254 SYMBIOSIS 



is to encourage growth rather than mere Reproduction ; and we 

 have here, I believe, the usual antithesis, on which I have 

 throughout insisted, between Symbiosis and redundant Repro- 

 duction, i.e., between widely useful and, on the other hand, merely 

 self -regarding development. I concluded that Neottia, not- 

 withstanding the appearance of " symbiose continue/' represents 

 in reality a reversal of Symbiosis, and this chiefly on the ground 

 of the pronounced saprophytism of the orchid. If it present a 

 case where the usual restraint associated with Symbiosis is less 

 marked, inasmuch as the fungus easily propagates itself 

 within the plant, we may say that Neottia has lost its 

 symbiotic hold on the fungus in proportion as it has receded in 

 general utility. The easy propagation of the fungus within 

 the orchid, in other words, must be read as signifying the progress, 

 not of genuine, but of reversal-Symbiosis, which backward 

 progression is tantamount to a loss of restraint and of restraining 

 power. The phenomenon is on a par with the usual loss of 

 integrity in an organism on a conversion from cross- to in- 

 feeding, i.e., on any disturbance of previous important symbiotic 

 relations. We have seen that under such or similar circumstances 

 a plant may " lose its head " ; and we may similarly regard it 

 as a loss of integrity and of discernment due to the habit of 

 in-feeding when we find that certain insectivorous birds, 

 for instance, are " stupid " enough to nurse the cuckoo's 

 offspring. " Jamais," Prof. Bernard goes on to say, " le cham- 

 pignon ne forme de spores ni d'organes reproducteures d'aucune 

 sorte dans les tissus des plantes en bon etat." 



Whether the restraint be due to phagocytosis, or some other 

 similar defensive factor, the chief emphasis is due to the fact 

 that the symbiotic relation is the antidote of excessive and 

 pathological multiplication. 



Prof. Bernard has found that : 



Les jeunes pelotons extraits de cellules oii ils viennent de se former 

 peuvent se developer en dormant du mycelium lib re quand on les seme 

 sur un milieu nutritif approprie. 



With regard to the remarkable formation of clusters by the 

 fungal hypha?, we are further told : 



En somme, cette propriete du pelotonnement est assez banale ; les 

 champignons qui m'occupent ici ne sont pas les seuls a la presenter ; ils 

 la' possedaient peut-etre avant de vivre avec les Orchidees ; elle a du, 

 en tout cas, etre tres favorable pour 1'adaptation a la symbiose dont le 



