210 



BOTANY. 



sporangium, which may be distinct (Fig. 144, B), or it may 

 be a flattisb, cake-like mass, the so-called wthaliwn, directly 

 derived from the plasmodium. In most cases the spore- 

 bearing masses contain internally, besides the spores, a 

 structure called the Capillitium, consist- 

 ing of thin-walled, spirally thickened, or 

 otherwise marked tubes variously disposed 

 (Pig. 144, C, cp). In some cases, where 

 there is a distinct sporangium, the pedi- 

 cel of the latter is eontimied into it as a 

 central column ; this is known as the Col- 

 umella ; it may send out branches which 

 support the walls of the sporangium. 



- Swarm- 

 sporesof Cliondrioder- 

 ma diffoime (Didy- 

 mium Liberiianvm of 

 De Bary) coaleeclng or 

 conjugating, x 390.— 

 After Cienkowski. 



(a) The latest classification of the Myxomycetes 

 is by Eostafinski.* He distinguishes seven or- 

 ders, as follows : 



Order I. Protodermese. Sporangia simple, of regular shape, not 

 possessed of a capillitium, with violet spores. 



Order II. Calcarese. Sporangia simple or compound, often pro- 

 vided with a columella, spores violet or violet brown ; whole fructifica- 

 tion, with more or less de- 

 posits of carbonate of lime. 



This includes many com- 

 mon species, under the 

 genera Physarum, Fuligo, 

 Bidymium, Spumaria, etc. 



Order III. Amauro- 

 clisetese. Single sporan- 

 gium or sEithalium, with- 

 out lime ; spores, capilli- 

 tium, and columella almost 

 always uniformly black, or 

 brownish. violet colored. 



In this order the genus 

 Stemonitis furnishes the 

 most common species. 



Order IV. Anemese. 

 Sporangium or BBtlialium 

 without capillitium or lime; columella not evident, wall of sporan- 



* "Monografia Sluzowce.'" Dr. Joseph Rostafinski, 1875. An Eng- 

 lish translation of so much as pertains to British species may be found 

 in " The Myxomycetes of Great Britain," by M. C. Cooke, 1877. In a 



Fig. 144.— Fructification of Arcyiia ineariiata 

 (A. adnata at Rtfki.). B, young sporangium; C, 

 mature sporangium ruptured ; c_p, capillitium; 

 p, wall of sporangium. X 20.— After Sachs. 



