the sporidia themselves are divided, though the first septum
is generally found in the centre, and the two halves are often
divided in like manner. Multitudes of exceptions however
occur, though the normal plan is probably symmetrical.
Sometimes both forms of fructification take place or coexist
in the same plant, and then the free cells are called
conidia or stylospores. conidia when the threads which bear
them are exposed; stylospores when they are produced withm
the same or distinct perithecia [pycnidia), or when they accompany
the asci, being closely packed with them m the hymenium.
Sometimes conidia, stylospores, and sporidia may
be produced in the same plant, and even where the normal
fruit consists of spores without sporidia, there may occasionally
be conidia.
Spores, though apparently globose or ellipsoid under the
microscope, are often very thin and hollowed out on one side
like the seeds of a Veronica, and amongst the Sphæriacei
there are sporidia which have the same peculiarity.
Sporidia are in general more complicated than spores, but
whether the cell is simple or variously divided horizontally
and vertically by partitions or septa, the structure is still the
same They consist of two or more membranes contammg a
granular mass, in the midst of which there are frequently one
L more oil-globules or distinct cytoblasts. Germination
takes place either by the protrusion of a part of the two wa s
together, or by that of the inner wall, which perforates or
ruptures the outer, if a pore be not previously in existence
Where the spores or sporidia are compound, each joint wi
sometimes germinate at the same time, but occasionally they
break up into separate parts, and in these cases it is sometimes
convenient to consider each part as a distinct reproductive
organ.
Besides these propagative bodies, other extremely minute
bodies are produced either on threads or in distinct perithecia
or cells in certain Fungi, as Bulgaria inquinans, Hysterium
Rubi, etc., which from analogy are supposed to have something
to do with the impregnation of the normal fruit. In
this case the organs which contained them are called anthe-
ridia, or spermogonia, and the bodies themselves spermato-
zoids. I t is very doubtful at present whether the cells which
project from the gills in Agaricus, Coprinus, Boletus, etc.,
are of the same nature, but it must be remembered that in
many cryptogams the mode of impregnation far more closely
resembles that in animals than that in phænogams, and
therefore it does not follow that a more perfect type may not
exist amongst the lower than amongst the higher Fungi.
Sometimes amongst the ascigerous Fungi, as in Nectria
inaurata, there are asci containing, the one eight sporidia, the
other a multitude of minute granules. These secondary asci
may perhaps with as much justice be considered antheridia as
the bodies mentioned above. I t is observable, however, that
in the other cases the spermatozoids are always produced at
the tips of delicate threads or their branchlets, while these
little bodies are produced freely in the sacs like sporidia. I t
is to the Messieurs Tulasne that we are chiefly indebted for
this knowledge, as also for the curious facts which I am about
to mention.
In many of the parasitic Fungi, belonging to the same section
as the Wheat Mildew and Bunt, a very curious process
takes place. The reproductive organs, which from analogy
are commonly called spores, do not directly propagate the
plant. These bodies however germinate, and often at definite
points, exactly after the fashion of pollen-grains, and after a
time produce on their threads secondary and sometimes ter-
E 2