668 



THE SUBDIVISIONS OF THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 



Class v.— FUNGI. 



Parasitic or saprophytic plants destitute of chlorophyll and for the most part 

 possessing a mycelium. Sexual reproduction known and generally admitted in 

 the Phycomycetes only. Asexual reproduction by means of spores and conidia. 



Sub-class I. — Phycomycetes. 



Mycelium for most part unicellular, tubular, and branched. Sexual reproduction 

 both by conjugation of equivalent cells and by egg-cells. 



Fig. 379.— Chytridiacese and Ancylistaceae. 



1, 2, 3 Lagenidium Rabenhorstii, parasitic upon Spirogyra. *, 5 Polyphagus Euglenm. ^ Bhizidiomyces apophysatus, parasitic 



on an oogonium of Saprolegnia. 



Alliance XIV. — Oomycetes 



Families: Peronosporece, Saprolegniaceoe, Chytridiaceoe, Ancylistacece, 



Entomophthorece. 



Mycelium often very slightly developed; asexual reproduction by means of 

 swarm-spores; sexual reproduction by egg-cells. On the whole in this group we are 

 dealing with Fungi which very nearly resemble the Alga of the Alliance Siphonese 

 (e.g. Vaucheria) both as regards the structure of their mycelium and mode of repro- 

 duction. A loss of sexuality is to be noted in many members of this group. 



