464 MINNESOTA BOTANICAL STUDIES. 



Something remains to be said regarding the habits of these 

 interesting organisms. Living as they do on all kinds of 

 decaying organic substances, the slime-moulds when in the 

 plasmodial state creep along over the substratum absorbing 

 all sorts of substances into their mass merely by putting out 

 projections or pseudopodia and laying hold of whatever hap- 

 pens to be in their way. Prom this creeping, oozing condition 

 the organism when it has become surrounded by the proper 

 conditions of temperature, moisture etc., will creep out and 

 climb up upon the highest point possible and there become 

 transformed into sporangia filled with minute spores. It would 

 surprise one beginning the study of the Mycetozoa to become 

 acquainted with the various localities in which an acute observer 

 might find them. Railroad ties, under sidewalks, on the 

 branches of trees, under eaves, under logs in deep woods, on 

 decaying vegetables, on toadstools, grass-stems, old leaves, 

 twigs, stems and decaying leather are a few of their favorite 

 habitats. The Mycetozoa are well distributed over the warmer 

 regions of the world, and while the number of species is not 

 great (about 500 have been described) the number of specimens 

 of each species is often large in favorable localities. And on 

 account of the large number of spores produced by a single 

 individual they will multiply rapidly if conditions are favor- 

 able. 



It might be said that the slime-moulds are chiefly remarkable 

 for the beautiful and graceful forms and structures which they 

 present, varying from almost colorless to any color conceivable 

 except green. And these forms and colors may often be seen 

 without the aid of the microscope; the naked eye in many 

 cases, or at most an ordinary lens, sufficing to reveal most of 

 the points of color and structure. 



In the accompanying list of species it will be noted that I 

 have departed from the usual custom of accepting the generic 

 and specific names of Rostafinski under which the principle of 

 priority in the nomenclature of this group is ignored. 



TUBIFERA J. G. Gmelin in Linn. Syst. Nat. Ed. xiii. 1472. 

 1791. 

 Tubulina Pers. Disp. Fung. 11. 1797. 

 Licea Schrad. Nov. PL Gen. 17. 1791, in part. 



1. Tubifera cylindrica Gmel. in Linn. Syst. Nat. Ed. XIEI. 

 1472. 1791. 

 Tubulina cylindrica Rost. Mon, 220. 1875. 



