DopGE: RELATIONSHIPS OF FLORIDEAE AND ASCOMYCETES 191 
Plectascineae and Perisporiaceae with cleistocarps, the Pyreno- 
mycetes with pyrenocarps, and the Discomycetes with apothecia 
or discocarps is quite misleading. Considering the vast number 
of types whose development is yet unknown it would be premature 
to attempt a final arrangement of the groups along new lines, but 
in view of the overwhelming evidence in favor of the Floridean 
origin of the group the possibility that the apothecium as found in 
the lichens is primitive must certainly be considered. It should 
be borne in mind, however, that there are Pyrenomycetes like 
Polystigma and pyrenomycetous lichens like Pyrenula with primi- 
tive types of archicarps and spermatia. The character and rela- 
FIG. 13 
Fic. 12 
Fic. 12. Apothecia of Ascobolus magnificus. Photomicrograph of young fruit 
bodies grown on agar, showing the pore-like opening at the apex and the fluffy w ite 
exterior; at this stage no ‘“‘hooks” or young asci are to be found. Magnified three 
times 
Fic. 13. Apothecia of Ascobolus magnificus, both young and mature fruits, 
natural size. The brilliant white margin shown in this photograph is very char- 
acteristic of this species. 
tive development of the trichogyne is perhaps to be regarded as 
more significant in determining phylogeny than the form of the 
ascocarp. 
The evidence furnished by the trichogyne with all its varia- 
tions in the Laboulbeniaceae and the other Ascomycetes seems to 
be sufficient ground for assuming that the Ascomycetes have 
been derived from the Florideae. Vuillemin (92) would derive 
them from the ancestors of the Florideae, perhaps from some form 
