8o 



GUIDE TO THE MODELS OF FUNGI. 



CLASS III.— MYXOMYCETES. 



The MyxQwycelcs, or " slime-fungi," of which there are a large 

 number of British genera and species, are represented by models of 

 two species only. Although usually placed among fungi, the Myxo- 

 mycetes show great affinities with the animal kingdom. There is in 

 the Myxomycetes no cellular mycelium as in the true fungi. 



GENUS LVI.—FULIGO Hall. 



The fruit irregular, formed of intertwined, elongate sporangia, con- 

 taining an irregular network of threads and the spores. The outer 

 sporangia form a friable, spurious cortex, containing much lime. 

 The following is the only British species. 



209. Fuligo varians Somm. Popularly known as " flowers of 

 tan." — An irregular yellow mass, very variable in size; it becomes 

 at length a dusty mass of violet-black spores. Under favourable 



conditions the spores will 

 <&\JX^ retain their vitality for 

 several years. 



Frequent on tan-beds, 



sawdust, and sometimes 



on stumps. It is often a 



great nuisance in hot- 



j«^x 200 houses where tan is used, 



fig. 92.— Fuliso varians Somm. (Natural size.) for the FllUqO will SOme- 



Spores and threads x 2c». ^j^^^^ Completely cover the 



tan and entirely stop the growth ot plants which are being 

 cultivated. 



It has been found to contain formic and acetic acids. 



GENUS LVII.—LYCOGALA Mich. 



The fruit regular, enclosed in a definite cortex, and formed of 

 sporangia containing round spores and branching and anastomosing 

 threads, with external thickenings in 

 the shape of irregular rings. There 

 are two British species. 



2 1 o. Lycogala epidendrum Fr. — 

 Soft, pulpy, and warted, usually the 

 size of a large pea, and bright pink 

 or rose-coloured, varying to greyish -'- 

 clay-colour, purple, and blood-red ; p. 



pulp within often scarlet, at length (Naturafsizo Spores and threads 



becoming a dusty mass of spores, ^ ^°°" 

 which varies in colour like the exterior of the fungus. 



Not an uncommon fungus upon dead stumps and branches. 



X-600 

 Lycopala epidendriim Fr. 



