34: H. MARSHALL WARD. 



2. That they are the progenitors (or the near relations of progeni- 

 tors) of a few chief series of true fungi — on the one hand the main 

 series of Ascomycetes and allies ; on the other the Saprolegnice and 

 forms derived from them, and allied to them. 



If we now regard these forms more closely, it is not difficult to 

 agree with many of De Bary's conclusions. It will be clear, in fact, 

 that some of them are not new, though they are stated in a much 

 clearer form than by Brefeld and others who have helped to systema- 

 tise the chief groups already. We will first shortly consider the main 

 subdivisions themselves. 



The Zygomycetes are regarded as branching off from the Perono- 

 sporece. In this group De Bary arranges the Mucorini and the Ento- 

 mophthorece, basing the conclusion that Entomophtliora is a Zygomycete 

 chiefly on JSTowakowski's description of the zygospores. 1 It should be 

 remembered that Brefeld considers the resting spores of this genus as 

 arising asexually ; but that he, too, indicates the possible alliance of 

 the Entomopkthorece with the Oosporece, and therefore, indirectly, with 

 Zygomycetes. 



Pythium seems closely allied to the Ancylistece of Pfitzer, 2 which 

 lead us on to the Chytridece, in which we meet with forms which con- 

 jugate (and are therefore sexually simpler) as well as purely apoga- 

 mous genera. It is not improbable that among these latter the 

 asexually produced resting spores are really oogonia, a view already 

 held by Brefeld in other cases. 



De Bary raises the point of the possible alliance of these simple 

 parasitic Chytridiacece with the lower Algee (e. g. Protococcacece), and 

 decides that it is, on the whole, more probable that they have been 

 derived from the higher fungi, as indicated, by degeneration. 



The (Jstilaginece are next dealt with. The author expresses himself 

 cautiously, but points out that this important and very natural group 

 may be looked upon as a series, beginning with the simpler Entyloma, 

 Tilletia, &c, and rising to more complex forms, such as Sorisporium 

 and Urocystis, on the one hand, and Ustilago on the other. 



There are many difficult points to consider in classifying the Usti- 

 laginece. Their asexually produced resting-spores generally form a 

 " promycelium " on germination, from which " sporidia " arise ; and, 

 as is known, these "sporidia" commonly become united by cross- 



1 *Bot.Zeitung,* 1877. 



J 'Monatsber. der BerliDj Akad.,' May, 1872J 



