ON THE SEXUALITY OF THE FUNCxI. 265 



kinetj Woronin, Van Tieghem^ and Brefeld were considered to 

 support the then generally received opinion that the Fungi, 

 while differing considerably as to their forms and mode of pro- 

 ducing spores and fructification^ probably all develope their chief 

 reproductive bodies as the consequence of a sexual process. 



When in 1874? Stahl demonstrated the sexuality of a Lichen/ 

 the matter seemed to be placed beyond doubt ; and it was freely 

 admitted that in the cases — now somewhat numerous — where a 

 definite union of sexual organs could not be established, that 

 the failure was largely due to the extraordinary difficulties 

 attending the investigation. In this manner, apparently, it 

 came to be widely believed that in such cases as Sordaria,^ 

 Penicilliura,^ Sphaeria lemanese,^ and Chaetomium 

 the sexual process is essentially the same as that described for 

 the simpler Erysiphea3. 



All the observers agreed in the main that the Asci are either 

 parts of the Ascogonium, or female sexual organ (Sphsero- 

 theca, Podosphsera), or are developed by budding from it, 

 in each case no doubt after the ascogonium had received 

 something from the male organ (pollinodium) attached on 

 its surface. Meanwhile, investigation was not confined to the 

 Ascomycetes. 



The researches of Brefeld,^ Van Tieghem,^ and others* 

 demonstrated a simple form of sexual reproduction in the 

 Mucorini, now so well known that we need not dwell upon it 

 It is interesting to note in passing, however, that Ehrenberg 

 had discovered the conjugation of Syzigites so long ago as 

 1820.8 



1 'Bot. Zeitg.,' 1874. 



- Gilkinet, "Recherches Morphologiques," 'Bull. Acad. r. de Belg.,' ser. 2, 

 1874. Woronin, * Beitr. z. Morpli, &c.,' E. ill. 



3 Brefeld, ' Scbimmelpilze,' ii. 



■» VYoronin, ' Beitr. zur Morpli. , &c.,' R. iii. 



* • Scbimmelpilze,' H. i. 

 ' Ann des Sc. Nat.,' ser. 6, t. i. 



7 ' De Bary ' Beitr. z. Morph.,' i. 



s This is the date in Sachs, ' Geschichte der Botanik,' p. 473. De Barjj 

 ' Beitr.,' i, p. 74, gives the date 1829. 



