174 BOTANY. 



About one hundred species occur along tlie New England coast, and 

 the number is greatly increased as we pass to the southward. 



It is better for the student to study the plants of this class at the 

 seashore, but the beginner should not fail to make a careful study of 

 such specimens as may be accessible. 



Specimens for the study of the structure should be preserved in 

 alcohol or glycerine. However, much may be made out by the care- 

 ful examination of dried specimens. 



Red Seaweeds may often be obtained " in the rough" which can 

 be slightly moistened and then pressed out and dried for study. 

 Such material will often yield quite good specimens. 



Good mounted microscopic specimens may sometimes be obtained 

 showing the structure of the plant as well as of the sexual and asex- 

 ual reproductive organs. 



Byatematic Literature. — Farlow, Marine Algse of New England, 

 106-183. 



Class 6. Ascomycete.2E. The Sac-fungi. 



312. This large class includes chlorophyll-less plants 

 which differ much in size and appearance, but which agree 

 in producing their fruit-spores (sac-spores, or ascospores) 

 in sacs {asci). 



313. The sexual organs where known consist of carpo- 

 gones and antherids, and, after fertilization, produce a 

 spore-fruit (sporocarp) which includes the sacs and sac- 

 spores. The most common number of sac-spores is eight 

 in each sac ; but it sometimes exceeds, and frequently falls 

 short, of this number, there being often no more than one 

 or two. The sacs are in many cases arranged side by side 

 in a compact mass, forming a spore-bearing surface (the 

 hymenium). 



314. In addition to the sac-spores there are generally 

 one or more other kinds of spores which are developed 

 asexually. Some of these are doubtless to be regarded as 

 the equivalents of the conidia of the lower groups, and will 

 accordingly be so named here. 



