NOMAD FUNGI. 109 



NO^FAD FT'XrrI : THE RECLASSIFICATION OF THE 

 UEEDINE/E. 



BY W. B. GROVE, B.A. 



Rpaii hi'farp thr Sorifti/, Octohrr 17. 1882. 



lu choosing the title '• Xomad Funt,n" for nay paper, I was thinking 

 chiefly of what are called the heteroecious species — that is, those 

 which wander during their annual life-cycle from one plant to 

 another, as will be afterwards detailed. But it occurred to me also 

 that the words would bear another and very apposite meaning in 

 reference to the travels of these fungi in their book-classification, for 

 the species of some genera have been handed about from one place in 

 the scheme to another in such a way as fully to justify their claim to 

 the name of experienced travellers. You will perceive that I shall 

 have again to treat of the subject of classification, which is generally 

 considered a very dry one. In the notes which I had the honour of 

 reading before this Society on the Myxomycetes, the central point of 

 interest was as to the position which those organisms should occupy — 

 i.e., whether they should be placed in the animal or the vegetable 

 kingdom, and you may perhaps remember that, as might be expected, 

 I ventured finally to decide in favour of the latter. Now I think all 

 who have studied that particular point, and the evidence bearing upon 

 it, will admit that the question, though it be merely one of classifica- 

 tion, was of surpassing interest, partly derived no doubt from the fact 

 that the border-land between the animal and vegetable kingdoms, 

 though it has been the battle-ground of many a long-decided contro- 

 versy, is still as uncertain as that which separates Greece from 



References to Plate IY. 



Fig. 1. — (I. Section of two cups of CEcidinm grossularice, showing the spores 

 originatiug in chains beneath the epidermis, X ks ; b. thi-ee spores, X :%0 — (from 

 nature). 



Fig. 2, — Two uredo-spores of Puccinia ofominis, seated on their pedicels, or 

 basidia, X about 500 — (after De Bary). 



Fig. 3.— Group of teleuto-spores of Pitccinia flrrrt»n'Hi«, X 2.tO— (from nature . 



Fig. 4. — Germinating spoi'e of (Ecidiiim iussilaginis, X about •240 — (after 

 Plowright'. 



Fig. .5.— Germinating teleuto-spore of Puccinia magnusiana; each segment of 

 the spore has thrown out a germ-tube, bearing three " sporidia," X about 400 

 — after Plowrighti. 



Fig. 6.— Spermogone of CEcidium tussilag i7iis. emittins. a tendril of minute 

 spermatia in water. X 240 — (from nature , 



