486 



COMPARATIVE MORPHOLOGY OF FUNGI 



of species was misinterpreted and at one time the nsane' Octavinia was 

 applied to them, incorrectly since it was originally used as a synonym 

 of Melanogaster. 



In some species, as Hydnangium pusillum, there remains a hemi- 

 spherical base of sterile tissue which is prolonged below into a short stipe, 

 reminiscent of conditions in Jaczewskia and Hymenogaster Behrii. 



Perhaps a continuation of this tendency is found in the poorly known 

 Lycogalopsis, the only genus of the family which is not found in or on the 

 ground. In the Javan L. Solmsii (E. Fischer, 1886), the fructifications 

 are 4 to 5 mm. in diameter (Fig. 310, a) and occur on the fruits of Parinar- 

 ium scabrum. The fundaments appear as inverted patelliform portions 

 of hyphal tissue, in which thick, concentric layers, tapering at the edge, 



a^sm^w 



Fig. 310. — Lycogalopsis Solmsii. A. Habit (natural size). B. Vertical section of imma- 

 ture fructification. (X 26; after E. Fischer, 1886.) 



are separated by loose layers; apparently the layering results from 

 periodic unequal growth, as in the formation of annual rings. When the 

 gleba is formed, a peripheral tissue, which may include one or more layers, 

 becomes grayish and develops to a peridium (Fig. 310, b). In one of the 

 inner layers, rapid intercalary growth occurs, forming a hemisphere. 

 Within, a hyphal palisade develops along with the glebal chambers in 

 an unknown manner. At maturity, this degenerates, the peridium 

 shrinks and a few remains of the tramal plates jut into the cavity, forming 

 a rudimentary capillitium. 



Returning to Hydnangium, in H. sociale, a caespitose species in 

 California, we frequently have a partial fusion of fructifications. In 

 section, therefore, we frequently find deeply penetrating layers of peridial 

 tissue, closely resembling sections of Protubera in appearance. This 

 should probably be interpreted, however, as a convergence phenomenon 

 rather than an indication of phylogenetic relationships. 



