THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 119 



the neighbouring soil. Prof. Kerner proves conclusively that 

 the hyphae actually take the part of the root-hairs. Here then 

 we have true symbiosis, for one partner, the mycelium of fungi, 

 absorbs nourishment and moisture from the surrounding soil ; 

 having no chlorophyll to elaborate this sap it pierces the roots of 

 the other partner, which, on the other hand, is not properly en- 

 dowed with root-hairs, and pours in the cell sap ; this reaches the 

 leaves of the host, where it is converted into elaborated sap, and 

 after nourishing the one partner, the remainder is passed out to 

 the mycelium to enable it to grow and flourish. The partnership 

 commences from the moment the secondary roots of the plant 

 appear ; they become surrounded by hyphae, and as the growing 

 point of the root pierces the ground and spreads far and wide up 

 and down, so the hyphse follows and surrounds the younger roots, 

 nor do they ever part until the plant dies, and both partners 

 perish together. 



To prove that such a partnership is not injurious to the higher 

 organization, it has been ascertained that while young plants of 

 Oak have their young roots surrounded by hyphae, so the mature 

 Oaks of one hundred years have the fibrous extremities of their 

 roots clothed in the same manner. The range of species which 

 live in this social union is certainly very large. Professor Kerner 

 gives the following list : — "All Pyrolaceae, Vaccineae, and Arbutae, 

 most if not all Ericaceae, Rhododendrons, Daphnoidae, and species 

 of Empetrum, Epacris, and Genista, a great number of Conifers, 

 and apparently all the Cupuliferae, as well as several Willows 

 and Poplars, are dependent for nutrition on the assistance of 

 mycelia." 



Here I would like to mention my own experience in the 

 matter. Noting that Roses, Pinks, and Ivy were known to grow 

 from slips placed in pure sand, I carefully examined the smaller 

 root-fibres under the microscope, but found no trace of mycelia. 

 I then obtained roots of Rhododendron, Genista, Ericaceae, and 

 Epacridae. On the Rhododendron roots I found a number of 

 hyphae placed in a straggling manner between and around the fibres ; 

 I was not so successful with the Genista, for the roots were rather 

 too old, but the small ends of the fibrous roots both in the 

 Ericas and Epacrids were covered. I do not consider that my 

 experiments were a sufficient test, as the weather had been very 

 dry, and the hyphse are easily destroyed, still I was greatly im- 

 pressed by the fact that the Rose, Ivy, and Pinks were totally 

 devoid of fungi, while the Ericas and Epacrids were fairly covered. 

 I trust some of the younger members of our Club will take the 

 matter in hand. It opens a wide field for experiment and 

 research, and as the theory, at least that part relating to the 

 symbiosis of fungi with phanerogams, is comparatively new even 

 in Europe, the Australian student will have a good chance of 

 distinction in this neglected branch of botanical knowledge. 



