120 TAXONOMY 



Thallophyta. The Thallophyta compose a multitude of 

 plants which are very primitive and simple in form. This 

 group of plants are devoid of nbro-vascular bundles, roots, 

 stems, and leaves. The cell body produced is called a thallus. 

 The individual cells carry on their metabolic processes in- 

 dependently. 



The Thallophyta are subdivided, according to some botan- 

 ists, into the following groups : - 



1. Myxomycetes Slime molds. 



2. Schizophyta Bacteria, blue-green algae, etc. 



3. Diatomeae Diatoms. 



4. Euphyceae True algae. 



5. Eumycetes True fungi. 



A great many authorities divide the Thallophyta into only 

 two groups the fungi and the algae. 



Relationship to Eumycetes. The Eumycetes, or fungi, 

 are closely related to the bacteria in some particulars. Bac- 

 teria have been called Schizomycetes, or fission fungi. Physi- 

 ologically the bacteria, except certain of the soil forms, 

 agree with the fungi in a great many details. Both are meta- 

 trophic and paratrophic (Chap. XIV), and therefore require 

 organic material which has been built up by higher plants 

 and animals. The bacteria and the fungi do not resemble 

 each other morphologically. The fungi include the molds, 

 mushrooms, mildews, etc. These plants, like the bacteria, 

 are devoid of chlorophyll and require organic food in solution, 

 and are not able to build up carbohydrates as higher plants 



