A Monograph of the Myxogastres. 25 



A. Capillitiura absent. 



I. HOMODERMEAE. 



Liceaceae. (Tululina, Lindlladia.) 

 II. HETERODERMEAE. 



Clathroptychaceae. (Enteridium, ClathroptycMum^ 

 Gribrariaceae. (Cribraria, Dictydium.) 



B. Capillitium present. 



III. CCELONEMEAE. 



Arcyriaceae. (Perichaena, Laclmobolus, Arcyria, Cor- 



nuvia, Lycogala.} 

 Trichiaceae. (Hemiarcyna, Trichia.") 



IV. STEREONEMEAE. 



Physaraceae. (Badhamia, Physarum, Tilmadoche, Fuligo, 



Leocarpus, Craterium.} 

 Didymiaceae. (Chondrioderma, Lepidoderma, Didynmim, 



Spumaria.} 



Stemonitaceae. (I/amproderma, Enerthenema, Ancyro- 

 phorus, Comatricha, Stemonitis, Brefeldia, Reticularia.') 

 The Myxomycetes are divided by Scliroter 1 into three prin- 

 cipal groups as follows 



A. Mature fructification consisting of a mass of free spores. 

 * Saprophytes; the amoeboid bodies unite in masses, but 



do not coalesce = ACRASIEAE. 



* * Parasitic in the interior of living cells, forming in 

 the known instances, a true plasmodium = PHYTO- 



MYXINEAE. 



B. Spores formed in the interior of sporangia, or on the 



outside of discoid or columnar fructifications = MYXO- 

 GASTRES. 



At the close of the vegetable period, the passage of the motile 

 plasmodium into the stationary reproductive condition is abrupt, 

 anc 1 takes place as follows; the surface of the plasmodium 

 becomes elevated into one or usually many protuberances, the 

 original investment of the plasmodium is continuous over these 



1 Englor u. Prantls' Naturl. Pflanzenfam., 36 Leif., von Y. Schroter, 1889. 



