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comparatively delicate and colorless, spores non-septate. There 
is no doubt that lichen spores still play a part in lichen reproduc- 
tion. Zhis can however only take place when the spore with the 
specific algal symbionts are placed in a suitable environment. That 
is, spores and algae must fall upon a spot where the algae can 
maintain existence independently until such time as the spores 
shall develop a mycelial network with haustoria with which to sur- 
round the algae, thus forming the beginning of a new lichen thallus. 
Should, for example, the spores with the requisite algae fall upon 
a dry rock the algae would die, and if the spores should subse- 
quently develop there would be no algae with which to form a 
lichen. From this it is evident that lichen spores must be very 
unreliable as assistants in lichen reproduction. From the very 
nature of things, lichen spores are not true reproductive organs of 
lichens, hence their tendency to degenerate. 
The question whether lichen spores are sexual or asexual 
products is still unsettled. The observations of Stahl in’the case 
of Collema microphyllum have not yet been verified. If his obser- 
vations prove to be correct, then we may assume that lichen spores 
are sexual products. I am, however, strongly inclined to believe 
that Stahl’s observations were probably erroneous. From numer- 
ous examinations of so-called “spermagonia,” I believe them to 
be parasitic fungi, of which the “spermatia” are the spores. 
From a rather hasty comparative study it seems probable that 
their homologues are to be found in Septoria or allied genera. 
For example, Septoria Speculariae presents the general morpho- 
logical appearance of spermagonia. The fact that we readily re- 
cognize Sep/oria as parasitic fungi lies only in the nature of things. 
In case of Septoria the morphological and physiological contrast 
between host and parasite is great, while in the case of spermago- 
nia this contrast is only slight. No one would ever think of re- 
cognizing Septoria Speculariae as the male reproductive organs of 
Specularia perfoliata, upon which it lives. Such a suggestion 
would certainly be highly ridiculous. Then why should sperma- 
gonia of lichens be recognized as male reproductive organs, espe- 
cially since no one has demonstrated that they play such a func- 
tion? According to Wiesner, spermatia do develop a mycelium 
which finally produces spermagonia. From this the true nature 
