HYMENOGASTRACEAE 51 



was dehydrated and infiltrated in paraffin in the usual manner for very delicate objects. 

 Sections were cut S microns thick and stained with Haidenhain's iron alum haematoxy- 

 lin and by Gram's method, the latter giving much better results. 



It was found that the nuclear behavior agreed in the essential details with that 

 described for typical Basidiomycetes with four-spored basidia except that three of the 

 nuclei remain in the basidium and degenerate, the fourth entering the spore which is 

 always uninucleate. 



In the young basidium, which has not developed the elongated, tubular process, 

 there were quite often seen two nuclei which might be located near the base or in center 

 or in position as shown in figure 4. Numerous stages were seen in which the two nuclei 

 were apparentlv fusing. When the basidium is in a somewhat later stage of develop- 

 ment (fig. 5) it is usually found to be uninucleate, the nucleus now being considerably 

 larger than either of those shown in figure 4. This large nucleus soon becomes some- 

 what vesicular in structure, the linin threads with chromatin granules on them showing 

 up conspicuously (fig. 6). A comparatively large spindle is formed on which the chro- 

 matin granules arrange themselves (fig. 7). The first mitosis seems to be followed im- 

 mediately by the second in which the spindle is considerably smaller and the chromo- 

 somes much less distinct (fig. 8). 



Four nuclei are thus formed from the original fusion nucleus (fig. 9). Meanwhile 

 the basidium has sent out a tubular process into which the nuclei and some cytoplasm 

 migrate. At the tip of this tubular process a bud is formed which enlarges to form the 

 spore. One of the four nuclei passes into the spore (fig. 10). In later stages as shown 

 in figure 11, the spore is seen to be uninucleate; the three supernumerary nuclei left 

 in the basidium can hardly be distinguished — so poorly do they absorb the stain. They 

 are doubtless degenerating. 



Our plant is evidently nearest Hydnangium monosporum Boud. and Pat. (See 

 Boudier; Icon., pi. 193, and Patouillard; Tab. Fung. No. 692) as shown by the strongly 

 cespitose habit and single-spored basidia with rough spores. That is easily separated 

 by ochraceous color, larger size, and minutely spiny spores. Gallacea Scleroderma 

 (Cooke) Lloyd ( = G. violacea (Cooke & Mass.) Lloyd) , a violet plant from New Zealand 

 and related to Hysterangium, has recently been examined microscopically by Cun- 

 ningham, and is quite different from our 0. purpurea (Trans. Brit. Myc. Soc. 9: 193, 

 pis. 9 and 10. 1924). 



The genus Leucophleps Harkness {Leucophlebs, as the spelling was corrected by 

 Roumeguere) contains a species L. magnala which, in its one-spored basidia, resembles 

 our plants, but which can be easily separated by the partial absence of the peridural 

 and the smooth spores. Appearances are against Leucophleps being a good genus. 



7456. Plants partly or entirely buried in damp soil by Battle's Branch below Forest Theater, July 



25, 1924. 

 7468. Abundant on washed soil by Battle's Branch, Aug. 4, 1924. 

 7508. On ground and slightly buried under a sweet gum tree near Meeting of Waters, Aug. 27, 1924. 



Octaviania asterosperma Vitt. 



Plate 110 

 Dr. Fitzpatrick has kindly sent us a single plant of this species from Ithaca (entered 

 below), mentioned by Lloyd in Mycological Notes, p. 1141. We find it to agree with 



