34 
Journal of Mycology 
[Vol. 11 
ELEMENTARY MYCOLOGY. 
W. A. KELLERMAN. 
Continued. 
It is quickly perceived that plants, so varied and diverse, 
possess in many cases evident affinity, i. e ., relationship with each 
other. A dozen Willows may be encountered and never would 
even a child call one of them an Oak, a Fern or a Toadstool. 
Seldom would a species of Oak, Fern or Toadstool be called by 
another name. The Roses are really all Roses to the tyro first 
noticing plants. Close inspection never fails to confirm this first 
impression. The wood, bark, buds, leaf-venation, flowers and 
catkins singly show, combined much more positively, the real 
relationship existing between these kinds, or species as they are 
called. The Rose Family — not exclusively the generally recog¬ 
nized genus of Roses — possesses usually five petals and many 
stamens, all inserted on the calyx tube — a badge of consanguin¬ 
ity that no other plants possess. The kinds of fruits, leaf-pat¬ 
terns, and many other structures of Rosaceous plants lead one as 
surely to a grouping of the hosts of these plants into the classes 
larger or smaller in which by nature they belong. A study of a 
Flora is largely a search for affinity in the numbers composing it. 
Looking out upon a landscape or sweeping the eye over prairie 
or grove yields no specific knowledge of the components that 
determine the impressions first experienced. An inspection of 
the individuals is the beginning point of our real knowledge of 
plants. The likeness of two or more — that is, possession of 
identical structures (or characters as we call them), suggests the 
idea of relationship between them — an impression that is greatly 
strengthened by wider experience; till finally the human mind 
can not resist the conclusion that the entire vegetable kingdom is 
embraced in this bond of unity. It scarcely need be added that 
other than mere superficial characters must be investigated — the 
internal structures, and the physiological phenomena (for these 
are usually associated with types of organs or anatomical peculi¬ 
arities) need to be interpreted as well. In short the plant in its 
entirety, “all in all,” must be subjected to the most critical study, 
and varied and crucial tests. It may be more than the recog¬ 
nizable mass of tissues or anatomical parts; it certainly is com¬ 
posed of matter of apparently various forms or kinds in which 
inheres remarkable physical energy — or as we say, in our ignor¬ 
ance of their full import, “vital forces/’ 
Species and Lesser Groups. —Observation of the pronounced 
similarity or essential likeness of individuals enables us to speak 
at once of a “kind” — and this is precisely the idea expressed by 
the common word “species.” No technical definition now need 
