Ixxviii THE BEGINNINGS OF IIFE. 



sidered problematical till the matter was taken up by Tulasne, 

 who has collected many facts connected with the subject, 

 while Messrs. Berkeley and Broome have in more than one 

 instance detected two supposed genera growing from a 

 common stroma. Sphceria inquinaiis, for instance, was de- 

 tected bearing asci internally, and naked spores (Stilbospora) 

 on the outside of the same perithecium. In Tympanis also, 

 in the same cup, perfect asci were found by the side of naked 

 didymous spores. The mycelium of Sphceria Desmazierii was 

 observed to have distinct spores towards the tips of the fila- 

 ments, constituting it a true mould. It is very probable that 

 the genera of fungi will be greatly reduced by the continuance 

 of such observations,' and that double fructification will be 

 found as general amongst fungi as Tulasne has found it to 

 be amongst hchens. 



Fungi have been classified into genera and families princi- 

 pally on the ground of the fructification which is supposed to 

 be peculiar to them ; fungologists are now, however, fast dis- 

 covering that entirely different modes of fructification may be 

 observed in the same species of fungi at different times. Mr. 

 Berkeley ^ tells us that ' In Erysiphe there are no less than 

 five different forms of fruit; the monihform threads on the 

 mycelium ; the asci in the sporangia ; the larger stylospores 

 in other sporangia ; the smaller stylospores in the pycnidia ; 

 and the separate sporules sometimes formed in the joints of 



Esenbeck also assures us that the same fungoid matter -which produces 

 Sclerotium mycetospora in the winter, develops Agaricus volvaceus in 

 the summer. It would thus seem that the opinions of those who have 

 asserted that the species or genus of a Fungus depends not upon the 

 seed from which it springs, but upon the matrix by which it is nourished, 

 are at least specious ; especially if we take the above fact in connection 

 With the experiments of Dutrochet, who obtained different genera of 

 mouldiness at will by employing different infusions. He says that 

 certain acid fluids constantly yield Monilias, and that certain alkaline 

 mixtures equally produce Botrytis. 

 ^ Introduction to 'Crypt. Bot.,' p. 78. 



