THALLOPHYTES 323 



3. The following are the chief Divisions of the Vegetable 

 Kingdom : — 



Division I. Myxomycetes, 



„ II. Thallophyta. 



„ III. Bryophyta. 



„ IV. Pteridophyta. 



„ V. Spermaphyta. 



The plants included in the first four divisions are often spoken 

 of as Flowerless plants or Cryptogams. Among them repro- 

 duction is carried on chiefly by means of minute one-celled 

 bodies termed spores, which are set free from the parent plant 

 and afterwards germinate and give rise to new plants. 



The Spermaphytes (Division V.) were formerly designated 

 Flowering plants or Phanerogams. In these, reproduction is 

 carried on chiefly by means of seeds, each of which contains an 

 embryo-plant. 



Division I. — The Myxomycetes are commonly known as 

 slime-fungi. In a vegetative state the bodies of these organisms 

 consist of naked masses of protoplasm termed Plasmodia, and 

 are capable of creeping about in a manner similar to the 

 movement of an ordinary amoeba. The Myxomycetes are devoid 

 of chlorophyll, and almost entirely saprophytic, that is, they 

 feed mainly upon decaying organic remains, many species being 

 common upon rotten wood and dead leaves. In several respects 

 they greatly resemble the lowest forms of the animal kingdom, 

 and are by some authorities included in the latter and spoken 

 of as Mycetozoa, or fungus-animals : their method of reproduc- 

 tion by means of spores is, however, similar to that prevalent 

 among certain Fungi. 



One organism generally included in this division and described 

 in chapter 1., is parasitic, and the cause of the disease known as 

 ' Finger-and-toe ' or ' club-root ' among turnips and cabbages. 



Division II. — The Thallophytes are plants, such as sea-weeds, 



