Stock: Geuster bryantii at Dinsdale. 339 
lated from the sum of characters — from an examination of 
fully developed and mature organism 
Quite recently it has been shown ae in Stilbum vulgare, a 
species hitherto considered as a typical Hyphomycete, the spore- 
bearing bodies resemble in structure the basidia characteristic 
of a section of the Basidiomycetes, hence S. vu/gare has been 
placed by the author of this discovery amongst the last named 
group. Still later it has been found that another S¢/éum, called 
S. fasciculatum, has also basidia-like structures bearing the 
Spores, and it is quite probable, from analogy, that all the 
hundred and odd species known throughout the world agree in 
this point of acd and hence, according to Juel, should be 
ranked amongst the Protobasidiomycetes, Now it is known 
that Stilbum. Sasciculatum is a form-species only, and is in reality 
the conidial form of a species of Nectria, an ascigerous fungus, 
hence, if Juel’s idea is correct, we are face to face with an 
entirely new revelation, proving that an ascigerous fungus has 
a basidiomycete as its conidial condition. Further research is 
necessary before this point can be considered as settle 
Again, Brefeld sees in the winavi bearing the spores in the 
Ustilaginem, the ‘smut’ and ‘bunt’ of our cereals, structures 
resembling i in appearance the basidia of the Protobasidiomycetes, 
hence in his scheme of classification the Basidiomycetes as a 
Stroup are considered as having much affinity in common with 
the ‘smuts. 
These ideas may prove eventually to be correct or otherwise ; 
but it must be distinctly understood that in the event of their 
being shown to be wrong, and that in certain instances analogy 
has been mistaken for homology, this does not invalidate the 
Principle, but only means that certain facts have been mis- 
interpreted. i 
> 
NOTE—FUNGI. 
te ged oo at eee 13th of December 1898 I sent 
to Mr. M tarfish gus specimens were found growing 
in c iene, Pet 1 eee, ordinary soil, and situate in the 
he specimens were forwarded t 
belonged to the Gastromycete group of the i 
Geaster bryantii Berk. (Berk. Pag Flora, V Vol. 5s P . P- 399 Outlines, oi 
Cooke, Handbook, No. 10735 Massee iba 
13th Decunker 
N jovember 1899. 
