Vit. 
SEXUAL REPRODUCTION. 
THE existence of some sort of sexual reproduction in Fungi has 
long been suspected, although in earlier instances upon insuf- 
ficient grounds; but of late years observations have multiplied 
and facts accumulated which leave no doubt of its existence. If 
the Saprolegnie are left out of the question as disputed Fungi, 
there still remain a number of well authenticated instances of 
the phenomena of copulation, and many other facts which 
indicate some sort of sexual relationship. The precise manner 
in which those minute bodies, so common amongst the 
Spheronemei, which we prefer to call stylospores, perform 
their functions is still to a great extent a mystery; yet it is 
no longer doubted that certain species of Apospheria, Phoma, 
Septoria, &c., are only conditions of some species of Spheria, 
often developed and matured in close proximity to them on the 
same host. In Acidium, Restelia, &c., spermogonia are produced 
plentifully on or near the same spots on which the fructification 
appears, either simultaneously or ata later period.* The rela- 
tion of Cytispora to Valsa was suspected by Fries very many 
years ago, and, as since demonstrated, with very good reason. 
All attempts, however, to establish anything like sexual repro- 
duction in the higher forms of Hymenomycetes have at present 
been unsuccessful; and the same may be said of the Gasteromy- 
cetes; but in Ascomycetes and Physomyceétes instances abound. 
We know not whether any importance is to be attached to the 
* M. Tulasne has devoted a chapter to the spermogonia of the Uredines in his 
memoir, to which we have already alluded. 
