2r,r> PLANT KTUDIKS 



From tlie liyphal threails coini)osiiig the mycelium verti- 

 cal ascending branches arise, which are set apart to jjroduce 

 the asexual spores, whicli are scattered and ])rodnce new 

 mycelia. These hranclies are called dsrcin/iiii/ Iii/jiIkp or 

 sporopliarcs, meaning "spore hearers." 



Sometimes, especially in the case of parasites, sjiecial 

 descending l>ranches are formed, wliicli 2)cnetra,te the su1j- 

 stratum or liost and altsorlj the food matci'ial. These s2ie- 

 cial absorlting Ijraiiciics are called /tuii.s/ond, meaning " ab- 

 sorbers. " 



Sucli a mycelial body, witli its spurdpliores, and perhaps 

 haustoria, lies either upon or within a dcail suljstratum in 

 the ease of saprophytes, or upon or within a living plant or 

 animal in the case of parasites. 



17'.). The subdivisions. — The classification of Fungi is in 

 confusion on account of lack of knowledge. They are so 

 much modified l)y tlieir peculiar life habits tliat they have 

 lost or disguised tlie structures wlucli pi'ove most lielpful in 

 classification among tlie Alga-'.. Four gr(.>upK will lie pre- 

 sented, often made to include all tlie Fungi, hut doubtless 

 they are insufficient and more or less unnatural. 



Tlie constant termination of the group names ifimi/ccfes, 

 a (ireek woi'd meainng "fungi." Tlie prefix in each case is 

 intended to indicate some important cliaracter of the group. 

 Tlie names of the four groups to be jiresented are as follows: 

 (1) /'/ii/i-iiiii//ri'/('x ("Alga-Fungi"), rt'fen'iiig to the fact 

 tliat the forms [ihiinly resemble the Alga.'; ('*) Asfinni/ri'fcs 

 (" Ascus-Fuiigi ") ; (:i) ^Erii/i(iii>//ri'/i's (".Kcidinm-Fungi ") ; 

 (4) /liisi(ii(iiiii/ri'/rs (" F)a.sidium-i<'uiigi "). Just what the 

 pirefixes iisnis, a'ciiliuin, and hdsiiHitiit mean will be ex- 

 plained in connection with the groups. Tht' last three 

 groups are often associated together under the name .1///- 

 ciimiiri'li's^ meaning " Fungus-Fungi," to distinguish them 

 from tlie Fbyeomycetes, or " Alga-fungi," i-eferring to the 

 fact that they do not resemljle the Alga', and are only like 

 themselves. 



