120 A Monograph of the Myxogastres. 



and forming a large plasmodiocarp, enclosed in a well-defined, 

 thick, common cortex, enclosing near the outer side numerous 

 cell-like masses of protoplasm ; capillitium originating at 

 numerous points in the inner portion of the cortex, forming an 

 irregular, loose net with numerous free ends, threads ornamented 

 with warts or raised bands forming irregularly arranged rings, 

 spirals, or anastomosing to form a network ; spores globose. 



Lycogala, Mich., Host., Mon., p. 285; Cooke, Myx. Brit., 

 p. 74 ; Sacc., Syll., v., 7, pt. I., p. 435. 



Lycoper&on, Bux., p. 203. 



Dcrmodmm, Host., Mon., p. 284 ; Sacc., Syll., p. 434 ; Cke., 

 Myx., p. 74. 



The species resemble those of Heticularia in'their large size, 

 forming hemispherical or irregularly elongated masses up to 

 four inches in diameter. The stout cortex covering the inter- 

 woven mass of aethalioid sporangia presents a complicated 

 structure. In L. epidcndron, the most highly evolved species, 

 the cortex contains towards the outside numerous irregularly- 

 shaped coloured masses of protoplasm of various sizes, each 

 surrounded by a special wall ; these are sometimes so numerous 

 as to present the appearance of closely aggregated polygonal 

 cells when seen in section. The tubes of the capillitium originate 

 in the thick corte'x from the cells of protoplasm just described, 

 and frequently combine to form an irregular reticulation in the 

 substance of the cortex ; in this position the tubes are very 

 thick, reaching to '20 /x'in diameter, and consist, as it were, of 

 two tubes, one enclosed within the other ; the outer tube, the 

 wall enclosing the protoplasm, has very thick, perfectly smooth, 

 colourless walls, and disappears at the point where the capil- 

 litium breaks through the walls to enter the mass of aethalia 

 forming the plasmodiocarp. The inner tube has a very thin, 

 faintly-tinged wall furnished with intermixed warts and raised 

 bands anastomosing to form an irregular network; the inner 

 tube is completely surrounded by the outer at its apex, until 

 the whole structure has grown beyond the inner surface of the 

 cortex, when the inner tube pushes through the apex of the 

 outer smooth tube and alone forms the capillitium. The outer 



