HOTSON. — CULTURE STUDIES^OF FUNGI. 247 



only a little sinalliT in diaiiu'ter than that of the spore itself (Figure 

 22), and froquontly when it has grown a short distance, broadens out 

 as much as 14 n in diameter (Figure 23). Thus the primary hj'pha 

 from the ascospore is very large (7-14 jjl m diameter), well filled with 

 food material, and grows quite rapidly under favorable conditions. 

 The culture of these germinating spores was carried on in Van 

 Tieghem cells until bulbils were produced on the mycelium. 



Germination of the Bulbil. — The bulbils, unlike the ascospores, 

 germinate with great readiness within twenty-four hours and any 

 of the cells that contain protoplasmic material may send out a germ 

 tube, which shortly produces other bulbils from intercalary cells, as 

 described above. When the bulbils are crushed, the contents of each 

 of the large cells escapes surrounded by an endosporium (Figure 19) 

 and germinates readily in Van Tieghem cells. Little significance can 

 be attached to this fact, however, as not only are nearly all bulbils 

 similar in this respect, but it is a common occurrence among spores 

 which are surrounded by a thick episporium, such as the ascospores 

 just considered. 



In prolonged cultures of this fungus no other spore forms have been 

 observed. 



Lachnea theleboloides (A. & S.) Sacc. 



The association of this species with bull)il-like bodies is reported 

 by Morini ('88) but it is not clear from his account whether the 

 structures seen were true bulbils, or abortive apothecia, as he believed 

 them to be. The apothecia, which he describes and figures, are very 

 similar to those of Cubonia bulbifcra but the spherical spores of the 

 latter distinguish it at once. 



The bulbil-like structures which he describes were found only in 

 old cultures in which the nutriment was more or less exhausted, and 

 are described as irregularly gloliose, 160-220 n, and rather hard. 

 In many cases large cells of somewhat spiral form were visil)le in 

 these bodies which Morini considered "rudimentary ascogonia." 

 The protoplasm of the external cells, is said to be replaced by an 

 aqueous liquid and the walls become thick and brownish-red in color. 

 A large number of the superficial cells, as in the case of the developing 

 apothecium, give rise to short, often septate setae, which cover 

 nearly the whole surface. When these "bulbils" were transferred 

 to fresh substrata, only those with better developed "ascogonia" 

 continued their development until they formed apothecia identical 

 in character with those produced normally. In all other cases. 



