MTXOGASTEES. 



377 



Order X. MYXOGASTRES. 



At first pulpy, at length filled with flocci and dust-like spores. 

 — Berk. Outl.p. 304. 



Whole plant at first gelatinong. Mycelium often vein like, forming re- 

 ticulated or anastomosing strata, but sometimes diflfusej giving rise to sessile 

 or stipitate, free or confluent pendia, consisting of one or more membranes, 

 inclosing, when mature, a dry mass of threads or plates, and spores ; at 

 length often bursting. Threads of various structurej sometimes containing 

 one or more spirals. — Berk. Iiitrod. p. 335. 



Large, sessile, more or less indeterminate. 



Peridium double, externally warty or mealy. 

 Peridium single. 



Externally naked, fugitive .... 



Externally floccose ...... 



Peridium crustaceous. 



Spores surrounded by membranous folds 



Peridium thick, fleshy 



Small, sometimes stalked, determinate. 

 Threads not a prominent feature. 

 Spores free. 



Peridium double, external smooth . 

 Peridium simple. 



Bursting irregularly. 



Scaly or floccose .... 

 Naked, smooth .... 

 Bursting longitudinally 

 Spores in groups. 



Peridium naked, or mealy 

 Threads congested. 



Peridium cup shaped, operculate . , 

 Threads prominent, at length more or less exposed. 

 Peridium delicate, evanescent. 



Threads springing from columella . 



Threads springing from stem 

 Threads dependent from disc 

 Peridium veined from innate capillitium 

 Peridium persistent below. 

 Capillitium netted, free above 

 Capillitium elastic, banded or nodulose 

 Peridium bursting irregularly. 



Threads free, spiral .... 

 Peridum bursting longitudinally. 



Threads of two kinds .... 

 Peridium splitting horizontally. 



Threads few 



Threads obsolete. 



Peridium membranaceous. 



Bursting irregularly .... 

 Splitting horizontally .... 



Lycogala. 



HeticvJ.aria. 

 jEthaliunu 



Simmaria. 

 Ptychogaster. 



Diderma. 



Dvlymium,, 

 Physarura. 

 Angioridium, 



Badhamia. 



Craterium. 



Diachoea. 

 Steraonitis. 

 Enerthenerruu 

 Dictydium. 



CHhra-fia. 

 Arcyria. 



Trichia. 



Ophiotheca. 



Perichcena. 



Licta. 

 Phdoiiitii, 



