STRUCTURE. 31 
joints, from which, especially from the last, spring short branch- 
lets, often consisting of a single cell. Sometimes two or more 
branchlets spring from the same point. Occasionally the threads 
are constricted without any dissepiments, the terminal articula- 
tions are obtuse, and soon swell very much, so as greatly to 
exceed in diameter those on which they are seated. When arrived 
at their full growth, they are somewhat obovate, and produce 
four spicules, which at length are surmounted each with a glo- 
bose spore. When the spores are fully developed, the sporophores 
wither, and if a solution of iodine be applicd, which changes 
the spores to a rich brown, they will be scen still adhering by 
their spicules to the faded sporophores. The spores soon 
become free, but the spicule oft.n still adheres to them; 
but they are not attached to the intermingled filaments. 
In Bovista plumbea, the spores have very long peduncles.* As 
in the Hymenomycetes, the prevailing type of reproductive organs 
consisted of quaternary spores borne on spicules ; so in Gastero- 
mycetes, the prevailing type, in so far as it is yet known, is very 
similar, in some cases nearly identical, consisting of a definite 
number of minute spores borne on spicules seated on basidia. 
In a very large number of genera, the minute structure and 
development of the fructification (beyond the mature spores) 
is almost unknown, but from analogy it may be concluded that 
a method prevails in a large group like the Alyxogastres which 
does not differ in essential particulars from that which is known 
to exist in other groups. The difficulties in the way of studying 
the development of the spores in this are far greater than in the 
previous order. 
Myxocasrres.— At one time that celebrated mycologist, Pro- 
fessor De Bary, seemed disposed to exclude this group from the 
vegetable kingdom altogether, and relegate them to a companion- 
ship with amoeboid forms. But in more recent works he seems 
to have reconsidered, and almost, if not entirely, abaudoncd, 
that disposition. These fungi, mostly minute, are characterized 
in their early stages by their gelatinous nature. The substance 
* Berkeley, ‘‘On the Fructification of Lycoperdon, &c.,” in ‘Annals of 
Natural Histcry ’’ (1840), iv. p. 155. 
