116 MR. GEORGE MASSEE ON THE THELEPHOREZ. 
adjacent hyphæ meet, absorption of the walls takes place at the 
point of contact, and open communication is established between 
the two. In this way a complieated anastomosing network may 
result; or more frequently two parallel hyph: are joined by a 
transverse neck, forming an H-shaped structure, which may in 
some cases be due to coalescence, as stated by De Bary*; 
but this is not the only method, as instances are not uncom- 
mon where a hypha gives off a branch at right angles to itself, 
which, after growing for some time, bifurcates, the forks grow- 
ing in opposite directions and parallel to the first-mentioned 
hypha. When both ends of one side of the H-shaped figure are 
free, it certainly cannot be the result of coalescence (Pl. XLVI. 
fig. 6). The clamp-connections described by De Bary t are pre- 
sent in probably every species having septate hyphe. They 
originate as follows:—A protuberance appears on the cell-wall 
close to a transverse septum, which increases in length in a 
direction parallel to the hypha from which it springs until it has 
passed over the septum, when it coalesces with the adjoining 
cell, and after absorption of the walls at the. point of contact 
provides an open communication between the two adjoining cells ; 
this communication is sometimes eventually interrupted by the 
appearance of a septum at the point of origin of the clamp, 
which is usually appressed to the wall of the parent hypha, but 
sometimes becomes arched to such an extent as to leave an 
eye-hole between the two points of contact. Every transition 
from a free branch and the completely adpressed clamp-connec- 
tion may be met with in Corticium sanguineum, Fr. (Pl. XLVI. 
fig. 6). 
So far as I am aware, not even a theory has been propounded 
as to the meaning of clamp-connections which are characteristic 
of the Basidiomycetes, without at the same time being absolutely 
confined to the group, as in Zygodesmus, a genus grouped with 
the Hyphomycetes, very characteristic clamp-connections are 
invariably present, and constitute an important generie feature. 
In Asterostroma, the genus previously alluded to as illustrating 
marked differentiation of the sporophore, the mode of development 
isasfollows. The species are entirely resupinate, and the portion 
immediately attached to the substratum of wood or bark consists : 
of a thin layer of interwoven, thin-walled, septate, colourless 
* ‘Fungi, Bacteria, and Mycetozoa; Engl. ed. p. 2. t Tom, cit. p. 8. 
