On a Confervoid State of Mucor davatiis. 341 



which are, in fact, nothing else but unusual or undeveloped states 

 of different species. Hence we find amongst Algae certain states of 

 various Fungi, Lichens, Mosses, and Ferns, while amongst Fungi 

 we have the infant state of many species (Mycelia) arranged under 

 distinct genera. Indeed in the new system of Fungi which is now 

 in the course of publication, by Dr T. F. L. Nees von Esenbeck, 

 we still find such a genus as Himantia retained, though it is al- 

 most impossible for practical botanists not to observe the actual de- 

 velopement of the productions of which it is formed into perfect Hy- 

 menomycetous Fungi. Again in a late number of a supplement 

 to Bulliard, by M. Letellier, a new species of Geoglossum is formed 

 out of a state of one of the Mycelia, denominated by authors 

 Ozonium auricomum, a state, it is to be observed, noticed long ago by 

 Withering and Sir J. E. Smith. Many other instances might be 

 noted in which such productions are either again enumerated as 

 autonomous fungi, or new forms described. It is with great justice 

 that Fries complains, that although he has again and again called 

 the special attention of botanists to this point, his labour at present 

 seems to have been all but useless. He expresses, however, his de- 

 termination of persevering, and his conviction that his views will 

 at length be adopted. 



No tribe has afforded more of such doubtful productions than the 

 Mucedines, from many of the more common species being more or 

 less perfectly developed with such ease and celerity in various si- 

 tuations and circumstances. The sporidia of many germinate in si- 

 tuations in which their true habit is never assumed, in liquids for 

 instance ; and such imperfect states have been generally considered 

 as Algae. The habit, indeed, of arranging these Mycelia or masked 

 fungi amongst the algae had obtained some years since, such irre- 

 sistible influence, that, aided by a habit of theorizing, M. Carus, 

 though absolutely witnessing the curious forms assumed by the 

 same species under different degrees of moisture, considered the 

 circumstance as proof of the possibility of plants essentially belong- 

 ing to one order giving origin to plants of an order entirely distinct, 

 under a different adjustment of the elements. (Act. Nov. Leop. 

 1823, t. 58.) Very lately a volume has been published, which at 

 present I have only had an opportunity of casually inspecting in the 

 Library of M. Desmazieres, on these confervoid forms of Mucedines, 

 by Dr Biasoletto of Triest, in which they are considered as belong- 

 ing to distinct genera of the order Algae. 



Having had the good fortune of witnessing the perfect develope- 



VOL. II. NO. 10. Z 



