The myxomycetes are a group of relatively obscure organisms that inhabit plant surfaces, litter and soil. They are heterotrophic motile organisms and produce spores as a mechanism for reproduction and dispersal.

The terminology associated with their identification is somewhat specific and occasionally unfamiliar. This glossary is intended to assist both the novice and experienced scientist when clarification of terminology is required. The buttons below will take you to terms beginning with those letters, then clicking on the term will take you to the definitions and illustrations.

Glossary of Terms

A — D

Aethaliate
Aethalium
Amoeboflagellate cell
Anastomosed
Angular
Aphanoplasmodium
Areolate
Asperulate
Attenuate

Badhamioid
Binomial
Bryophilous

Calyculus
Capillitium (pl. capillitia)
Cartilaginous
Cellular slime molds
Cinereous
Circumscissile
Clavate
Clustered
Columella
Compressed
Concolorous
Conical
Convoluted
Coprophilous
Cortex
Corticolous
Cylindrical

Dehiscence
Dendroid
Dichotomous
Dictydine granules
Dictyostelids
Discoid


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E — M

Echinate
Effused
Elater
Endosporous
Epiphytic
Exosporous

Fasciculate
Ferruginous
Flagellate
Flagellum
Flexuous
Floriform
Fructification
Fruiting body
Fungivorous
Fuscous
Fusiform

Gamete
Globose
Gregarious

Hyaline
Hygroscopic
Hypha pl. hyphae
Hypothallus

Iridescent

Lenticular
Life cycle
Lignicolous
Lime node
Limy

Membranous
Microcyst
Moist chamber culture
Myxamoeba pl. myxamoebae
Myxomyceticolous

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N — Q

Node

Obovate
Obpyriform
Ochraceous
Olivaceous
Operculate
Operculum
Ovate
Ovoid

Palisade
Pallid
Papillate
Peridial net
Peridium
Perithecium
Persistent
Petaloid
Phaneroplasmodium
Physaroid
Plasmodic granules
Plasmodiocarp
Plasmodiocarpous
Plasmodium
Poroid
Prolate
Prostrate
Protoplasmic streaming
Protoplasmodium (pl. protoplasmodia)
Protostelids
Pseudoaethaliate
Pseudoaethalium (pl. pseudoaethalia)
Pseudocapillitium (pl. pseudocapallitia)
Pseudocolumella (pl. pseudocolumellae)
Pseudoplasmodium (pl. pseudoplasmodia)
Pulverulent
Pulvinate
Punctate
Pyriform

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R — Z

Recurved
Reniform
Reticulate
Revolute
Rugose

Saprophagous
Sclerotium
Sessile
Sinuous
Solitary
Sorocarp
Spinulose
Spiny
Sprongiate
Sporangium
Spore
Spore ball
Spore mass
Sporophore
Sporulate
Sporulation
Stalk
Stellate
Stipe
Stipitate
Striate
Subcylindrical
Subglobose
Surface net
Swarm cell

Terete
Tessellate
Truncate
Turbinate

Umbilicate

Venulose
Verrucose
Verruculose
Violaceous

Warted

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Appreciation is extended to Clive Shirley, Randy Darrah, Lora Lindley-Settlemyre, Ray Simons, Satyendra Rajguru, Fred Spiegel, George Barron and Emily Johnson for contributing images that were used to prepare this presentation.