A 



jh Cb V- C Uf 



B 



Fig. 120. — Sarcoscypha -protracta. A semi-diagrammatic vertical section through the two sides of a cup 

 to show the appearance of the hymenium before and after spore-discharge. The two sides of the cup 

 have been approximated to bring them both within the same drawing. A, just before tlie fruit-body 

 puffed. The hymenium consists of : p p, paraphyses containing the red particles which give the 

 hymenium its scarlet colour ; a a, asci, each bounded by a thin elastic cell-wall iv, and containing a 

 lining layer of cytoplasna c, a large vacuole v, and eight spores enclosing oil-drops. The asci are fully 

 protuberant and the spores are all ripe and ready for discharge. The uppermost spore in each ascus has 

 its upper end resting against the part of the ascus-wall which is to become the operculum. All the 

 spores in each ascus look obliquely upwards. The arrows show the direction in which the ascospores 

 and part of the ascus-sap will be shot. B, the same section as A, one second after puffing has taken 

 place. The spores and part of the ascus-sap have been shot upwards in the directions shown by the 

 arrows through operculate ostioles which look upwards to the mouth of the cup. Each operculum has 

 its hinge on the side of the ostiole farthest from the end of the ascus. In eacli ascus tliere lias been a 

 reduction of the diameter to about three-quarters, and of the length by an amount equal to the part 

 of the ascus that formerly was protuberant. Magnification, 200. 



