THE BASIS OF PLANT CLASSIFICATION 47 



(b) Fungi. Organisms devoid of chlorophyll ; either saprophytic or 



parasitic. 



(i) Archimycetes. Thallus a naked mass of protoplasm. Asexual 

 reproduction by spores formed in sporangia. Sexual 

 reproduction by motile gametes. 



(2) Phycomycetes. Thallus a mycelium of non-septate hyphae. 



Asexual reproduction by spores formed in sporangia, or 

 by conidiospores. Sexual reproduction by variously 

 formed gametes. 



(3) Ascomycetes. Mycelium of septate hyphae. Asexual repro- 



duction by conidiospores. Sexual reproduction resulting 

 in ascospores formed in sac-like cells (asci) which form 

 a fruiting body. 



(4) Basidiomycetes. Mycelium of septate hyphae. Asexual 



reproduction occasionally by conidiospores. Sexual 

 reproduction resulting in basidiospores borne on short 

 stalks from special cells (basidia) developed on a fruiting 

 body. 



(c) Bacteria. Minute unicellular organisms, usually devoid of chloro- 



phyll and without a fully organized nucleus. Reproduction by 

 binary fission and by spores. Sexual reproduction doubtful. 

 {d) LiCHENES. Compound organisms consisting of fungal and algal 

 partners. Reproduction fungal (mostly Ascomycetes). 



2. Charophyta. Thallus jointed, branched, attached at the base ; con- 

 sisting of large coenocytes, containing chlorophyll. Sexual reproduction by 

 antherozoids in antheridia and oospheres in oogonia. Fresh-water. 



{a) Charales. The sole order. Characters as above. 



3. Bryophyta. Terrestrial or fresh- water. Gametophyte either a thallus 

 or differentiated into stem and leaves, attached by rhizoids but without true 

 roots. Sexual reproduction by antherozoids in antheridia and oospheres in 

 archegonia. Sporophyte permanently attached to the gametophyte. Homo- 

 sporous. 



{a) Hepaticae. Gametophyte thalloid or with leafy stem. Sex organs 

 apical or dorsal. Sporophyte usually non-chlorophyllous. 



{h) Musci. Gametophyte with leafy stem. Sex organs apical or lateral. 

 Sporophyte usually chlorophyllous. 



4. Pteridophyta. Mainly terrestrial. Sporophyte with stem, roots and 

 leaves. Vascular tissue present. Spores produced in sporangia. Gameto- 

 phyte a small prothallus bearing antheridia and archegonia. 



(a) PsiLOPSiDA. Sporophyte with small leaves (microphyllous) or none. 

 Homosporous. No true roots. Sporangia free or united into 

 synangia, terminal or on specialized branches. Gametophyte in 

 living forms reduced, saprophytic. 



