INTRODUCTION TO CRYPTOGAMIC BOTANY. 235 



ALLIANCE IL 



Myc'etales, Berh 



ThALLOGENS, deriving nutriment from the substance on which 

 they grow, or from the surrounding medium, Fi-uit various 

 in external character ; spores either naked or contained in 

 utricles (asci), and then called sporidia, often definite, frequently 

 of more than one kind, mostly producing a mucedinous mass 

 of threads or cells (mycelium) from which the plant grows ; 

 impregnation at present uncertain, 



225, The plants contained in the two great families of which 

 this important alliance is composed, though forming two ex- 

 tremely natural groups, are so closely connected with each 

 other, that, contrary to the usual practice, I have ventured to 

 unite them. The fruit is exactly the same, and if there are 

 sup230sed spermatozoids amongst Lichens, similar organisms 

 exist equally amongst allied Fungi, The general observations 

 will come more conveniently under the two separate heads, as 

 repetition will be avoided. The motives which suggest their 

 union will also be more clearly understood after reading the 

 details under each family. 



a. FuNGALES, Lindl. 



Fungi, Linn., Fr., Sfc — Mycetes, Spreng. — HrsTEROPnYTA, Endl. 



Fungi were defined as hysterophytal or epiphytal mycetals, 

 (more rarely epizoic or inhabitants of inorganic substances,) 

 deriving nourishment by means of a mycelium from the 

 matrix, and never producing from their component threads 

 green bodies resembling chlorophyl, 



226, Now, it must be confessed that such a definition is 

 scarcely satisfactory; but in a great natural group, like the 

 cellular Cryptogams, the several members are so closely con- 

 nected that it is scarcely possible to find strict definite cha- 

 racters. The phrase at least states the important fact that the 

 great body of plants known by the name of Fungi, are dis- 

 tinguished from Alga3 by their deriving their nutriment from 



