410 DR. D. D. CUNNINGHAM ON THE CONIDIAL 
colourless, hyaline, funnel-shaped processes, replacing the conidial masses (fig. 2), and ` 
with only a few conidia or membranous fragments adherent to them. Various immature | 
forms are also represented by filaments, each terminated by a spherical dilatation, which 
gives origin either to a set of stalked heads covered with sterigmata and young conidia, 
or to a number of secondary dilatations producing such structures. The stems can be 
traced downwards to the epidermis of the corolla, from which they emerge without any .- 
trace of mycelial filaments appearing on the surface. 
On detaching specimens of such fructifying filaments from the basis, and subjecting 
them to more minute examination, the following points may readily be determined 
regarding them. The filaments take origin from a more or less defined dilatation, which 
in its turn is connected with a slender mycelial twig penetrating the tissues of the | 
corolla. The dilatation is generally situated immediately beneath the epidermis ; some- 
times, however, it appears on the surface. It is occasionally sharply defined from the | 
parent mycelial twig by a septum, and in such circumstances comes to present a con-  — 
siderable resemblance to the basal dilatations in Pilobolus. In other cases, however, | 
the transition is very gradual, and the wide base of the fructifying filament passes by `: 
insensible degrees into the mycelial twig. The dilatations in many instances, in addition —— 
to giving origin to the fertile filaments, produce one or two short blunt tubes {apparently _ 
abortive filaments), and in rare cases two perfect filaments may be present. 
The stems vary considerably in length, but many measure as much as 8°25 millims. —— 
They are generally continuous tubes, but occasionally one or two septa may be present in 
their course. The superior extremity terminates in a more or less spherical dilatation. _ 
This either gives origin to a set of stalked secondary heads, which may be conveniently ` 
termed capitella, or, where the plant is luxuriantly developed, to a number of thick pro- — s 
cesses, each surmounted by a dilatation producing capitella. The capitella, when mature, 
measure about 0:325 millim. in transverse diameter; they are rounded above, and 
below pass insensibly into their supporting pedicels. Over the upper half of each à ` S 
number of projecting spicules is developed. These gradually enlarge above, and the — 
process terminates in the formation of sets of conidia attached to the capitellum by short A 
stalks (fig. 3). As the conidia increase in size they gradually conceal the capitella, and — 
form lobules of the mature mulberry-like fructification. From the comparatively large _ 
size of the plant, every step in the development can,be readily and accurately followed; — 
and there can be no doubt of the essentially conidial nature of the fructification. When 
the conidia are mature a septum forms a little beneath the upper extremity of each ` 
sterigma, so that the conidia, when detached, carry small portions of the latter with S 
them. 
The lower portion of the capitellum produces no sterigmata ; but wh the formation : 
of conidia is occurring over the upper portion, its walls gradually thicken, and ultimately ` 
the line of demarcation between the two portions comes to be sharply defined by the 
. projecting margin of the thickened membrane of the lower one. The fertile portion now ` ` 
comes to appear as though it were fitted into the other, as an acorn is into its cup. As E 
the conidia are developed, the protoplasmic contents of the filaments pass successively F 
upwards into the — ade into the — and MA into um coni 
