PHKLIMINARY OHSERVATIONS. 15 



case the spores are usually simple, in the latter they are often 

 arranged in necklace-like threads of greater or less tenacity. 

 The general name of the division is Coniomycetes, from the 

 dust-like nature of the spores. The four first groups are known 

 under the names of Sphcuronemei, Melanconiei, Phragmotri- 

 chacei, and Torulacei, the characters of which will be given in 

 the systematic portion of the work. I can point out no popu- 

 lar representatives of these subdivisions. My more immediate 

 object is simply to give some general notion of the plants 

 comprised in the term Fungi, avoiding as much as possible all 

 microscopic characters. 



There is still another important group, consisting of two 

 divisions, Puccinicei and Cteomacei, of which a few species have 

 been long observed, though their real nature is often mis- 

 taken, — I mean the Rust, Smut, and Mildew so prevalent and 

 injurious to our corn-crops, besides a host of species which 

 infest other plants while still in a living state. In two genera 

 of this group the parasites obtain such large dimensions, and 

 are of so bright a colour, that they can scarcely escape notice 

 where they abound. To this are referable the jelly-like masses 

 on the different species of Juniper (Tab. 2, fig. 4, 5), which 

 not only resemble the gelatinous Tremella in outward aspect, 

 but in some points of structure, proving clearly the connection 

 of the whole group of parasites with the higher Fungi, and 

 stultifying the views of those who regard these productions as 

 mere states of the cellular tissue of the plants on which they 

 are developed. Of these Fungi there are two groups. The 

 Puccinicei, to which the Wheat Mildew belongs, distinguished 

 by their articulate spores (Plate 1, fig. 4), and Caomacei, 

 containing the Bunt, Rust, and other simple-spored, truly 

 parasitic, dust-like Fungi (Plate 1, fig. 5). 



Every one is acquainted with the large division of Fungi 



