218 FOOTNOTES FROM 



Such is a brief analysis of the different orders of Brit- 

 ish fungi, and a general survey of the different kinds of 

 fructification. In regard to the spores themselves, pro- 

 duced by these organs, they are either naked or they are 

 contained in oval cases called thecse or asci, mixed with 

 peculiar but little-known filaments, to which the provi- 

 sional name of antheridia has been given, because they 

 are supposed to perform the functions of these organs in 

 the fertilizing of the seed. The Ascomycetes or asci- 

 bearing fungi resemble lichens in every respect, except that 

 they are produced on decaying substances, and are pos- 

 sessed of a . mycelium or spawn, peculiarities unknown 

 among the lichens. By some authors, such as Schleiden, 

 they are included among the lichens, notwithstanding these 

 discrepancies. Spores then are produced in the interior of 

 distinct sacs, called thecse ; or they are developed on the 

 outside of distinct sacs, called basidia ; or they are pro- 

 duced in the midst of a gelatinous mass, without any evi- 

 dent organization, when they are called myxospores. 



"We have thus seen that all these forms of fungoid life, 

 excessively minute in size and simple in structure al- 

 though many of them are, yet obey the great law of 

 nature in propagating themselves by seeds or germs. In- 

 dividuals of the antiquated school of La Marc and Oken, 

 as the author of the Vestiges of Creation, have adopted 

 the strange theory that these plants are the productions 

 of spontaneous or equivocal generation, springing up with- 

 out seed or germ from the soil, or from substances in a 

 state of fermentation. This theory is countenanced and 

 rendered plausible by the almost instantaneous appear- 

 ance of mildew, dry-rot, mouldiness, and others of the 



