326 RESEARCHES ON FUNGI 



extent, however, to which such organs reduce the amount of 

 water in a pileus has not yet been measured. It is conceivable 

 that the cheilocystidia are useful during the early develop- 

 ment of the hymenium in removing from the gill-cells some of 

 the superfluous water, and thus hastening the flow of nutrient 

 substances which pour down the gill through the trama and 

 subhymenium into the basidia. 



