FUNGI 85 



destructive parasites. Finally, there is the provisional group 

 called Deuteromycetes or 'Fungi imperfecti,' an enormous 

 assemblage of forms that are considered as representing 





FIG. 16. Lentinus cyathus, an agaric springing from a 

 sclerotium ; the latter shown in section. One-sixth nat. size. 



conidJal phases of the groups previously enumerated. Large 

 numbers of these are amongst the most destructive of 

 parasites. 



Although spores, in the wider sense of the term, are the 

 most general forms of reproduction, conidia or summer- 



