PDF - CES (IISc)

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REPRODUCTION
also identified the plant, Lecidea irregnlaris, first described by Fe'e 1
,
as also
synonymous with the fungus.
Another name Orthidium was proposed by M tiller 2 for a type of fructi-
fication he found in Brazil which he contrasts or associates with Campylidium.
It has an open marginate disc with sporophores bearing acrogenous spores.
He found it growing in connection with a thin lichen thallus on leaves and
considered it to be a form of lichen reproduction. Possibly Orthidium is
also a Cyphella.
III. SPERMOGONIA OR PYCNIDIA
A. HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF SPERMOGONIA
The name spermogonium was given by Tulasne 3 to the "
punctiform
conceptacles " that are so plentifully produced on many lichen thalli, on the
assumption that they were the male organs of the plant, and that the spore-
like bodies borne in them were non-motile male cells or spermatia.
l
The first record of their association with lichens was made by Dillenius ,
who indicates the presence of black tubercles on the thallus of Physcia
dliaris. He figures them also on several species of Cladonia, on Ramalina
and on Dermatocarpon, but without any suggestion
as to their function.
5 Hed wig's study of the reproductive organs of the Linnaean Cryptogams
included lichens. He examined Physcia dliaris, a species that not only is
quite common but is generally found in a fruiting condition and with very
prominent spermogonia,and has been therefore a favourite lichen for purposes
of examination and study. Hedwig describes and figures not only ^he apo-
thecia but also those other bodies which he designates as "punctula mascula,"
or again as "
puncta floris masculi." In his later work he gives a drawing
of Lichen (Gyrophord) proboscideus, with two of the spermogonia in section.
Acharius 6 included them among the lichen structures which he called
"
cephalodia": he described them as very minute tubercles rising up from
the substance of the thallus and projecting somewhat above it. He also
two "
cephalodia " of Physda dliaris. Fries 7 looked
figures a section through
on them as being mostly
"
anamorphoses of apothecia, the presence of
abortive fruits transforming the angiocarpous lichen to the appearance of a
8
gymnocarpous form." Wallroth assigned the small black fruits to the com-
prehensive fungus genus Sphaeria or classified lichens bearing spermogonia
only as distinct genera and species (Pyrenothea and Thrornbiuni). Later
students of lichens Schaerer 9 Flotow ,
10 and others , accepted Wallroth's
interpretation of their relation to the thallus, or they ignored them altogether
in their descriptions of species.
1 Fee 1873.
2
Miiller 1890.
3 Tulasne 1851.
* Dillenius 1741.
*>
Hedwig 1784 and 1789.
6 Acharius 1 8 10. 7 Fries 1831.
8
Wailroth 1825.
9
Schaerer 1823-1842.
10 Flotow 1850.