THE MYXOMYCETES OF PICFOU COUNTY. MOORE. 181 



out the county, although only in a few districts does it appear 

 to occasion serious damage to crops. From one district, how- 

 ever, namely, that of Lower Mount Thorn, the loss is reported 

 as amounting to 25 per cent, of the total turnip crop of the 

 present year (1906). 



EXOSPOBE^E Host. 

 * Genus, Ceratiomyxa Schroter. 



Kipe fruit bodies consist of membranous processes which 

 may be columnar and in tufts or may form a net-work. The 

 surface of these processes or sporophores is divided into a great 

 number of polygonal areas, obscurely indicated in the mature 

 fruit, from the center of each of which arises a delicate stalk 

 supporting a single spore. 



The phenomena exhibited in Ceratiomyxa in connection 

 with spore germination and the development of the swarm cells 

 differ markedly from those presented in this connection by 

 members of the Endosporese. The mature spores germinate 

 very readily in water, the contents escaping in the form of an 

 ellipsoid mass of protoplasm which remains quiescent for some 

 hours. Amoeboid movements in ay then be observed and by suc- 

 cessive constrictions the original spore mass becomes divided 

 into eight small spherules which continue connected together 

 until each develops a flagellum. By the lashing of these the 

 associated group may swim abouit for some time but eventually 

 the individuals break apart and their subsquent development 

 resembles in all respects that observed in the Endosporece. 



2 Ceratiomyxa fructiculosa (Muell.) Macbr. Fructifica- 

 tion white, forming mould like patches on decaying wood in 

 shaded situations. The sporophores are columnar, wihite; the 

 spores colorless by transmitted light, large, elliptical o>r ovoid. 

 They measure 6 S/AX 10 14 /A and the -delicate stalks on which 

 they are supported average 15 // in length. 



Found on decaying pine logs. 



