350 



Mycologia 



most heterogeneous group of spore forms having only the most 

 superficial and general characters in common, and the large num- 

 ber of so-called species when carefully studied morphologically and 

 in culture are found to consist of very different organisms which 

 should be placed in very different genera on the basis of a thorough 

 knowledge of their morphological characters alone. 



The author expresses the belief, however, that an improvement 

 of the present taxonomy of the imperfect fungi can only be ex- 

 pected when their connection with their perfect stages is known. 

 The phytopathological importance of such knowledge is also indi- 

 cated, as the ascogenous form found on dead plant partsj and 

 hence usually regarded as a saprophyte, may carry the parasite 

 over winter and be the source of new and unsuspected infections 

 in the spring. 



As to which was the primitive spore form, he says : " Little is 

 known as to whether the original form of fructification was ascog- 

 enous or conidial." Brefeld's views regarding the relation of 

 asci to sporangia he does not consider tenable in the light of our 

 present knowledge. The evidence thus far accumulated by the 

 author and others would seem to justify the belief that further 

 studies of the life histories of the ascomycetes and of the morpho- 

 logical and cultural characters of the various spore forms or stages 

 will furnish most important clues to the taxonomy and phylogeny 

 of this great group of fungi and make it possible to present a more 

 natural system of classification than we have at present. 



The numerous clear text figures given are indispensable in inter- 

 preting the work and getting exact ideas of the forms discussed. 

 The text is less involved and more easily read than that of many 

 German scientific writers. It is to be hoped that the author will 

 continue these valuable studies and that the second part of the 

 work may soon appear. 



, C. L. Shear 



