so 



Zahlbi'Lickner, they nevertheless place them with fungi, parasit- 

 ically associated with algae. This is all the more remarkable 

 since Funfstiack very concisely sets forth those morphological, 

 physiological and chemical characteristics of lichens, which clearly 

 indicate their autonomous nature. He refuses to look upon the 

 relationship of fungus and alga as mutually beneficial, and desig- 

 nates it as a special or peculiar form of parasitism (" eine beson- 

 dere Art von Parasitismus "). It is furthermore a misapprehen- 

 sion of the expression " mutualistic symbiosis" to interpret it as 

 meaning that the several symbionts are equally benefited. The 

 term simply implies that the several symbiotic components are 

 benefited (which is frankly admitted by Fiinfstiick) but that one 

 may receive the greater return favor or benefit. There are some 

 botanists who refuse to recognize in this wonderful biological 

 relationship anything more than ordinary parasitism. Such a 

 deduction is possible only when the components or symbionts are 

 considered separately and not in their mutual relationship. For 

 example, in like manner it is possible to reach the conclusion 

 that the domestic animal is injuriously affected through the influ- 

 ence of man, or that civilized man himself is merely a parasitized 

 or degenerate form of the ignorant savage. To speak of the 

 algal (gonidial) symbiont as imprisoned and parasitized is as irra- 

 tional as to speak of the imprisoned and parasitized horse or cow. 

 It is very true, man uses the milk, the hide, the hair, the teeth, 

 the meat, the bones, the hoof, in fact every part of the animal. 

 It does look like a clear case of the most pronounced one-sided 

 parasitism, but the aspect is changed markedly as soon as we con- 

 sider both animals, the cow and the man, in their mutual relation- 

 ship. Had it not been for man, the cow would perhaps not exist at 

 all ; as it is, millions of these animals enjoy a life of luxury as com- 

 pared with the life they would be compelled to lead as indepen- 

 dent unparasitized wild animals. Who can then say that the 

 relationship is not mutualistic? I^y analogy the same argument 

 applies to the alga and fungus in the lichen-group, only here we 

 have a true .symbiotic relationship. It would be a waste of effort 

 again to present the familiar arguments in favor of lichen auton- 

 omy or lichen mutualism. The interested reader is referred to 



