i6o British Funo;i. 



algal-like, sexual fungi, by tlie Protoraycetai and the 

 TJstilaginese. According to Brefeld the Protomi/cfe% 

 are genetically related to the Mucorini, the kiuship 

 being indicated by the homology presented between 

 the asexual mode of reproduction in the two families; 

 in the Mucorini the sexual mode of reproduction is by 

 conjugation, the asexual mode by the production of 

 sporangia containiug gonidia. In the Protomycetse the 

 sexual mode of reproduction is entirely suppressed, and 

 the asexual method agrees with that of the Mucorini in 

 being a sporangium containing a number of gonidia, 

 hence we may consider the Protomycetse as a side 

 branch of the Mucorini characterized by the total 

 arrest of the sexual mode of reproduction, and shadow- 

 ing in the evolution of an enormous assemblage of 

 fungi characterized by produciug the spores in asci 

 or modified sporangia, and known collectively as the 

 Ascomycetes. 



The TsHlaginese in like manner are genetically 

 allied to the CJicetocladiacese: In the latter family the 

 sexual form of reproduction is by zygospores ; in the 

 asexual form the slender gonidiophore is repeatedly 

 branched towards the apex, the lateral branchlets of 

 the last order swell into irregularly capitate, basidia- 

 like bodies with 8 — 20 short, slender sterigmata, each 

 producing a spore at its apex. In the Ustilaginese, as 

 in the Protomycetse, the sexual condition is entirely 

 arrested, and the asexual mode of reproduction is 

 mostly confined to the formation of thick-walled 

 resting-spores or chlamydosjjores, produced singly or 

 in clusters on slender branches which are considered 

 as incipieut basidia, hence the Vstilaginese are con- 



