278 The American Naturalist. [April, 
acceptance of the polyphyletic origin of the lichens, opposition 
to their distribution among the other fungi had practically 
ceased, until the revival of the question by Reinke’s articles 
published during the past year or two. 
To the Seminar, which has stood since its inception unqual- 
ifiedly for the Schwendenerian theory, and for the considera- 
tion and treatment of all fungi as fungi, my task will seem a 
gratuitous one. It may not be, however, entirely unprofitable 
to consider in detail the arguments still advanced by some 
botanists against what is here regarded as the ultimate disposi- 
tion of the lichens. 
In addition to Reinke’s rather exhaustive papers, Gregory 
and Schneider have written short articles, chiefly recapitula- 
tory of Reinke’s views, and hence of little import, were it not 
for the fact that the first endeavors to throw the weight of 
Schwendener’s half-expressed disapproval to her side of the 
question. Reinke’s articles, however, form the rallying ground 
of all those fearful of the degradation of the autonomous 
dignity of the lichens, and will alone be discussed here. His 
conclusions are based upon serious work, and, in consequence, 
deserve earnest consideration, although not infrequently ridi- 
culous to one free from the trammels of “consortism,” “ mut- 
ualism,” ete. 
The greater portion of Reinke’s arguments are given in his 
second paper (Pringh. Jahrb. 26:524, 1894). In the prefatory 
remarks to his fifth article (Pringh. Jahrb. 29:171, 1896), 
which treats of the natural lichen-system, he adduces certain 
general arguments that have equal weight on either side, and 
makes some specific objections that have little relevancy and 
less significance. In consequence, the following discussion will 
be limited chiefly to the second paper, the more important 
points of which will receive successive treatment. 
“ Concerning ascolichens, it may be postulated that the com- 
ponent fungus no more exists, probably never existed, in the 
free state.” Since lichens are lichens, and, according to 
Reinke, every lichen a “ consortium,” whether its fructification 
be by means of asci or by basidia, he begs the question in 
limiting his statement to ascolichens. In complete refutation 
