36o FUNGI 



from the lichens. It is characterised by the production on the mycele 

 or the thallus-hyphse of a body consisting sometimes of a cell, sometimes 

 of a chain of cells, called the carpogone, or with reference to its function the 

 ascogone, since from it there arise the ascogenous hyphcB. (In Podosphsera, 

 a genus of Erysiphese, a single stalked ascus only is formed.) In this 

 type the sexual act which precedes the farther development of the carpo- 

 gone is distinctly of a higher character. In such forms as Pyronema and 

 Eurotium an antheridial filament is produced which fertilises the tricho- 

 gyne, as the special conjugating portion of the carpogone is called ; and 

 in the CoUemaceas detached male cells, pollinoids, formed in special 

 anfherids, often described as 'spermatia' and 'spermogones,'are conveyed 

 passively to the trichogyne, and there, becoming attached, fuse their 

 contents into those of the trichogyne. There is a distinct difference here 

 between the sexual organs in the parts they play and in their structure ;. 

 though in the Erysipheae, Penicillium, Sordaria, and Gymnoascus, the 

 actual process of fertilisation has not been observed, yet the constant 

 presence of the organs of sexuality justifies our regarding the function 

 as extremely probable. The case is not so strong with regard to 

 Melanospora and Ascobolus, where the antherid is either not constant 

 in its appearance, or with difficulty to be distinguished from the hyphse 

 of the envelope. A third type is that of Polystigma, which closely 

 resembles the CoUemaceae in the origin of the sporocarp. The carpo- 

 gone, trichogyne, and antherid with pollinoids are here very much the 

 same as in that group, only the sexual union has not been observed, and 

 there is present in the early development of the carpogone and surround- 

 ing it, a special coil of pseudo-parenchymatous hyphge which is ultimately 

 concerned in the formation of the envelope-tissue of the sporocarp. 

 Conforming also to the type represented by the Collemaceffi, and more 

 especially allied to Polystigma in this respect, is the process as described 

 for Xylaria. Here too there is a special coil of hyphae, and in the 

 interior of it a chain of large cells (like the carpogone of Polystigma) 

 called by Fiiisting ' ■\^'oronin's hypha.' This hypha vanishes, and no 

 connection has been discovered between it and the ultimate ascogenous 

 hyphae in the hypothece. Again no trichogyne has been observed to 

 arise from ' Woronin's hypha,' and therefore no union with it of pollinoids, 

 though bodies are recorded for Xylaria which resemble these male 

 organs. The difference in the origin of the sporocarp between this type 

 and Polystigma is essentially this : that here no distinct carpogone gives 

 rise to the ascogenous hyphae which have their origin in the special 

 coil mentioned, since ' '\\'oronin's hypha ' disappears before this stage 

 in the development of the sporocarp. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (de By.) 

 affords another type, since the ascogenous hyphae and those of the 



