144 
OBSERVATIONS ON MICROGONIDIA. 
perceived (and in this he is corroborated by Dr. Muller, of Geneva, 
in ‘‘Archives des Sciences Physiques et Naturelles,” 1879, No. 
1), # that the commencement of the gonidia takes place in the 
hyphae and in various other anatomical hvphoid elements. Nay, he 
has even seen, according to his own account, initial gonidia, called 
by him “ Microgonidia ” in the rhizinae, in the cortical cells, in 
the medullary filaments, in the young thecae, in the spores, &c., so 
that they are common both to the vegetative and the reproduc- 
tive organs of Lichens. In all of these, as well as in the hyphae, 
they appear, according to Dr. Minks, in the form of very minute 
corpuscles, which in the hyphae become free through the dissolu- 
tionf of these, and there, as elsewhere, gradually become larger, 
and at length assume the definite form of gonidia. Such expressed, 
in a very few words, is the history of Dr. Minks’ “ Microgonidia,” 
or the minute corpuscules which, according to him and Dr. Muller, 
are in their evolution changed into gonidia, and constitute the 
initial state of gonidia. 
With reference to these so-called “ Microgonidia,” Dr. Nylander 
(who in his numerous writings has done more than any other 
Botanist to prove how untenable is the Schwendenerian doctrine 
in all its phases) has just declared in the “ Flora ” {Addend. 
xxxi) that they are no new discovery whatever, and have nothing 
at all in common with gonidia. In fact, they are simply what is 
called in Vegetable Anatomy “ molecular granulations,” which 
never, if present in the cellules, go forth from them, and never 
present any cellulose metamorphosis. So far from being any 
novelty, their existence has been well known to every microscopic 
observer ; and vainly in these granulations shall we seek for any- 
thing having any special relation to gonidia or their origin. 
In this view I do not hesitate to affirm that every competent 
observer entirely coincides. Consequently “ the labours of Dr. 
Minks ” cannot in any way, in so far, at least, as his discovery of 
“ Microgonidia ” in concerned, be regarded as “ profoundly modi- 
fying the anatomical notions which were entertained concerning 
the thallus of Lichens.” Rather is it to be regretted in the 
interest of true science and for the final suppression of Schwen- 
denerian opinions that these labours, valuable in some respects as 
they may be, should have resulted in the promulgation of another 
theory as untenable as that which Dr. Minks set himself to 
destroy. 
I may here also briefly take notice of the “ zoospores or zoo- 
sporoid corpuscles,” which Dr. Muller (l.c.) mentions as having 
been observed by him in certain gonidia “ contento contracto,” 
* See also the translation of M. Roumeguere’s paper in last No. of 
“ Grevillea,” pp. 89-92. 
f This liberation of the corpuscles and dissolution of the hyphae they 
certainly have not seen, though they are certain that the matter is thus 
effected. It exists, therefore, merely in their own fancy, and imagination 
has no place whatever in true science. 
