78 ROMANCE OF LOW LIFE AMONGST PLANTS. 



cannot be the case that an organ (gonidia) should at 

 the same time be a parasite on the body of which it 

 exercises vital functions. If the gonidia are true 

 algae, it was contended by the opponents of the 

 hypothesis, it is insufficient to state that they so 

 closely resemble algae that they might be mistaken 

 for such ; there must be some undoubted evidence 

 produced that they are algse in fact, and not in 

 appearance. It has been demonstrated that the 

 gonidia are developed within the substance of the 

 lichen itself, in a determinate and uniform manner ; 

 that, instead of being altogether a foreign substance, 

 they are generated within it, and hence, according to 

 the theory, the parasite produces from its own sub- 

 stance the host upon which it is parasitic, which is 

 an absurdity. " Parasitic existence is autonomous, 

 living upon a foreign body, of which nature prohibits 

 it from being at the same time an organ." 



From the foregoing and similar facts, it was con- 

 cluded that the assumption that two separate and 

 distinct organisms are combined in one plant, which 

 by its own proper system of reproduction is capable 

 of continuing the species, each individual of its 

 progeny also exhibiting the same phenomena of dual 

 existence, is inconsistent with known scientific facts, 

 because whilst one supposed plant proceeds from its 

 proper germ, the other has none, and is, therefore, 

 spontaneously evolved. 



The theory assumes further, that a fungus is para- 

 sitic upon a smaller and weaker organism, which it 

 does not injure or destroy. This again is contrary 

 to scientific fact, as it confers upon, or assumes for 

 a destructive force conservative powers. 



