Culturing Myxomycetet Plasmodia for Classroom Use

The Myxomycetes are organisms which exhibit both animal and plant characteristics. This dual nature is of considerable interest and worthy of consideration in planning an elementary botany course. Since the plasmodial and fruiting stages can easily be cultured, and recognized, the study of these organisms is a practical project. In the present study bark was collected from well-rotted elm, cottonwood, soft maple, oak stumps and from decaying elm branches found in cool moist places. Oak, ash, aspen, box elder and elm leaves were collected from pockets in the sod where they had gathered and wintered. These collections were made at Iowa City during the latter part of February, 1946