182 TEXT-BOOK OF FUNGI 



Weiss, New PhytoL, 3, p. 63 (1904). 

 Zeiller, Elements de Paleobotanique, p. 37. 



Massee, British Fungi, p. 212 (1891). 



PERSONAL VIEWS ON PHYLOGENY 



In the preceding pages I have endeavoured to give an 

 idea of the various views respecting the origin and phylo- 

 geny of fungi, more especially from a cytological stand- 

 point. What follows briefly represents my own view on 

 the subject. 



The idea of several, or at least more than one indepen- 

 dent starting-point of fungi from algae does not commend 

 itself, and morphological evidence is opposed to such a 

 view. 



In the evolution of aerial chlorophyllose plants from 

 aquatic ancestors, the earliest form of male fertilising organ 

 was a motile antherozoid, and this type remained in 

 evidence so long as the evolving flora retained more or 

 less of its original aquatic habit, and the sexual generation 

 or oophore retained its independent individuality. As the 

 flora gradually encroached on dry land, that is, as the 

 facilities for fertilisation by antherozoids became less 

 general, the individuality of the oophore became merged 

 into that of the sporophore a new factor evolved under 

 changed conditions, and the motile antherozoid disappeared 

 as a functional organ for ever. Now I presume that if 

 there had been a later break from algae to form a second 

 terrestrial group of chlorophyllose plants, the change 

 would have taken place gradually, and that the first mode 

 of fertilisation would have been of the ancestral type, by 



