10 THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
before the spores are formed. The capillitium differs 
widely in structure in different genera, and is beautifully 
adapted to assist in the dispersion of the spores on their 
reaching maturity. In Stemonites the capillitium springs 
from the columella (a stalk within the sporangium), and 
extends to the surface of the sporangium, where it forms 
an enclosing net; the delicate membrane covering the 
meshes shrivels up on ripening, so that the spores lie in 
an openwork basket, and are blown by the wind through 
the openings. Carbonate of lime is abundant in the plas- 
modium and young sporangia of some species, and the term 
lime-knots is used. It has been suggested that these lime- 
knots contain formic and acetic acids, so that it is pos- 
sible that this may be injurious to animals if eaten in 
sufficient quantity. 
Some of the species of Mycetozoa are remarkably cos- 
mopolitan, a large number of species being found with 
identically the same characters in different parts of the 
world. Forty-eight species have been recorded for New 
South Wales, which are representative in 24 genera and 
11 families, as follow :— 
MYCETOZOA (Myxomycetes). 
Family CERATIOMYXACEM. 
CERATIOMYXA fruticulosa Macbr. 
Family PHYSARACE AH. 
BADHAMIA utricularis Berk. 
PHYSARUM dictyospermum Lister. 
viride Pers. 
viride var incanum Lister. 
flavicomum Berk. Sydney District. 
nutans Pers. 
nutans var leucopheum Lister. Common 
about Sydney. 
cinereum Pers. Common throughout the 
State, especially Port Jackson District. 
gyrosum Rost. Rare, Sydney Bot. Gardens. 
sinuosum Weinm. Sydney District. 
bitectum Lister. 
