142 
THE REPRODUCTION OF ASCOMYCETES. 
that in eacli case it failed from special proportions of particular 
organic productions ; tliis point has a right to be left entirely on 
one side. It is by its substances (sugar, tannin, different essences, 
alkaloids, salts, etc.) spread in different proportions in the different 
vegetables that the Fungi would probably choose for their station, 
at times upon rather different vegetables {Stictosphceria Hoffmanni^ 
Neclria cmnaharina, Eutypa lata, Valsa ambiens, etc.), at others 
upon one only, and unique vegetable {Acjlaospora profusa. Acacia ; 
Massaria Platani, Plane-tree). If still the exact proportions are 
necessary for the complete development, it ought, probably, not to 
be otherwise for the dihut of the development. 
The essays attempted upon the Lichens (^Borrera ciliaris and 
Parmelia Acetabulum') gave no result, there is here, in fact, a 
greater difficulty to deal with. The spermogones of the Ascomy- 
cetes become decomposed when they have terminated their vegeta- 
tion, when their spores are not in a good state, and that they are 
done for, as one would vulgarly say; in Latin one designates them 
under the name of spermogonia obsoleta. The whole of the sper- 
mogone disappears ; it is not so with the Lichens ; it is neces- 
sary to choose some spermogones of the year, in a good state, and 
containing some mature spermatia. 
This want of success is the more to be regretted as the theory of 
the spermatia, considered as a fecundatory agent comes to be 
sheltered from question among the Lichens by a recent work. 
M. le Dr. Stahl, a pupil of M. de Bary, is said to have found 
among the Lichens a trichogyne more or less allied to that of the 
Florideas, upon which the spermatia fix themselves, and affirms 
that it emits a small prolongment. Without discussing deeply the 
observations of M. Stahl, one can judge that the existence of a 
filament analagous to the copulative female filament (macrocyste), 
the base of which is the point de dipart of the thecigerous filaments 
is not only in question. Under this head M. Stahl has proved him- 
self a well-qualified anatomist. I will deny no more that the 
extremity of this filament does not come out to the exterior ; but 
what appears singular in the actual state of our knowledge, it is 
that there is among the Lichens a fecundation of quite a difierent 
order to that in the other Ascomycetes. The Lichens are nothing 
else than some Fungi parasitic upon some seaweeds ; the fact is 
established beyond all doubt, since the beautiful works of 
MM. Schwendener, Bees, and Bornet; certain species resemble 
some Hysterium {Opegraplia), the others some Tympanis, some 
Cenangium, and some Pezizas. Now in the Ascomycetes it appears 
probable, since the works published upon this subject by MM. de 
Bary, Woronin, Tulasne, Gillkinet, and, after my own observa- 
tions, that there is unity of type in the mode of fecundation. The 
Lichens, are they excepted ? Before deciding this point it is 
necessary to wait, as M. Stahl may have published some figures 
and descriptions, and that he may have plainly demonstrated 
