128 ASCOMYCETES AND RHODOPHYCE^. 



hyphae, the pores in the septa may be associated with some part of the 

 process of fecundation. Baur is inclined to regard the first cell of the 

 ascogonium as the egg-cell, attributing to the rest the role of auxiliary 

 cells similar to that described by Oltmanns for certain Floridece. 



In many cases carpogonia were found which showed no evidence of 

 development into apothecia, their cells giving rise merely to vegetative 

 hyphae. In these cases no spermatia were found attached to the 

 receptive cells of the trichogyne. 



The discovery of a carpogonium in Physcia pulverulenta (Schreb.) 

 Nyl. by Stahl and Lindau has been confirmed by Darbyshire. He 

 finds, however, that the cells of the carpogonium become connected by 

 broad strands of protoplasm so as to form almost a single multinu- 

 cleated cell. Darbyshire shows also the falsity of Lindau's view, 

 namely, that the trichogyne is merely a boring hypha which serves to 

 break a way upward through the thallus for the apothecium. 



From the investigations of the authors mentioned there seems to be 

 no doubt that, in the genera in question, the development of the spore 

 fruit is the result of a true sexual process. 



