SLIME MOULDS (mYXOMYCETES) 



17 



the number (8) of chromosomes immediately precedes the formation 

 of the sporangia. The reduction division, which results in the forma- 

 tion of spores, is preceded by synapsis, cUakinesis and heterotypic 

 nuclear division. Small nuclei and large nuclei are seen. The large 

 nuclei are probably fusion nuclei. The small nuclei probably 

 disintegrate. 



To the order Myxogastrales belong the majority of the Myxo- 

 MYCETES (Figs. 2 and 3). Many are found on decaying wood as Dic- 

 tydium cernumn with black spore contents, Arcyria nutans and A. 



Fig. 3. — A, B, Leocarpus fragilis. A, Sporangium, natural size; B, capillitium 

 200/1; C. Craterium leucocephalum sporangia, 6/1; D, Physarum sinuosum spor- 

 angium, 6/1; E, F, Tilmadoche miitabilis; E, sporangia, 20/1; F, capillitium, 200/1. 

 (.4, C, D, after nature; B, E, F, after Rostafinski in Die natiirlichen Pflanzenfamilien 

 I. I, p. 32.) 



punicea have net-like capilHtia, the former with yellow, the latter 

 with a red one. Lycogala epidendrum has a cinnabar-red plasmodium 

 and a brownish-gray aethalium. Trichia varia, T. chrysosperma, He- 

 miarcyria clavata have yellow sporangia and golden-yellow spirally 

 sculptured elaters, Reticularia lycoperdon has a large brown cake-like 

 aethalium. The yellow plasmodium of Fuligo septica sometimes covers 

 spent tan bark and is known as "flowers of tan. " It is one of the most 

 generally distributed of slime moulds and the writer has found its 

 sethaha on the bark of street trees and even on the bricks of the street 

 pavements, as yellow-brown, cake-like fructifications crumbling readily 



