328 FETCH : 



develop the Xylaria from them. They aj^pear to have drawn 

 their conchisions from the fact that the Xiilaria does produce 

 rhizomorphs. But in Ceylon experience it is always possible 

 to develop the Xylaria, at least the conidial form, from the 

 rhizomorph, whereas nothing can be obtained from the 

 aborted agaric ; moreover, these structures occur in inhabited 

 nests, whereas one never finds any trace of the Xylaria under 

 such conditions. It would seem probable that these structures 

 in the Madagascar nests are really aborted agarics, though, if 

 so, it would have been expected that the fully -developed 

 agaric would have been discovered during an investigation 

 which extended over several years. Yet it is quite possible 

 that it could have been overlooked, if attention was given 

 exclusively to large mound nests, for the agaric arises most 

 frequently from nests which have not attained the mound 

 stage. 



(3) The Xylaria. 

 \Mien a comb is removed from the nest and placed under a 

 bell glass, it rapidly develops a thick loose covering of mycelium , 

 which is at first white, but soon becomes smoky gray. If the 

 termites have not been removed from the comb, development 

 is slower, but as the insects die the fungus gradually gains the 

 upjier hand. The character of the growth depends on the 

 amount of moisture present. If the comb is very damp, or if 

 it is wetted, the mycelium climbs up the sides of the bell glass 

 and ultimately fills the whole interior, but as a rule the weft of 

 mycelium covers the comb and produces loose upright columns, 

 up to 15 cm. high and 5 mm. in diameter, which undergo 

 repeated dichotomous branching at the apex. By drying the 

 comb a little at first, and sujDplying water when necessary, 

 more com]>act columns, which soon turn black below, may be 

 obtained. Numerous figures of these structures have been 

 given previously. Sometimes, especially when the comb is 

 somewhat dry , small })lack sclerotia, from the size of a mustard 

 seed to that of a pea, are produced in the weft of mycelium. 

 If the comb is buried to a depth of 2 or 3 inches in 

 soil in a plant pot the same stromata appear, but they arc 

 usually small, nol more than 2 or 3 cm. high, and compact. 

 .MosL of tho)u briuich dichotomously. but sometimes simple 



