12 MYCETOZOA OBSERVED AT THE FUNGUS FORAY, 1902.
present time. They are looking for help from science to assist
them in their practical work. Whilst doctors are at work over
microbes in their laboratories, in order to unveil the mysteries of
human disease and alleviate human suffering, the vegetable
pathologist should also be equally earnest in searching out the
mysteries of plant diseases, so as to ease the mind and replenish
the pockets of the cultivator.
MYCETOZOA OBSERVED AT THE FUNGUS
FORAY, 1902.
By ARTHUR LISTER. F.R.S., F.L.S.
THE Field Club's ramble on October 18th did not yield so
rich a harvest of Mycetozoa as on some previous
occasion1. The season has not been favourable for them, and
only 12 species were obtained, viz. :—
Badhamia utricularis, Berk.
Physarum nutans, Pers.
,, virnum, Somm.
Fuligo septica. Gmelin,
Leocarpus vernicosus, Link.
Didymium nigripes, Fr.
Comatricha obtusata, Preuss.
,, persoonii, Rost.
Trichia varia, Pers.
,, scabra, Rost.
Arcyria punicea, Pers.
Lycogala miniatum, Pers.
Stereum hirsutum has spread in large patches on many of the
felled hornbeams, and almost always where this was the case
the plasmodium of Badhamia utricularis was advancing in orange-
coloured veins, devouring the fungus2; the ripe fruit was only
found in two or three instances. The other Mycetozoa met
with were common species, and need no comment.
1 Consult Mr. Lister's paper "Practical Hints on the Study of the Mycetozoa, with notes
on the Epping Forest species,'' in Essex Nat., vol. x., pp. 23—27.—Ed.
2 See note on plasmodia stage of Badhamia in Journal of Proceedings E.F.C, vol. iv. p.
clxxiii.