AN ACHLYA LACKING SEXUAL REPRODUCTION 
The lack of sexual reproduction, of a "perfect stage," is not un- 
common in the fungi in general. The resemblance of the condition 
existing in the Achlya which is the subject of this paper to that of 
certain Fungi Imperfecti is, of course, obvious. Moreover, the genus 
Apodachlya in the closely related Leptomitaceae and the genus Blas- 
tocladia in the Blastocladiaceae furnish an interesting comparison to 
the Achlya described above. It is worthy of note that a loss of sexual 
reproduction is, at least in the forms just mentioned, concomitant 
with the production of more or less resistant nonsexual spores. This 
is particularly noticeable in Apodachlya and Blastocladia ; since all 
the known species of these two genera (save perhaps the doubtful 
Apodachlya completa of Humphrey) alike exhibit a consistent pro- 
duction of zoospores and resistant spores with an attendant lack of 
sexual organs. If the dangerous luxury of theorizing about the evo- 
lutionary origin of such structures were permissible, they might be 
regarded as adaptations evolved to withstand unfavorable conditions 
in forms that were gradually losing the sexually produced spores that 
generally serve this purpose. Disregarding the purely theoretical 
origin of this condition in the Achlya under discussion, however, the 
actual condition itself remains; and in whatever way this Achlya may 
be interpreted it at least presents an interesting case of a very distinct, 
and well defined, but non-sexual representative of a Saprolegniaceous 
genus usually strongly sexual. 
SUMMARY 
1. In the method of zoospore production and liberation, and in 
the character and behavior of the zoospores themselves, the fungus 
that is the subject of this paper distinctly belongs to the genus Achlya. 
2. In contradistinction to most species of the genus, this fungus, 
as far as observed, entirely lacks sexual reproduction, nor does it 
produce oogonia and antheridia under the methods of culture usually 
successful in inducing these organs. 
3. The fungus is distinguished by the consistent production, under 
widely varying conditions, of resistant spores of non-sexual origin 
and distinct morphological characteristics. These spores differ from 
the ''gemmae" described for other species in their regular occurrence 
and clearly defined structure. 
4. The writer regards this fungus as an Achlya that has lost its 
sexual reproduction — the resistant function usually assumed by the 
