Fructification essentially a minute membranaceous vesicle, the SPORANGIUM inclosing the SPORES, the product of a motile protoplasmic body called the PLASMODIUM. Microscopic organisms with the habit of the Fungi. The ripe spore of the Myxomycetes is globose or ellipsoidal in shape, with the epispore colorless or colored, and smooth or marked by characteristic surface—sculpture according to the species; the spore in germination gives rise to an elongated protoplasmic body, which exhibits amoeboid

Sporangia always sessile, simple and regular or plasmodiocarp, sometimes united into an æthalium. The wall a thin, firm, persistent membrane, often granulose-thickened, usually rupturing irregularly. Spores globose, usually some shade of umber or olivaceous, rarely violaceous. The species of this order are the simplest of the Myxomycetes; the sporangium, with a firm, persistent wall contains only the spores. There is no trace of a capillitium, unless a few occasional threads in the wall of Tubul

Sporangia simple, regular and stipitate, or compound, forming an æthalium; the wall a thin membrane with distinct fibrous thickenings upon the inner surface, the membrane, or at least certain portions of it, disappearing usually at the maturity of the spores, leaving behind the more permanent fibrous thickenings as a more or less definite capillitium. Spores globose, purple, brown, ochraceous, rarely violaceous. In this order the threads of a capillitium first make their appearance; but they are

Sporangia sessile or plasmodiocarp; the wall a thin membrane, with a more or less thickened outer layer of minute brownish scales and granules. Capillitium of long and very slender tubules, proceeding from numerous points of the sporangial wall, loosely branched, forming no evident network, the surface minutely warted or spinulose. Spores globose, oval, or somewhat irregular, yellow. The order is distinguished by the sessile sporangia, with thick brown walls, and the very slender threads of the

Sporangia regular and stipitate, rarely sessile; the wall a thin membrane, minutely granulose, colored as the spores and capillitium, the upper part soon torn away in a somewhat circumscissile manner, and early disappearing. Capillitium of slender tubules, repeatedly branching and anastomosing to form a complicated network of evident meshes, more or less expanded after dehiscence; the surface of the threads minutely warted or spinulose or with elevated ridges in the shape of rings, half rings or

Sporangium regular and stipitate or sessile, rarely plasmodiocarp; the wall a thin membrane, usually granular or venulose on the inner surface, colored as the spores and capillitium, irregularly dehiscent. Capillitium of slender tubules, simple or branched, scarcely forming an evident network; the surface of the threads furnished with continuous ridges, which wind around the tube in a spiral manner. Spores globose, red, brown, yellow, olivaceous. This order is readily recognized by the spiral ri

Sporangia globose or ovoid to oblong and cylindrical, stipitate; the wall very thin and fragile, soon disappearing. Stipe tapering upward and continued within the sporangium as a more or less elongated columella. Capillitium of slender brown threads, arising from numerous points of the columella, repeatedly branching and usually anastomosing to form a network, persistent and rigidly preserving the outline of the sporangium. Spores globose, brown or violaceous. This order is readily distinguished

Sporangia simple and subglobose, or plasmodiocarp, rarely combined into an æthalium. Wall of the sporangium a thin membrane with an outer layer composed of minute stellate crystals, or of minute roundish granules of lime; these either lie singly upon the surface, or are compacted into a crustaceous coat. Stipe present or often wanting; the columella usually conspicuous and well-developed. Capillitium consisting of very slender, often sinuous threads, which extend from the base of the sporangium

Sporangia simple and stipitate or sessile, sometimes plasmodiocarp, rarely combined into an aethalium; the wall a thin membrane, usually with an outer layer of minute roundish granules of lime. Stipe present or often wanting, seldom prolonged within the sporangium as a columella. Capillitium consisting of slender tubules, which branch repeatedly in every direction and anastomose to form an intricate network, the extremities attached on all sides to the wall of the sporangium; the tubules more or