192 DopGE: RELATIONSHIPS OF FLORIDEAE AND ASCOMYCETES 
as far back as Coleochaete, and from this remote origin would have 
two parallel lines of development, one leading up to the red algae, 
the other to the Ascomycetes. This is leaving to the ‘‘tendencies 
to parallelism” the entire explanation of the obvious similarities 
of the various other structures in both groups. Bucholtz (21), 
concentrating his attention on the possible evolution of the ascus 
in such a case as Endogone, also explains the trichogyne as due 
to accidental “ parallelism’’ in development. 
We can arrange a series of the forms best known as to their 
development which shows a progressive shortening of the tricho- 
gyne and a corresponding reduction in the number of the antheridia 
and their gradual shifting towards a position nearer the o6gonium: 
Collema microphyllum, Physma compactum, Collema pulposum, 
Ascobolus carbonarius, Thecotheus Pelletieri, Ascobolus magnificus, 
Lachnea stercorea, Pyronema, Ascodesmis, Sphaerotheca. 
In Collema microphyllum the spermatia are developed at some 
distance from the trichogyne which is active only in reaching the 
surface of the thallus. The spermatia are borne to the tricho- 
gyne through the agencies of water and wind. In Physma com- 
pactum the trichogynes grow up around the spermogonium. The 
spermatia are separated from the trichogynes by only a short dis- 
tance, and the apothecium is developed within or around the old 
spermogonium. In Collema pulposum we find the antheridial 
branches scattered throughout the thallus, the spermatia remain 
loosely attached to the stalk and the trichogyne has become the 
active structure in seeking out thespermatium. ‘The old sperma- 
tiophore and trichogyne may or may not become included within 
the space occupied by the apothecium (Fic. 7). In Ascobolus 
carbonarius the antheridial conidia are distributed at various 
places through the mycelium bearing the ascogonium and are never 
set free from the stalk. Instead of clusters of spermatia being 
borne on one stalk we find only a spore-like ‘‘ antheridium.”” The 
trichogyne grows out to the “ antheridium ’’ in much the same way 
as in Collema pulposum. The entire archicarp is finally enclosed in 
the enveloping hyphae in the early development of the apothecium. 
Here too we find a much larger number of antheridia than tricho- 
gynes developed. A further stage in this reduction and shortening 
of the trichogyne is found in A scobolus magnificus, where generally 
