FUNGI. 465 



mycelium, and the stylospores and spermatia are formed in special 

 conceptacles (pycnidia and spermogonia respectively). The myce- 

 liuin is extensively reproduced by these asexual organs, and in 

 many species they are the only reproductive organs known. In 

 all cases, however, in which the com'plete life-history has been 

 followed the same mycelium has been found ultimately to produce 

 sexual organs, and, as a result of the .fertilization of these, a 

 fructification, in the asci of which are formed the ascospores. This 

 completes the cycle of generations. 



This group is divided into the following Suborders : 



Suborder 1. DISCOMTCETES. Fungi living on dead organic 

 bodies, and forming on the branches of the mycelium sexual organs 

 the carpogonium (female) and the pollinodium (male). From 

 the fertilized carpogonium, or, as it is then called, ascogonium, there 

 arise the asci in which the ascospores are formed. The ascospores 

 germinate and reproduce the mycelium. The hymenium is super- 

 ficial, and on it are always the asci, and usually paraphyses, con- 

 sidered by some authors to be abortive asci. Illustrative Genera : 

 Helvella, L. ; Morchella^ Dill. ; Peziza, Dill. ; Dermatia, Fr. ; Pa- 

 tellaria, Fr. ; Phacidium, Fr. ; Stictis, Pers. 



Structure and Life-history. The life-history of Ascobolns, as detailed 

 by Janczewsky, is typical as regards Discomycetes generally. In it 

 the pollinodium aud the carpogonium consist each of a series of short 

 crooked cells arising on neighbouring branches of the mycelium. The 

 thin crooked cells of the pollinodium embrace the more remote end of the 

 sausage-shaped carpogonium, and in this way the fertilization takes place. 

 In consequence of fertilization, one of the cells in the middle of the carpo- 

 gonium grows larger than the others, and becomes globular in shape ; it 

 is distinguished by the name of ascogouiuui. The ascogonium then sends 

 out numerous hyphae on which are borne the flask-shaped asci, and in 

 them the ascospores, 8 in number. The hyphse of the mycelium on which 

 the sexual organs are borne produce by repeated cell-division a dense 

 mass of pseudo-parenchyme, which surrounds the carpogonium and forms 

 the sterile part of the fructification. The paraphyses which are borne on 

 the same hyphse with the asci are situated between the latter, and may 

 serve, according to Boudier, to assist in some way the dehiscence of the 

 asci ; they are generally regarded, however, as abortive asci. The whole 

 fructification is cup-shaped. 



The sexuality was first discovered in the Ascomycetes by Professor de 

 Bary in the case of Peziza conftuens. The process of fertilization, &c., 

 though differing in this case from that described above as occurring in 

 Ascobolus, agrees in all essential details with it. 



There are certain species of Peziza the mycelium of which forms 

 conidia, and the unripe fruit is represented by a resting sclerotium. This 

 has been observed by Prof, de Bary in Peziza Fuckeliana. In it the conidia 

 are formed on the mycelium prior to the sclerotia, and reproduce the my- 

 celium extensively. No sexual process has been observed in connexion 



