46 



RESEARCHES ON FUNGI 



The gills (Fig. 26, A, p. 44) are very thin, 5 to 7 mm. in length 

 and 2 to 3 mm. in width, very acutely wedge-shaped in cross-section 



Fig. 27. — Psathyrella disseminata. A, surface view of part of the top of a pileus : 

 a, the palisade cells ; b, loose, colourless, spherical cells resting on the palisade 

 cells ; c, a loose cell which has become brown and now has crystals of calcium 

 oxalate on its wall ; d, a pilocystidium. B, a vertical section through the top 

 of a pileus : a, the palisade cells ; b, a loose colourless spherical cell resting on 

 the palisade cells ; c, a loose brown cell with crystals of calcium oxalate on its 

 wall ; d, a long pilocystidium with a mucilaginous drop of fluid excreted laterally 

 at its apex ; e, a shorter pilocystidium with a smaller drop excreted at its apex. 

 C, pilocystidia : a, the longest observed ; b and c, two others showing their 

 protoplasmic contents enclosing the vacuoles v. D, part of the top of a stipe : 

 a, outer cells ; b and c, two caulocystidia. E, part of the free edge of a gill near 

 the periphery of the pileus : a, b, c, three cheilocystidia. Magnification, 300. 



when very young, and adnate to the stipe. In my specimens they 

 had a greyish-violet tinge, but Massee and Patouillard both speak 



should have the flesh left by itself in the form of a very thin and ovate membrane. 

 That this membrane actually becomes split into ribbons radially, as the pileus 

 expands, must not be used as an argument for its non-existence. 



