952 



XIII. FUNGI. 



were they to be considered as stylospores or reproductive organs. Zygospores are 

 round or oval cells, terminating a filamentous receptacle, or developed on the 

 sides of two branchlets from one branch, which approach and unite so as to form a 

 single body (zygosporangium) containing a single spore (siygospore). This mode of 

 fertilization has hitherto only been observed on Syzygites megalocarpus, Ascophora 

 rhizopus, and Mucor fusipes. 



Secondaet bepeoductive organs. — The conidia are simple cells, globose or 

 ovoid, naked, pulverulent, isolated, or agglomerated in a compact mass. In the first 

 case they are joined end to end, or arranged in racemes, or situated at the extremity 

 of simple or branched filaments ; in the second case, they resemble variously coloured 

 pulpy or fleshy tubercles, which soften, and are almost entirely dissolved in water. 

 The stylospores are ovoid, spheroidal or elliptic cells, straight or curved, simple 

 or chambered, variously coloured, always pedicelled and included in a conceptacle 

 {pycnide). The zoospores are absolutely identical with those of some Algw (see 

 p. 976) ; they are furnished with two hairs, by the help of which they move readily ; if 

 placed on a slightly moistened leaf they germinate by enjitting filaments which 

 penetrate the stomata, or pierce the epidermis, and ramify in the parenchyma ; they 

 have been observed in the joints of Cystopus and in Peronospora, Whatever view 

 may betaken of the nature o^- conidia, stylospores, spermatia, &c., we may arrange 

 the immense class of Tungi into the following six distinct groups, by the spores 

 properly so called. 



Tribe I. BASIDIOSFOBE^. 



Spores simple, borne on rounded semi-elliptic or conical cells, named hasidia, 

 which terminate in 2-4 points (sterigmata) , each bearing a spore ; the basidia are 



Amanita rubeicens. v, volva ; s, stipe ; a, ring. 



Agaricus eampeslris, in different stages of growth. 



