168 FUNGI. 



granular protoplasm, in which float large oleaginous drops. 

 While the zygospore is increasing in size, the suspender of the 

 smaller copulative cell becomes a rounded and stipitate utricle, 

 often divided at the base by a septum, and which attains almost 

 to the size of the zygospore. The suspender of the larger copu- 

 lative cell preserves its primitive form and becomes scarcely any 

 larger.,. It is rare that there is not a considerable difference of 

 size between the two conjugated cells and the suspenders.* 



Similar conjugation with like results also takes place in 

 Syzygites megalocarpus. In this species the germination of the 

 zygospores has been observed. If, after a certain time of repose, 

 these bodies are placed on a moist substratum, they emit a 

 germ-like tube, which, without originating a proper mycelium, 

 develops at the expense of the nutritive material stored in the 

 zygospore into a carpophore or fruit bearer, which is many times 

 dichotomously branched, bearing terminal sporangia character- 

 istic of the species. 



It has already been remarked by us that the Saprolcgnei are 

 claimed by some authors as Algse, whilst we are more disposed 

 to regard them as closely allied to the Mucors, and as they 

 exhibit in themselves strong evidence in support of the existence 

 of sexual reproduction, we cannot forbear giving a summary of 

 what has been observed by De Bary and others in this very 

 interesting and singular group of plants, to which M. Cornu has 

 recently dedicated an exhaustive monograph. t 



In Saprolegnia monoica, and others, the female organs consist 

 of oogonia that is to say, of cells which are at first globose and 

 rich in plastic matter, which most generally terminate short 

 branches of the mycelium, and which are rarely seen in an 

 interstitial position. The constitutive membrane of the adult 

 oogonia is reabsorbed in a great many points, and is there 

 pierced with rounded holes. At the same time the plasma is 

 divided into a larger or smaller number of distinct portions, 

 which are rounded into little spheres, and separate from the 



* De Bary, "Morphologic und Physiologie der Pilze," cap. 5, p. 160; 

 "Ann. des. Sci. Nat." (1866), p. 343. 

 t Cornu, in "Ann. des Sci. Nat." (5 me ser.), vol. xv. p. 1 (1872). 



