_aa._ =Hypothallus or Prothallus.= The first stage of growth in the lichen thallus can be most easily traced in epilithic crustaceous species, especially in those that inhabit a smooth rock surface. The spore, on germination, produces a delicate branching septate mycelium which radiates on all sides, as was so well observed and recorded by Tulasne[317] in _Verrucaria muralis_ (Fig. 14). Zukal[318] has called this first beginning the prothallus. In time the cell-walls of the filaments become much thicker and though, in some species, they remain colourless, in others they become dark-coloured, all except the extreme tips, owing to the presence of lichen pigments—a provision, Zukal[319] considers, to protect them against the ravages of insects, etc. The prothallic filaments adhere closely to the substratum and the branching becomes gradually more dendroid in form, though sometimes hyphae are united into strands, or even form a kind of plectenchymatous tissue. This purely hyphal stage may persist for long periods without much change. In time there may be a fortuitous encounter with the algae (Fig. 38 A) which become the gonidia of the plant. Either these have been already established on the substratum as free-growing organisms, or, as accidentally conveyed, they alight on the prothallus. The contact between alga and hypha excites both to active growth and to cell-division; and the rapidly multiplying gonidia are as speedily surrounded by the vigorously growing hyphal filaments. [Illustration: Fig. 38 A. Hypothallus of _Rhizocarpon confervoides_ DC., from the extreme edge, with loose gonidia × 600.] [Illustration: Fig. 38 B. Young thallus of _Rhizocarpon confervoides_ DC., with various centres of gonidial growth on the hypothallus × 30.] Schwendener[320] has thus described the origin and further development of prothallus and gonidia: on the dark-coloured proto- or prothallus, he noted small nestling groups of green cells which he, at that time, regarded as direct outgrowths from the lichen hyphae. These gonidial cells, increasing by division, multiplied gradually and gathered into a connected zone. He also observed that the hyphae in contact with the gonidia became more thin-walled and produced many new branches. Some of these newly formed branches grow upwards and form the cortex, others grow downwards and build up the medulla or pith; the filaments at the circumference continue to advance and may start new centres of gonidial activity (Fig. 38 B). In many species, however, this prothallus or, as it is usually termed at this stage, the hypothallus, becomes very soon overgrown and obscured by the vigorous increase of the first formed symbiotic tissue and can barely be seen as a white or dark line bordering the thallus (Fig. 39). Schwendener[321] has stated that probably only lichens that develop from the spore are distinguished by a protothallus, and that those arising from soredia do not form these first creeping filaments.