SLIME MOULDS (mYXOMYCETES) 



17 



the number (8) of chromosomes immediately precedes the formation 

 of the sporangia. The reduction division, which results in the forma- 

 tion of spores, is preceded by synapsis, diakinesis and heterotypic 

 nuclear division. Small nuclei and large nuclei are seen. The large 

 nuclei are probably fusion nuclei. The small nuclei probably 

 disintegrate. 



To the order Myxogastrales belong the majority of the Myxo- 

 MYCETES (Figs. 2 and 3). Many are found on deca)fing wood as Dic- 

 tydium cernuum with black spore contents, Arcyria nutans and A. 



Fig. 3. — A, B, Leocarpus fragilis. A, Sporangium'naturalsize; B, capillitium 

 2.P0/1; C. Craterium Uucocephalum sporangia, 6/1; D, Physarum sinuosum spor- 

 angium, 6/1; E, F, Tilmadoche mulabilis; E. sporangia, 20/1; F, capillitium, 200/1. 

 (A , C, D, after nalure; B, E, F, after Roslajinski in Die natUrlichen Pfianzenfamilien 

 I. I, p. 32.) 



punicea have net-like capillitia, the former with yellow, the latter 

 with a red one. Lycogala epidendrum has a cinnabar-red plasmodium 

 and a brownish-gray aethalium. Trichia varia, T.. chrysosperma, He- 

 miarcyria clavata have yellow sporangia and golden-yellow spirally 

 sculptured elaters, Reticidaria lycoperdon has a large brown cake-like 

 sethalium. The yellow plasmodium of Fuligo septica sometimes covers 

 spent tan bark and is known as "flowers of tan. " It is one of the most 

 generally distributed of slime moulds and the writer has found its 

 ffithaUa on the bark of street trees and even on the bricks of the street 

 pavements, as yellow-brown, cake-like fructifications crumbhng readily 



