SPERMOGONES. 23 



cups^ and the secondary organs or spermogones^ 

 are developed from the same mycelium; but the 

 value of the latter is still undetermined. If they 

 possess any fecundative power^ the process has not 

 been traced ; or if they are in themselves repro- 

 ductive^ they have not at present been seen to 

 germinate. Their uses^ therefore^ in the economy 

 of the parasitic plant of which they are now known 

 to form a part is still a mystery^ and they remain 

 valueless in the determination of genera and 

 species. Any speculation which might regard 

 them as male organs would be premature^ and 

 without support in fact. Hitherto only some 

 species of the genera described in the foregoing 

 chapter_, and others belonging to genera not 

 hitherto named^ have been ascertained to possess 

 spermogones. Of the former are the Rcestelice, 

 some species of JEcidium, as those of Euphorbia, 

 &c., and Periclermium Pini, 



These spermogones are of a very simple struc- 

 ture — very delicate^ indeed ; so much so_, that they 

 will scarcely bear preparation for demonstration. 

 De Bary states that they originate from plain^ 

 deHcate_, inarticulate threads^ about half the thick- . 

 ness of the mycelium (the root-like branching 

 fibres which form the fundamental stratum of 

 fungoid growths)^ which are developed in large 

 quantities^ and closely packed together. These 

 threads are compacted together so as to form an 

 outer enveloping integument or peridium^ which is 



