176 The American Naturalist. [February, 
NO. SPEC. 
Phanerogams 105,231 
Ferns 2,819 
Equis., Marsil., Lycopod. 565 | 
Mosses 4,609 
Liverworts 8,041 
Lichens 5,600 
Fungi 39,603 
Algae 12,178 
Total 173,706 
When we consider the many regions which still remain to explore 
or are imperfectly explored, it is beyond doubt that the number of 
plants will still increase very greatly. And one may be certain that it 
will be the number of the cellular Cryptogams which will receive the 
greater increase, as compared with the higher plants. In fact the per 
fections of the microscope which permit the convenient study of these 
most minute productions are, we may say, of yesterday, and the pro 
digious conquests of these last years, accomplished above all in the 
field of the Cryptogams are proof of this. 
But the chief design that moved me to write this short note regards 
the probable number of Fungi to appear. From a few hundred forms 
which were known at the beginning of the century we have jum 
as has been seen, to about 12,000 species in 1862, and to-day we un 
nearly 40,000 of them. An astonishing progression, which is not 
explained solely by the increase of investigations, but reveals the 
enormous and scattered mass of fungous forms. It has been oj" 
by several botanists that the specific autonomy of many Fungi is 2 
founded on a secure basis and that many such species are rather to be 
considered as “forms of substratum”, that is variations 0 7 
species by reason of the different substratum or matrix in which they 
grow. I do not wish to deny that several admitted species may fn 
themselves in this situation, but it is to be observed that in beings 
the most part simple and microscopic the differential characters o 
be of great importance to our eyes, and hence it is necessary 1 eee 
slowly before refusing them as good, as one must observe pr 
their constancy. this 
After all, on the subject of these suspected forms of substratum, © : 
is a fact worthy of much consideration, that we very often ne op a 
n ii 
the identical living matrix several species of the same gen 
themselves, most distinct, although related, as happens, ¢- 8» 
f thesame 
neipauy 
