MancJiester Memoirs, Vol. Ivii. (1913), No. 8. 13 



frequently immature on rupture of the outer membrane, 

 and their maturation took place within the extended 

 inner pellicle prior to final dehiscence. {Text-fig. 2, 

 1-4.) 



Woronin states that sometimes the internal pressure 

 is so great that the inner envelope is split transversely, 

 the tip being thrown off as a small cap (Miitzchen oder 

 Fingerhut). {Text-fig. 2, 5.) This occurred twice only 

 in m}' observations. 



Asci delicately isolated in a drop of water shew very 

 readily the above types of dehiscence, and also a method 

 not mentioned b}' Woronin^ simultaneous ejection. The 

 internal pressure ruptures the inner and outer envelopes 

 simultaneously at the tip, and the spores, given a sligiitly 

 rotatory movement by their somewhat spiral arrangement 

 within the ascus, and their fusiform shape, are ejected 

 with great rapidity and some degree of violence. At the 

 same moment the internal membrane swells so quickly 

 that a spore is frequently caught in the ascus neck, there 

 to germinate. ( Text-fig. 2, 6 — 8.) This method of 

 dehiscence may be due to differences in tension and 

 strain induced b}^ the mechanical isolation of the asci ; 

 but in perithecia, asci may not infrequently be seen in 

 which a spore is germinating in the neck. In a large 

 number of cases the spores are not ejected, but germinate 

 in situ ; and old perithecia ma}^ often be found completely 

 filled by germinating spores. 



Spore Germination. 



Woronin paid considerable attention to germination 

 studies, infecting healthy filaments in a watch glass, by 

 allowing spores to fall upon them from Lewanea con- 

 taining mature perithecia. Germination occurred in from 

 two to three hours, the hyphae arising always from the 



