CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS. 



11 



SUB-KINGDOM I. 

 PROTOPHYTES. 



The name Protophytes (Protopliyta) has been applied to a 

 large number of simple plants, which differ a good deal among 

 themselves. Some of them differ strikingly from the higher 

 plants, and resemble so remarkably certain low forms of animal 



A 



FIG. 5. A, a portion of a slime mould growing on a bit of rotten wood, x 3. 

 B, outline of a part of the same, x 25. C, a small portion showing the densely 

 granular character of the protoplasm, x 150. D, a group of spore cases 

 of a slime mould ( Trichia) , of about the natural size. E, two spore cases, 

 x 5. The one at the right has begun to open. F, a thread (capillitium) and 

 spores of Trichia, x 50. G, spores. //, end of the thread, x 300. /, zoospores 

 of Trichia, x 300. i, ciliated form; n, amoeboid forms, n, nucleus, v, 

 contractile vacuole. J, K, sporangia of two common slime moulds. J, Stern- 

 onitis, x 2. Jf, Arcyria, x 4. 



life as to be quite indistinguishable from them, at least in cer- 

 tain stages. Indeed, there are certain forms that are quite as 

 much animal as vegetable in their attributes, and must be 

 regarded as connecting the two kingdoms. Such forms are 



