BASIDIA AND THE DISCHARGE OF SPORES 7 



at the moment of discharge, the drop is carried with the spore. Hence, 

 in Fig. 2 at I, the drop has been represented diagrammatically as 



B 



^ 



H 



I 



K 



FIG. 2. Galocera cornea. The development and discharge 

 of a spore. A, an immature sterigma pushing out 

 beyond the gelatinous matrix of the hymenium. B, 

 a full-grown sterigma. C, D, E, and F, stages in 

 the development of a spore, drawn respectively 10, 20, 

 30, and 40 minutes after the stage B. F, the full- 

 grown spore on the end of its sterigma. G, the same 

 spore 40 minutes later than the stage F : a drop of 

 water is being excreted at the hilum. H, the same 

 spore, about 6 seconds later than the stage G : the drop 

 has attained its maximum size. I, a second or less 

 later than H : the spore is being shot away from its 

 sterigma. J, appearance of a spore after it has settled 

 and after the drop which it carried has evaporated. 

 K, a few minutes later than I : the sterigma sinking 

 back into the hymenium. L, remains of the collapsed 

 sterigma, a few minutes after the stage K. Magnifica- 

 tion, 1,740. 



clinging to the discharged spore. The sterigma, a few minutes after 



losing its spore, gradually contracted and was finally drawn down to 



the general level of the hymenium where it became lost to view (K, L). 



The foregoing observations teach us : (1) that in Calocera 



