LEPIOTA CEPAESTIPES 



21 



situated a number of yellow-brown particles, possibly oil drops, 

 which are in the most lively Brownian movement (Fig. 11, d, f, 

 h, i, j). The function of the cheilocystidia is not apparent and 

 not easy to explain. No direct evidence is forthcoming in support 

 of the view that they are hydathodes. It must be remembered, 

 however, that the fringe of cheilocystidia occurs on those parts of 

 the gills which are developed in close proximity to the stipe, and 

 which are most exposed to transpiration when the pileus expands. 

 Possibly, for one or both of these reasons, the gill-edges, here as in 



Fig. 12. — Lepiota cejmestipes. Cells making up the loose ' 



scales on the surface of the pileus (c/. Fig. 2). a, a 

 group of cells showing exterior form ; h and c, 

 individual cells showing contents. The smaller par- 

 ticles in b and c were yellow and exhibited lively 

 Brownian movement. The larger were yellowish- 

 lirown and exhibited slower Brownian movement. 

 Magnification, 3.50. 



the Coprini and the Panaeoli, etc., are left unprovided with basidia. 

 The cheilocystidia may therefore be regarded tentatively as special- 

 ised hymenial cells simply filling up a space which for one or more 

 reasons cannot be used satisfactorily for the production of spores. 

 If the cheilocystidia are merely space-fillers or packing cells, their 

 particular shape is not of much importance, and this may perhaps 

 account for the great variability of the cheilocystidia of Lepiota 

 cejpaestijpes. 



The Scales on the Pileus. — The pileus, as we have seen, is covered 

 with delicate plumose scales. Each scale is made up of elongated 

 cells which easily separate from one another in water (Fig. 12). The 

 cells vary from about 30 to 90 ^l in length and from 5 to 25 ya in 



