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RESEARCHES ON FUNGI 



layer and the fibrous layer, yield to the strain which has been set 

 up and suddenly turn inside out, thus slinging the glebal mass 

 violently away. After discharge of the glebal mass, the everted 



go? 



ooo 



Fig. 157. — Spliaerobolus stellatus. Basidia as seen in sections of the gleba made 

 two days before the glebal mass would have been discharged. A and B, two 

 very young basidia, each with a clamp-connexion at the basal septum. C, a 

 basidium with six young spores, seen from the side. D, a basidium with eight 

 young spores, seen from above. E, an older basidium with eight older spores. 

 F, a still older basidium bearing six spores, the spore-walls of which are still 

 very thin. G-L, six basidia seen from the side, and M-P four basidia seen from 

 above, all bearing nearly mature spores with thickened walls. The basidium 

 G bears four spores, H and M five spores, I, J, K, L, and N six spores, O seven 

 spores, and P eight spores. The basidium-body of L is becoming autodigested. 

 Clamp -connexions can be seen at the base of the basidia G, H, and I. In J, 

 K, and L, they may have been present at the back of each septum. Drawn by 

 A. H. Pv. Buller and Ruth Macrae. Magnification, 1132. 



membranes have a balloon -like appearance ; and they are usually 

 left standing over the cup, attached to its teeth and covering its 

 orifice (Figs. 147, C, and 160,/, g, h). 



The force which brings about the discharge of the Sphaerobolus 



