166 



Mycologia 



Conclusion 



Too much emphasis cannot be placed upon the great need for 

 serious and concentrated effort in improving the conditions in 

 mycology, which are so strikingly illustrated by the results of the 

 present study. With such confusion prevailing in the taxonomy 

 and such lack of knowledge of the morphology of the fungi as is 

 here indicated, it is imperative that all mycologists and patholo- 

 gists should unite in trying to remedy these conditions and to es- 

 tablish a fairly stable system of nomenclature and terminology for 

 the fungi. The most practical and effective plan yet suggested 

 for establishing generic names is to fix a type species for each 

 genus, which shall furnish a basis for a definite application and 

 interpretation of the genus. We cannot hope for complete agree- 

 ment as to the exact limitations of genera, but the application of 

 the generic type method would at least insure that a certain 

 species or small group of species would always be inseparable 

 from the generic name. This would certainly be a great improve- 

 ment over the present practice so frequently followed of shifting 

 the generic name from one species or group of species to another 

 group with little or no consideration for the original species of 

 the genus. 



This work al'so emphasizes the need of more careful study and 

 comparison of all the morphological characters of the differ- 

 ent forms or stages of the pleomorphic fungi. The various co- 

 nidial and pyenidial fructifications when thoroughly studied and 

 compared in detail will, we beheve, show points of resemblance 

 or difference which can be coordinated with their relationships 

 to each other and to their perfect stages. Such knowledge com- 

 bined with that derived from life history studies will prob- 

 ably provide the best foundation for determining the natural 

 relationships of genera and species as well as the higher groups. 

 The failure to appreciate the significance of the confusion and 

 lack of knowledge of various genera involved in the present 

 taxonomic practice has apparently lead some to think that the 

 conidial and pyenidial stages of ascomycetes show no consistent 

 resemblances or differences of taxonomic value, and are therefore 

 of little or no use in determining the relationships of genera and 



