26o MYCOLOGY 



strands, which suggest the inflorescences of flowering plants. One can 

 separate these into monopodial, or sympodial forms. A bundle of coni- 

 diophores is known as a coremiiini {Koprjfia = broom). If the conidio- 

 phores are arranged side by side, they form a conidial layer, which 

 arises on the upper surface of a stroma. Such a conidial layer may be 

 folded, or it may be chambered, the irregular chambered spaces being 

 lined with the conidial layer. Finally, the conidial layer may be in- 

 closed in receptacles called pycnidium, which correspond to those of 

 the Pyrenomycetiine^. The conidiospores are of different sizes, 

 hence one can distinguish them as a micropycnidia and as macro- 

 pycnidia, and the spores as micro- and macropycnospores. Stylospores 

 are those spores borne on a filament (orSXos = a column). This term 

 is also superfluous. The number of fungi imperfecti surpasses the 

 ASCOMYCETALES. 



Systematic Position. — Fuckel includes all those fungous forms 

 as fungi imperfecti which have no final fruit forms, such as asci 

 and basidia. The name Deuteromycetes of Saccardo is less fortunate 

 than that of Fuckel. That many fungi imperfecti represent accessory 

 fruit forms of ASCOMYCETALES is known, so that the group is not 

 a permanent systematic entity. It is a motley assemblage of hetero- 

 geneous forms. As with the large group, so it is with the genera. 

 Some of the genera inclose not always related forms, that is of the same 

 phylogenetic series. Schroeter calls such genera Formgattungen ( = 

 form genera). In the following classification of them, this point of 

 view must be kept prominently in view, for a natural classification of 

 Fungi Imperfecti is in the nature of things an impossibility. The great- 

 est number are saprophytes, useful in the destruction of dead plant 

 parts. Many are parasites and produce dangerous diseases in culti- 

 vated plants. 



A. Conidia in pycnidia, or chamber-like hollows. I. SPH^ROPSI- 

 DALES. 



B. Conidia in conidial layer formed ultimately wholly free. II. 

 MELANCONIALES. 



C. Conidia on conidiophores. Single or in coremia. III. HYPHO- 

 MYCETALES. 



I. SPHiEROPSIDALES. — The conidia are formed in pycnidia. 

 The receptacles are closed or open by a pore, or by a slit suggesting 



