THE FUNGI 



173 



The ascospores escape early in the spring, and probably infect the tender shoots 

 of the trees as they begin their growth. 



Stylospores. In cavities, much like the perithecia, there are found in smaller 

 numbers the stylospores, single spores, divided into four cells (C) and borne 

 upon long stalks. 



Spermogonia. Another form of reproductive bodies are the Spermogonia, 

 or Pycnidia, small receptacles like the perithecia, but containing many extremely 

 small bodies, which are ejected in a mass surrounded by a mucilaginous sub- 

 stance. It is possible that these may be male reproductive cells, but this is by 

 no means certain. 



FIG. 140. A-E, Stigmatomyces Baeri. A, mature plant, with antheridia, 6, and 

 carpogonium, car. The trichogyne, t, has numerous spermatia attached to it. 

 B, young perithecium, optical section; sp, asci. C, ripe ascus. D, ascospore. 

 E, germinating ascospore. F, Laboulbenia compressa. (All after THAXTKR.) 



Order VIII. Laboulbeniaceae (Thaxter, 21) 



Our knowledge of this remarkable order of Fungi is principally due 

 to the important researches of Professor Thaxter. They are minute 

 fojms parasitic upon insects, especially beetles, the majority attack- 

 ing such forms as are aquatic or living near the water. The asci 

 are produced as the result of fertilization of an organ which closely 

 resembles the procarp of the higher Rhodophycese, and fertilization 

 is effected by means of spermatia which attach themselves to the 

 trichogyne of the procarp. The asci bud out from a sort of aux- 

 iliary cell, and each ascus contains four or eight spores, which are 

 generally two-celled. The germinating spores attach themselves to 

 the surface of the insect, arid form a more or less developed hausto- 

 rium which may penetrate into the host, but the host is not killed 

 by the attacks of the Fungus, as is the case with most other ento- 

 mogenous Fungi (Fig. 140). 



