COLLYBIA RADICATA loi 



loose type of hymenium suggests that this kind of organisation is 

 characteristic for the whole genus. The rate of development of 

 the spores on individual basidia is a rapid one in Collybia, for the 

 time from the first appearance of the rudiments of the four spores 

 up to the moment of discharge of the first was observed to be as 

 follows : for Collybia velutipes 47 minutes, for C. radicata 1 hour and 

 30 minutes, and for C. dryophila (incomplete observations) between 

 1 hour and 1 hour 30 minutes.^ 



Some other details of the structure of the hymenium of Collybia 

 radicata are indicated in Fig. 46, B, C, and D. B is a surface view of 

 the hymenium showing (1) basidium-bodies, b, containing abundant 

 granular protoplasm, and (2) somewhat smaller paraphyses, p, with 

 relatively scanty protoplasm appressed to the cell-walls and large 

 central vacuoles. C represents a cross-section through the upper 

 part of the hymenium showing the external appearance of the various 

 elements : the least prominent cells, d, consist of very young basidia 

 and of paraphyses ; c is an older basidium which has become pro- 

 tuberant ; 6 is a basidium which has developed its sterigmata and 

 has just begun to develop spores, the spore-rudiments being less 

 than 10 minutes old ; a is a basidium with full-grown spores, the 

 spores being between 35 minutes and 90 minutes old ; ^ e is a 

 cystidium with a rounded head. D represents a cross-section through 

 the hymenium showing a few elements with their contents : a and 6 

 are young basidia filled with granular protoplasm ; c is an older 

 basidium, elongating and about to form sterigmata, also filled with 

 granular protoplasm ; d is a, fully protuberant basidium which 

 bears four full-size spores into which the protoplasm of the basidium- 

 body is still passing through the sterigmata, possibly owing to 

 the growth of the vacuole v and the pressure of the cell-sap ; e, /, 

 and g are paraphyses, somewhat smaller than the young basidia 

 and distinguished by their large vacuoles arid diminishing proto- 

 plasmic contents ; A is a cystidium with a bluntly rounded end and 

 vacuolated protoplasm. 



The drawings B, C, and D in Fig. 46 clearly indicate the two 



^ Researches on Fungi, vol. ii, 1922, p. 44. 



^ The spores of Collybia radicata require about 35 minutes to grow to full size 

 and are shot away when they are about 1 hour and 30 minutes old. Vide these 

 Researches, vol. ii, 1922, p. 54. 



