23 
ON DACRYOPSIS, Massee. 
The above new genus has been characterized by Mr. Massee in 
the “ Journal of Mycology ” for 1891, p. 180, for a group of 
Tremelloid Fungi. 
BACRYOPSIS, Massee. 
Small gelatinous fungi, fertile portion capitate, sharply de- 
fined, terminal on a more or less elongated stem, composed 
of parallel simple or branched septate hyphse ; at the apex 
of the stem the hyphae are very much interlaced, forming a 
compact expanded layer, from which originate in first instance 
numerous slender gonidiophores, spreading on every side to form 
a more or less capitate head ; gonidia minute, one celled, forming 
a dense layer ; basidia cylindrical, bifurcate, aseptate, springing 
from the interlaced layer of hyphse at the apex of the stem, either 
contemporaneous with, or later than the gonidiophores. Spores 
simple or septate. =Coryne, Berk., in part. 
During the gonidial stage the structure is identical with that of 
Tubercularia, the stem is often more elongated than in the last 
named genus, but in Dacryopsis nudct even this unimportant 
difference disappears. The basidiae and spores closely resemble 
those met with in Dacryomyces, to which genus the present is 
closely allied, differing in the structure of the stem, and in the 
arrangement and form of the gonidiophores. 
The gonideal phase of Dacryopsis nuda is morphologically 
almost indistinguishable from the form-species known as Tuber- 
cularia vulgaris , but it is well known that the latter is the 
gonideal condition of the ascigerous fungus called Nectria cenna- 
barina , hence it is seen that two structures almost indistinguishable 
in the gonideal form may be conditions of Ascomycetous and 
Basidiomycetous fungi respectively. Again it is known that the 
gonideal condition of various species of Nectria belong to such 
morphologically distinct form genera as Tubercularia , Fusidium , 
Volutella, etc. ; consequently it appears to be at least indiscreet to 
assume, much more to assert, that because a gonideal form 
presenting certain morphological features has been clearly proved 
to be a condition of some higher fungus, belonging to a given 
genus, that another gonideal form of similar structure must 
necessarily be a condition of some hypothetical species of the 
same genus. Such assumptions do not harmonize with the stated 
belief of those mycologists who consider that a complete life 
history is necessary to prove relationship, or otherwise, in suspected 
cases, a belief that has brought conviction to the mind of most 
disciples of the Friesian school, whose conceptions of affinity are 
based on characters derived from mature examples, which in many 
instances are of no genetic value. On the other hand, it is to be 
regretted that the modern school, having adopted the only 
