20(1 



PLANT STUDIES 



261), and the mushroom-like Boleti (Figs. 262, 263). The 

 " ear-fungi " form gelatinous, dark-brown, shell-shaped 

 masses, and the " coral fungi " resemble branching corals 

 (Fig. 264). The Hydnum forms have spinous processes 



instead of gills (Fig. 

 265). The puffballs or- 

 ganize globular bodies 

 (Fig. 266), within which 

 the spores develop, and 

 are not liberated until 

 ripe ; and with them 



belong also 

 nest fungus," 

 star," the 

 "stink-horn, 



the "bird's 

 ' the "earth 

 ill-smelling 



etc. 



Fig. 266. Puffballs, in which the basidia and 

 spores are inclosed ; edible, — After Gibson. 



OTHER THALLOPHYTES 

 WITHOUT CHLOROPHYLL 



192. Slime -moulds. — 



These perplexing forms, 

 named Myxomycetes, do 

 not seem to be related 

 to any group of plants, 

 and it is a question 

 whether they are to be regarded as plants or animals. The 

 working body is a mass of naked protoplasm called a Plas- 

 modium, suggesting the term " slime," and slips along like 

 a gigantic amoeba. They are common in forests, upon 

 black soil, fallen leaves, and decaying logs, the slimy yel- 

 low or orange masses ranging from the size of a pinhead 

 to as large as a man's hand. They are saprophytic, and 

 are said to engulf food as do the amcebas. So suggestive 

 of certain low animals is this body and food habit that 

 slime-moulds have also been called Mycetozoa or "fungus- 

 animals. " 



