166 THE GASTEROMYCETES OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA 



A plant from Bresadola's herbarium determined by him as 5. vulgare is the same 

 as 5. aurantium, with spores 7-11.8/i thick. 



Maire's cytological work on this species we quote below (Comp. Rend. 131 (2): 

 1247. 1900). It will be noted that he states the spore number to be four. Tulasne 

 says they are "usually four, sometimes two, three or five," and he also states that their 

 respective positions are very variable. 



"The study of the basidium is especially interesting in Scleroderma vulgare. At the 

 beginning of the prophase of the first division, the cytoplasm contains a certain number 

 of granules which stain black in iron haematoxylin, around which radiate the micro- 

 somes. It seems clear that two of these granules become the centrosomes, for a little 

 later only two from among them show as center of radiation; they are then placed on 

 each side of the nucleus whose nucleolus and membrane soon disappear, while the 

 chromatic reticulum is transformed into two irregular knotty clubs which represent two 

 chromosomes and which extend almost from one centrosome to another. 



"At the same time there is organized between the centrosomes a spindle; the two 

 chromosomes contract while increasing in thickness, then divide into two longitudinally, 

 while shaping themselves into a "V" until they are end to end parallel to the axis of the 

 spindle. They are then directed toward the poles and there reunite into a chromatic 

 mass which covers the centrosomes and from which seem still to radiate the astral rays. 

 The spindle soon disappears and the second division begins almost immediately : there 

 is formed around each nucleus a spindle with centrosomes and asters. All the granules 

 of the cytoplasm are massed on the radiations of the asters, except some which remain 

 in a parietal layer at the base of the basidium, in such a way that, except for this residue, 

 everything that is visible in the cytoplasm is oriented with regard to the four centro- 

 somes. The second division is like the first, since the events take place as if the four 

 centrosomes determined the formation of the four spores; they disappear moreover on 

 the arrival of the nuclei at the latter, to reappear only at the mitosis, which takes place 

 in the spore some time after its formation." 



Maire also makes the general statement in regard to this species, as well as all 

 others studied [Geaster kygrometrkus, Lycoperdon caelatum, excipuliforme, gemmatum; 

 Nidularia globosa, Cyathus hirsutus] : "We have observed the fusion of only two nuclei 

 in the young basidia. The subhymenial cells always contain two associated nuclei 

 with conjugate mitoses. Many cells of the other tissues when they are old contain a 

 more or less large number of nuclei, but these nuclei come from an amitotic fragmenta- 

 tion of the two primitive nuclei. The number of chromosomes is two in all species 

 studied." 



Illustrations: Bambeke. I. c, fig. 2. 



Boudier. Icon. Myc, pi. 145. This shows the condition parasitized by Boletus parasiticus. 



Bulliard. Champ. Fr., pi. 270. 



Fries, Th. C. E. Sveriges Gasteromyceter, fig. 37. 



Gillet. Champ. Fr. (GasteromycetesJ, pi. 15. 



Hard. Mushrooms, pi. 64 and fig. 475. 



Hollos. 1. c, pi. 23, figs. 8-15. 



Hussey. Ills. Brit. Myc, pi. 17. 



Marshall. Mushroom Book, p. 134. 



Massee. Brit. Fungi, pi. 35, fig. 6. 



