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divided bj septa, and so form a mass of pseudo- 

 parenchyma. 



A large number of septa arise in the ascogonium, 

 and soon there shoot from its cells numerous 

 branches, which penetrate on all sides between the 

 colls of the pseudo-parenchyma, become septate and 

 ramify. Their last ramifications are the Asci, which 

 therefore owe their origin to the fertilized asco- 

 gonium. All this time the penthecium, {i.e., the 

 tissues developed as the result of fertilization) has 

 been increasing in size. 



During the development of the Asci, the pseudo- 

 parenchyma becomes looser, its cells round them- 

 selves off, become capable of swelling, lose their 

 fatty contents and disappear, their place being taken 

 by the Asci. 



The outside enveloping layer from which the 

 pseudo- parenchyma is derived keeps pace in growth 

 aud becomes covered with a sulphur-yellow coating, 

 which attains a considerable thickness and consists 

 probably of a resinous or fatty substance. 



Finally these ceils also collapse and dry up ; the 

 eight-spored asci also break up, till finally the 

 perithecium consists only of the brittle yellow 

 coating and the mass of spores enclosed by it, which 

 are set free by gentle pressure. 



In a similar manner to the perithecium the 

 mycelium also becomes covered by a coating, in this 



