THE SEXUALITY OP THE FUNGI. 47 



Ckcetomium. The ascogonium arises as an isolated coiled branch ; 

 fine branched hyphte then envelope it. The tufts of fine hyphee may, 

 however, arise independently of ascogonia also. Other cases occur 

 where the ascogonia show no traces of anythiug but vegetative bud- 

 ding from the hyphse. He regards it as possible that a sexual process 

 occurs in the cases first described, and that all stages of degeneration 

 to complete apogamy occur. Questions of nutrition seem to affect 

 this matter. 



It must be allowed that the figures do not establish this, however, 

 and it seems very questionable if any antheridial branch whatever can 

 be distinguished. 



Sterigmatocystis nidulans is a new species of fungi allied to Asper- 

 gillus and Eurotmm. An interesting description of its capability of 

 producing pathological changes when injected into the blood of animals 

 can only be adverted to here. The fructification occurs embedded in 

 a sort of stroma of hypha?, interwoven into dense cushions, the pecu- 

 liarities of which need not be detailed. 



The simple ascogonium is enveloped by a hypha (" antheridial 

 branch "), which soon becomes septate and branched, and forms the 

 perithecium wall. The ascogonium forms a multicellular core, from 

 which the asci arise. No fertilisation is shown to occur. 



Helicosporangium parasiticum was also thoroughly studied. Here, 

 again, we have simple ascogonia enveloped gradually by so-called 

 antheridial branches. The author does not make quite clear, however, 

 what are the ultimate fates of the several parts. One central cell 

 becomes filled with spores, but Eidam differs from Karsten as to the 

 meaning of this. He also denies that Helicosporangium is parasitic. 



A closely-allied form is Papulospora, which agrees with the latter 

 in forming the peculiar mases of cells which seem to represent young 

 perithecia. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that Eidam has 

 either figured ill-nourished specimens — which appears unlikely — or 

 that some unknown conditions would have caused the bulbil-like 

 bodies to form perithecia. 1 Be this as it may, the bodies in question 

 form no asci, but "germinate" like compound spores. The great 

 variability in the formation of the spores and fructification in these 

 fungi supports the suggestion ventured above, and there can be little 



1 I have drawings of somewhat similar bodies from an unknown fungus, which cannot as 

 yet be made to develope further : they appear to be young porithecia, but they germinate 

 directly, like gemmfs, when the conditions are favourable. 



