338 



THALLOPHYTES 



structures, varying in shape according to the species, the remain- 

 ing protoplasm of the plasmodium passes until they are filled. 

 Often nearly the entire plasmodium is used in forming and filling 



FIG. 290. Various Myxomycetes, showing various types of sporangia. 

 The large sporangium at the left and the third one from the left, below, have 

 shed the spores, and the capillitium, the lace-like framework of the sporangium, 

 is plainly visible. The larger ones are larger than natural size, the smaller 

 ones are reduced. From Kerner. 



the projections. The protoplasm filling the upper part of each 

 projection forms numerous, small, globular spores with heavy 



FIG. 291. Spores of a Myxomycete germinating and producing motile 

 animal-like bodies which usually multiply and later fuse to form a plasmo- 

 dium. Much enlarged. From Woronin. 



walls, and thus the projection becomes a stalked sporangium 

 (Fig. 289). In the interior of the sporangium there is often a 

 lace-like framework, called capillitium, which assists through its 

 hygroscopic movements in the shedding of the spores (Fig. 290). 



