54 
REPRODUCTION OF THE ASCOMYCETES. 
considerations, one will be able to reunite, if we may say so, in a 
corps of doctrine a method of induction in order to bring together 
some species hitherto considered as far removed from one another. 
Thus the exact morphological value of the sexual modes of 
reproduction has a capital importance, both in the grouping of the 
different species already known, and in the research of the different 
members belonging to one and the same species, but at present only 
known in an incomplete fashion ; one will be able to apply it, for 
example, to the picking out, so to say, of the Ascomycetes from 
among the numerous forms of the Mucedines. 
These considerations have their importance, and it is easy to 
understand this, without the necessity of entering into more 
extensive details. But the comparison and assimilation of the 
different orders of reproductory organs require the most minute 
study probably carried on upon plants in course of development. 
That which has just been said is a general view of the whole sub- 
ject at first; it will be necessary to return later, and to examine 
each case separately with care. These generalities would find place 
in an enumeration of the Ascomycetes, and certainly lead to a better 
knowledge of them ; but these are still only indications permitted 
us of guiding one’s self in an intuitive manner. 
It is necessary, in fact, to represent to ourselves that from the 
ancient group of the Mucedines one has successively separated 
some plants belonging not only to the Ascomycetes (although this 
may be the greater number), but besides to the Peronospores and 
to the Mucorines. 
In the facts signalised above, we have given an indication and 
not an assured classification. It is necessary to guard against, for 
example, taking the monosporous sporangia of the Mucorines 
for conidia, as one had already done, and the linear sporangia 
for the spores en cliapelet ; the development and the germination 
will permit of so calculating as to guard against such errors. 
It is necessary to be prudent in similar researches as to the 
place which ought to be occupied by a genus, and to guard against 
committing any grave errors ; the more frequent and more easy 
to commit would be that which consists of taking the entire genus 
such as is defined by one or two species. The ancient authors and, 
at times, their successors have often united some species belonging 
to some perfectly distinct groups, the nature and the very distinct 
development of which, during a lengthened period, still conduced to 
a rather similar final form. It is thus that M. Bonorden has 
included in his genus Monos2')oriiim some Ilypomyces (d/. agarici- 
nuni ) and some Peronospora (d/. macrospeimwn) ; it occurred in 
the same manner at another time in the great genus Botrytis^yshxoh 
comprehends some very different forms; Torrubia (B. Bassania), 
Peronospora {B. nivea, Ung.), some Pezizoe {B. cinerea'), etc., some 
Mucorines {B. Jonesii), etc. 
It would be desirable that the confused group of the dlucedines, 
which contains such heterogeneous elements, already very much 
