344 
THE LARGER FUXGI 
MYXOMYCETES (MYCETOZOA). 
Ill tlie Myxoniyeetes or Myeetozoa wo have forms of life which possess some of 
the features of animal forms, hence the name of Myeotoaoa, and some of tlu'se 
of the fungi (and so the term Myxomycetes) . The spores on germinating form 
amoeboid bodies, nhicdi tlien assume a flagellate form, change to amoebulae, and 
after further division unite in pairs to form zygotes. The zygotes grow into a 
plasmodium which is feebly motile, advancing over the substratum with a creeping 
movement in searcli of food. Finally wlren the nourishment is exhausted or 
maturity has been reached, the non-niotile sporangium or fruiting body develops, 
which may be sessile or stalked, and if the latter is often elaborately and delicately 
formed and of great artistic beauty. 
South Australia is not rich in species, at any rate in the case of the larger 
forms. Collections have been sent to Miss A. Lister and the species here 
recorded are from her determinations. The descriptions are taken from “A 
Monograph of the Mycetozoa ” by Arthur Lister, F.R.S., F.L.S., Third Edition, 
revised by G'uliebna Lister, F.L.S. 
CLASSIFICATION. 
Subclass 1.— EXOSPOREAE.* 
Spores developed outside a sporopliore. 
Family 1. Ceratiomyxaceae. — Sporophores membranous, branched; spores 
white, borne singly on filiform stalks arising from tire areolated sporopliore. 
Subclass II.— ENDOSPOREAE. 
S])ores developed inside a sporangium. 
Order- I. Amai’kosporales. — S pores violet-brown or purplish-grej', rarely 
ferruginous or colourless. 
Suborder I. Caia’ARINEAE. — Sporangia provided with lime (calcium carbonate). 
Family 1. Physaraceae. — Lime in the form of minute round granules (some- 
times in rounded nodules or absent in Diachea). 
Family 2. Didymiaceae.- — Lime in crystals dejrosited outside the sporangium- 
wall, rarely scanty or none. 
Suborder II. AmaxT\0(UIAET1NEAE. — Sporangia without lime. 
Family 1. CoUodermaceae. — Sporangium distinct, sessile, with an outer 
gelatinous wall. 
Family 2. Stemonitaceae. — Sporangia distinct, provided usually with a stalk 
and columella. 
Family 3. Amaurochaetaceae, — Sporangia combined to form an aethalium. 
Order II. LAiEPROSPORALES. — Spores variously coloured, not violet brown or 
])urplish-grey (except in Licea minima and Listerella). 
Suborder I. Ane.mineae. — C apillitium wanting, or if present not forming a 
system of uniform threads (except in Ahvisia). 
Family 1. Heterodermaceae. — Sporangium- wall membi-anous, beset with nxiero- 
scopic round plasraodic granules, and (except in Lindbladia) forming a net in the 
upper part. 
Family 2. Liceaceae. — Sporangia solitary; sporangium-wall cartilaginous or 
membranous. 
Family 3. Tubulinaceae. — Sporangium-wall membranous, without plasmodie 
granules; sporangia elusteied, cylindrical or ellipsoid. 
Family -1. Eeticulariaceae. — Sporangia closely compacted and usually forming 
an aetlialium; sporangium-walls incomplete or foT-zuing a spurious capillitium; 
true capillitium none, or in Liceopsis consisting of Ei few briinehing threails or 
strands. 
Fiindy 5. Lycogalaceae. — Sporangia forming an aethalium; pseudo-capillitium 
consisting of branched colouidess tubes. 
Suborder II. Calonbmineae. — C apillitium present as a system of uniform or 
sculptured threads. 
Family 1. Trichiaceae. — Capillitium consisting of tubular threads, which are 
either free and usually unbrsmched (“elaters”) or form a network branching- 
at wide angles, with thickenings in the form of spirals or rings. 
This Key is taken from Lister’s “A Monograph on the Mycetozon. ” 
