150  DopcE: METHODS OF CULTURE OF ASCOBOLACEAE 
as an organ to bring together in the oogonium the male and the 
female nuclei. 
The term ascogonium will be used in referring to the oogonium 
after fertilization. In such cases as Pyronema the oogonium after 
fertilization becomes the ascogonium. Such a use of terms is of 
course purely morphological and does not prejudge the question 
as to the existence of apogamy, reduced fertilization, etc. 
It is necessary only to mention the antheridium in the lichens, 
in Pyronema, and in Monascus, to call to mind the great variation 
which may occur in this organ, and it would perhaps be premature 
to attempt to substitute a single term in place of the wide variety 
of terms that have been proposed. 
MATERIAL AND METHODS 
The Ascobolaceae form a rather natural group as commonly 
regarded by systematists. The family as now generally recognized 
contains about two hundred described species, grouped under ten 
or twelve genera. The genus Ascobolus was established by Persoon 
(Gmel. Syst. Nat. 2: 1461. 1791) to include those Discomycetes 
in which the mature asci protrude from the fruit body. 
Several noteworthy monographs dealing with the species of 
this family have been published in Europe, and all morphological 
and cytological papers on the group have been based on Europeat 
material. A few species have been described from America but 
our knowledge of the group as it exists here is extremely limited. 
In my preliminary work to obtain suitable material for study I 
succeeded in growing on the natural substrata in damp chambers 
thirty-six species and a few additional forms which appear to be 
varieties. 
Cultures were carried on both at the New York Botanical 
Garden and at Columbia University where most of the artificial 
culture work was done. I am indebted to Professor C. C. Curtis 
for his liberality in the provision of apparatus and opportunities f° 
visit other regions for the purpose of collecting these fungi- ho 
fessor R. A. Harper’s criticisms and timely suggestions deserve 
an expression of sincere appreciation. 
Extensive field studies were carried on and the plants wef 
grown under natural as well as artificial conditions. In the field 
