-no 



BOTANY. 



sporangium, which may be distinct (Fig. 144, B], or it may 

 be a flattish, cake-like mass, the so-called cethalium, directly 

 derived from the plasniodium. lu most cases the spore- 

 bearing masses contain internally, besides the spores, a 

 structure called the Capillitium, consist- 

 ing of thin-walled, spirally thickened, or 

 otherwise marked tubes variously disposed 

 (Fig. 144, C, cp). In some cases, where 

 there is a distinct sporangium, the pedi- 

 cel of the latter is continued into it as a 

 central colnmn ; this is known as the Col- 

 umella ; it may send out branches which 

 support the walls of the sporangium. 



143. Swarni- 

 uporesof Clioinli'imlfr- 

 ma diffonne (Didy- 

 mitim LiAertian.um of 

 De Bary) coalescing or 

 conjugating, x 

 ' " ur Cie 



After 



enkowski. 



(a) The latest classification of the Myxomycetes 

 is by Rostafinski.* He distinguishes seven or- 

 ders, as follows : 



Order I. Protodermese. Sporangia simple, of regular shape, not 

 possessed of a capillitium, with violet spores. 



Order II. Calcarese. Sporangia simple or compound, often pro- 

 vided with a columella, spores violet or violet brown ; whole fructifica- 

 tion, with more or less de- 

 posits of carbonate of lime. 



This includes many com- 

 mon species, under the 

 genera Pliyaazum, Fuligo, 

 Diilyiitiutn, Xpnmaria, etc. 



Order III. Amauro- 

 chaeteae. Single sporan- 

 gium or asthalium, with- 

 out lime ; spores, capilli- 

 tium, and columella almost 

 always uniformly black, or 

 brownish-violet colored. 



In this order the genus 

 Stemonitis furnishes the 

 most common species. 



Order IV. Anemeee. 

 Sporangium or aethalium 

 without capillitium or lime; columella not evident, wall of sporan- 



* "Monografia Sluzovvce." Dr. Joseph Rostafinski, 1875. An Eng- 

 lish translation of so much as pertains to British species may be found 

 in "The Myxomycetes of Great Britain," by M. C. Cooke, 1877. In a 



Fig. 144. Fructification of Arcijiia incarnate 

 (A. adiiata of Htfki.). Ji. young sporangium; C, 

 capillit: 



ruptured; c p, 



mature nporangiu . .... 



p, wall of sporuugium. X 20. After Sachs. 



litium ; 



