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Under Pliycomycetes the author includes all plants having the follow¬ 
ing characteristics: 
Vegetative bodies one-celled, only forming septa during the produc¬ 
tion of reproductive organs, or when still older, sometimes unbranched 
and changing wholly into a sporangium (holocarpal), sometimes a richly 
branched mycelium with special reproductive organs (eu-carpal). Non- 
sexual reproduction by swarm spores or non-motile spores$ sexual by 
zoospores or oospores. 
The following is Dr. Fischer’s classification: 
phycomycetes (Siphomycetes). 
I. Series. Archimycetes (Cliytridiaceae). 
II. Series. Zygomycetes. 
III. Series. Oomycetes. 
Under the first series he gives the following subdivisions and family characters. 
1. Order. Myxochytridineae. 
1. Family. Monolpidiaceae (Olpidiaceae). 
The entire vegetative body changing holocarpally into a single spherical or elon¬ 
gated zoosporangium or one resting spore. Sexuality observed in one case. 
2. Family. Merolpidiaceae (Synchytriaceae). 
The entire vegetative body splits up holocarpally into a number of sporangia and 
produces a roundish or long one-rowecLsporangial sorus. Resting state either a heap 
of resting spores, cystosori, or single resting spores, which arise from the entire un¬ 
divided vegetative body or single parts of it. 
2. Order. Mycochytridinae. 
1. Family. Holochytriaceae (Ancylistaceae). 
Vegetable body tubeform or vermiform, unbranched or Avith short side branches, 
dividing by cross septa into a number of members, all of which change into repro¬ 
ductive organs (sporangia, oogonia, antheridia). Strictly holocarpal and rnono- 
phagous, always intramatrical. 
2. Family. Sporochytriaceae (Rhizidiaceae, Polypliagaceae). 
Vegetative body consisting of two parts, a spherical strong growing swarm spore, 
and a tenuous, thread-form, often very delicate, mycelial part. The ball-shaped part 
grows into a single sporangium, or into a single resting spore. Resting spores also 
develop in another manner from the mycelial part, or by the copulation of two 
plants. The mycelial part always perishes after one fructification, i. e., it is strictly 
monocarpal, but also eu-carpal. There are two subfamilies, Metasporeae, and Or- 
thosporeae. 
3. Family. Hyphocliytriaceae (Cladochytriaceae). 
Vegetative body, a more or less branched and originally one-celled mycelium, 
which forms simultaneously a great number of terminal and intercalary swellings, 
and out of those zoosporangia or resting spores; eu-carpal, but mostly monocarpal; 
not perennial. Sexuality wanting. 
Under the second series he gives: 
1. Order. Mucorinae. 
1. Suborder. Sporangiopliorae. 
1. Family. Mucoraceae. 
The cross wall which separates the stalk from the sporangium arches into the lat¬ 
ter and projects as a columella, often far out. Zygospores naked, or only euA r el- 
oped by a loose mycelial tissue, never inclosed in a compact receptacle and forming 
a fruit body. Three subfamilies, Mucoreae, Thamuidieae, and Pilobolese. 
2. Family. Mortierellaceae. 
