nd that the spermatia were analogous to spermatozoids.
Their opinion depends on two plausible reasons,--the spermatia, in
fact, do not germinate, and the development of the spermogonia
generally precedes the appearance of the sporophorous organs, a double
circumstance which reminds us of what is known of the spermatozoids
and antheridia of other vegetables. It remained to discover which were
the female organs which underwent fecundation from the spermatia.

Many organs placed at first amongst spermatia have been recognized by
M. Tulasne as being themselves susceptible of germination, and
consequently ought to take their place among legitimate spores. Then
it must be considered that very many spores can only germinate under
certain conditions. It is, therefore, for the present a doubtful
question whether there exist really any spermatia incapable of
germination, or if the default of germination of these corpuscles does
not rather depend on the experiments hitherto attempted not having
included the conditions required by the phenomena. Moreover, as yet no
trace has been discovered of the female organs which are specially
fecundated by the spermatia.

Finally, there exist in the _Ascomycetes_ certain organs of
reproduction, diverse spore-bearing apparatus, pycnidia, and others,
which, like the spermogonia, usually precede ascophorous fruits. The
real nature of the spermogonia and spermatia should therefore be
regarded as, at present, very uncertain; as regards, however, the
spermatia which have never been seen to germinate, perhaps it is as
well not to absolutely reject the first opinion formed concerning
them, or perhaps they might be thought to perform the part of
androspores, attributing to that expression the meaning which
Pringsheim gives it in the _Conferoae_. The experiments performed with
the spermatia which do not germinate, and with the spermogonia of the
Uredines, do not, at any rate, appear to justify the reputed masculine
or fecundative nature of these organs. The spermogonia constantly
accompany or precede fruits of _AEcidium_, whence naturally follows the
presumption that the first are in a sexual relation to the second.
Still, when Tulasne cultivated _Endophyllum sempervivum_, he obtained
on some perfectly isolated rosettes of _Sempervivum_ some _AEcidium_
richly provided with normal and fertile spores, without any trace of
spermogonia or of spermatia.

[A] M. Tulasne has devoted a chapter to the sper