CHAPTER XLVII. 



FUNGI {continued). 



Classification. — Various systems of classification have been 

 proposed for the fungi; none of them, however, can be con- 

 sidered final, as large numbers of species or forms are very im- 

 perfectly known and their relationships are consequently obscure. 

 The following divisions are adopted by Engler and others : 



EUMYCETES (Trae Fungi) 

 Section A. — ^Lower Fungi. 

 Class I. — Phycomycetes. 

 Sub-class i. Zygomycetes. 

 Sub-class ii. Oomycetes. 



Section B. — Higher Fungi 

 Class II. — Basidiomycetes. 

 Sub-class i. Hemibasidii. 

 Sub-class ii. Eubasidii. 

 Class III. — Ascomycetes. 

 Sub-class i. Hemiasci. 

 Sub-class ii. Euasci. 

 In the Lower Fungi the mycelium, which is often much 

 branched, is generally unicellular, the hypha being unseptate, 

 except in the old growths and the reproductive parts of the 

 plants. Both sexual and asexual reproduction occur in the 

 group. 



The Higher Fungi possess a multicellular mycelium, each 

 hypha composing the latter being divided by transverse septa 

 into longer or shorter cells (Fig. 229). Definite sexual repro- 



