urface of the perithecia,
but the majority of so-called species are undoubtedly conditions of
sphaeriaceous fungi, either spermatogonia or pycnidia, and are of much
more interest when studied in connection with the higher forms to
which they belong.[Z] Probably the number of complete and autonomous
species are very few.

[Illustration: FIG. 14.--_Cyathus._ _a._ Sporangium. _b._ Section. _c._
Sporophore. _d._ Spores.]

MELANCONIEI.--Here, again, are associated together a great number of
what formerly were considered good species of fungi, but which are
now known to be but conditions of other forms. One great point of
distinction between these and the preceding is the absence of any
true perithecium, the spores being produced in a kind of spurious
receptacle, or from a sort of stroma. The spores are, as a rule,
larger and much more attractive than in _Sphaeronemei_, and, in
some instances, are either very fine, or very curious. Under this
head we may mention the multiseptate spores of _Coryneum_; the
tri-radiate spores of _Asterosporium_; the curious crested spores of
_Pestalozzia_; the doubly crested spores of _Dilophospora_; and the
scarcely less singular gelatinous coated spores of _Cheirospora_.
In all cases the fructification is abundant, and the spores frequently
ooze out in tendrils, or form a black mass above the spurious
receptacle from which they issue.[a]

[Illustration: FIG. 15.--_Asterosporium Hoffmanni._]

TORULACEI.--In this order there seems at first to be a considerable
resemblance to the _Dematiei_, except that the threads are almost
obsolete, and the plant is reduced to chains of spores, without trace
of perithecium, investing cuticle, or definite stroma. Sometimes the
spores are simple, in other cases septate, and in _Sporochisma_ are at
first produced in an investing cell. In most cases simple threads at
length become septate, and are ultimately differentiated into spores,
which separate at the joints when fully mature.

[Illustration: FIG. 16.--Barren Cysts and Pseudospores of _Lecythea_.]

[Illustration: FIG. 17.--_Coleosporium Tussilaginis_, Lev.]

[Illustration: FIG. 18.--_Melampsora salicina._]

CAEOMACEI.--Of far greater interest are the Coniomycetous parasites
on living plants. The present order includes those in which the
spore[b] is reduced to a single cell; and here we may observe that,
although many of them are now proved to be imperfect in themselves,
and only forms or conditions