Download alpine regions, turf and dead herbaceous stems, exposed in spring

XXX
MYCBTOZOA
alpine regions, turf and dead herbaceous stems, exposed in
spring by thawing of the snows under which they have lain
hidden for many months, often abound with characteristic
species of Lepidoderma or Lam,proderma, whose plasmodia
have developed under the snow. On Sphagnum-bogs appear
Badhamia Ulacina and Lepidoderma tigrinum, while other
species have been found on open moorland and bare soil;
in such exposed situations the sporangia are soon washed
away by rain and may be easily overlooked. Living pilei of
leathery fungi form the habitat of a few species. Badhamia
utricularis feeds on species of Stereum, Physarum rigidum on
Schizophyllum, while Trichamphora has been found repeatedly
on Auricularia as well as on decaying leaves.*
About three hundred species of Mycetozoa are recognized at
the present time, thirty of which have been added since the
last edition of this work appeared. A hundred and ninety
sjtecies have been recorded from Great Britain and Ireland.
Note for Collecting.-—In collecting Mycetozoa it is well to
be ftrovided with small boxes lined with cork to which fragile
specimens may be securely pinned. Immature sporangia
should be kept in a moist atmosphere until they have reached
maturity. When this stage is attained they should be kept
as dry as possible and guarded from the attacks of insects ;
they may then be preserved for an indefinite length of time.
In this country all that is needful is to fasten them by glue to
the trays of store-boxes, or, better, to pasteboard trays
fitting into store-boxes, and keep them in a dry cabinet with
an abundant supply of naphthaline. In the moist climate
of the tropics it has been found useful to expose the specimens
to sunlight to dry them thoroughly, and afterwards to subject
them to strong fumes of benzene to destroy insects, before
placing them in store-boxes. It may be noted, however, that,
should no better means of transport be at hand, many speci­
mens will arrive in an identifiable condition after having been
sent by post merely folded in a wrapping of soft paper enclosed
in an envelope.
Owing to the perfection in which the dried sporangia retain
their characters, when carefully preserved, we possess in the
different herbaria representative collections of specimens from
many parts of the world, some of them dating back to over
a hundred years, which may be as easily identified as when
first gathered.
Mounting.-—For making permanent mountings glycerine
jelly is the best medium for most species, as it does not cause
shrinking of the spores, whose size and markings are often
characteristic ; unfortunately the calcareous granules em"* For a more detailed account of the haunts of the Mycetozoa sec G. Lister, ' Myce­
tozoa ', Essex Field Club Special Memoir, No. vi, W - 3 2 (1918).