TRICHIA PERSIMILIS IS FOUND THROUGHOUT THE NORTHERN WORLD

Painting from life by William Crowder There are two distinct phases in the life history of slime molds-the vegetative and the reproductive. The vegetative phase is known as the plasmodium of the species. The substance of the plasmodium resembles the white of an egg in consistency, is slippery to the touch, tasteless and odorless, This specimen is enlarged 40 diameters.

National Geographic Society
Painting from life by William Crowder
LAMPRODERMA ARCYRIONEMA OCCURS IN LARGE COLONIES ON BARKLESS, DECAYING LOGS. ENLARGED 40 DIAMETERS
In their plasmodial state (see under Color Plate V) slime molds are found in damp situations, and in warm weather they spread over
moist surfaces and creep through cracks and rotting bark.

Painting from life by William Crowder

National Geographic Society
Stemonitis splendens is one of the commonest of the mycetozoa. Its slender, dusky sporangia sometimes reach a height of an inch
or more, and resemble miniature attenuated spikes of the reeds known as "cat-tails.' A good magnifying glass is needed to resolve the
finer details of the intricate network of Stemonitis. Its loose and gauzy labyrinth of plasmodium (see under Color Plate V) has a weird
charm and unearthly beauty all its own. Enlarged 10 diameters.

THE CHASTE ELEGANCE OF THIS SLIME MOLD'S PROPORTIONS COMMANDS ADMIRATION

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PHYSARUM LATERITIUM RESEMBLES CLOSELY THE FAMILIAR "PUFFBALL"

The plasmodium of slime molds (see under Color Plate V) shows marked "irritability," avoiding strong light and seeking moisture and food. It frequently surrounds soft organic substances and completely digests them: Physarum lateritium is a cosmopolitan species, being equally at home in New York, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Ceylon, Java and Brazil. The species is magnified 50 diameters in this painting.

National Geographic Society
Painting from life by William Crowder
THE IRIDESCENT HUES OF DIACHEA LEUCOPODA RIVAL THE TINTS OF A PEACOCK'S FEATHERS
This lovely species of mycetozoa is not uncommon in the Eastern States, but is rare west of the Mississippi. It is easily identified by
its white stem. Enlarged 75 diameters.