus 23. ECHINOSTELIUM. De Bary. 



Branches of the capillitium arcuate, growing to the top of the 

 sporangium, provided \vith numerous lateral, acutely-terminating 

 slack anus. Rtfki. 3fon. } 215. (Fig. 68.) 



O 



SuB-DlVISION II. LAMPROSPOR^E. 



Spores diversely coloured, never violet. 



Sect. A. ATRICHJE. 



Sporangia without a capillitium. 



ORDER IV. ANEME^E. 



Sporangium or sethalium without capillitium or lime ; columella 

 not evident, wall of sporangium without net-like thickenings, now 

 and then symmetrically perforated. titfki. J\lo?i. } 217. 



Family II. DICTYOSTELIACE^E. 

 Same as the genus. 



