446 MR. G. MASSEE ON THE 
In Polyactis the spore-bearing branchlets are slightly thickened 
and obtuse, and bear several spores. In Phymatotrichum the tips 
of the fertile branchlets are clavate and bear several spicules or in- 
cipient sterigmata, each giving origin to a spore. Finally, in the 
subgenus Cristularia the fertile tips are clavate and bear at the 
apex avariable number of slender elongated sterigmata, each sup- 
porting a spore (Pl. 16. fig. 21); differing only from a true Auto- 
basidiomycete in being considered a Hyphomycete, and in being 
undoubtedly allied to an assemblage of forms, some of which 
recede from the typical Autobasidiomycete structure in the 
basidia. 
Compare Pl. 16. fig. 21 with fig. 20, which illustrates a fertile 
branch of Coniophora ochracea, Massee, a typical Autobasidio- 
mycete. Figures 20 and 21 are copied from sketches made 
several years ago. 
Isaria umbrina, Pers., the conidial stage of Hypoxylon coc- 
cineum, Bull. (Pl. 16. fig. 22), and Trichoderma viride, Pers., the 
conidial form of Hypocrea rufa, Fr. (Pl. 16. fig. 23), further illust- 
rate the conidial stage of ascigerous fungi having spore-bearing 
bodies closely resembling the basidia of the Autobasidiomycetes. 
The resemblance is so close in fact that had these structures been 
borne by.am@Feanism agreeing with our preconceived conception 
of what an Autobasidiomycete should be, based on the old 
traditional standard, their conformity with the ideal type would 
never have been questioned. 
SUMMARY. 
1. The conidial condition of certain ascigerous fungi bear 
their spores on structures morphologically indistinguishable from 
the basidia of the Protobasidiomycetes. 
2. Some members of the same form-genera as those de- 
scribed in paragraph 1, as Sfilbum vulgare, Tode, have lost the 
ascigerous condition from their life-cycle, and are accepted aa 
true Protobasidiomycetes ; hence we are justitied in concluding 
that the Protobasidiomycetes as a group originated from ancestors 
that represented the conidial condition of ascigerous fungi. 
3. There is no evidence in favour of the suggestion that the 
Autobasidiomycetes are descended from the Protobasidiomycetes: 
on the other hand, the evidence in favour of the Autobasidio- 
