SAPROPHYTES AND PARASITES 83 



It was at one time regarded as a reproach to those who 

 studied these endophytes that in very many cases the species 

 were named after the usual host-plant, and it was only neces- 

 sary to know the host to be able to name the parasite without 

 trouble or examination. At the present time it is held to be 

 true that the promycelial spores will not enter by their growing 

 point, or infect in any way any other plant except the one, 

 two, or more species of phanerogam upon which it customarily 

 grows. Such being the case, it was not so very foolish after 

 all to combine the name of the host with the endophyte ; and 

 even now we are disposed to doubt if the old grouping of 

 species, according to the affinities of the supporting plants, was 

 not more effective, practicable, and sensible than the more 

 recent, more complicated, and more unnatural system of the 

 present day. This, however, is not a point to be discussed 

 here, inasmuch as it is altogether a question of classification, 

 when reduced to practice, and belongs to a subsequent chapter. 



