]32 Journal OF THE Mitchell Society [Se2)t€mher 



developed to considerable size showing no appearance of any root 

 in them or any bark of the pine on the outside as was the case 

 with the smaller ones. I think the whole root for two inches or 

 more is changed into this substance from the fact that some of the 

 roots extend entirely through it, some of them being smaller inside 

 and larger outside." 



The observations of Ravenel (13) alone cast doubt on the para- 

 sitic origin of the tuckahoe. He records the finding of five or six 

 specimens varying in size from a hen's egg to more than twice as 

 large, attached to an old pine rail. Since all other observers agree 

 in the occurrence of tuckahoes singly and not in groups, there is a 

 possibility of mistaken identity by Ravenel. 



Formation and Structure of the Sporophore 



In efforts to bring about the production of fruit bodies several 

 sclerotia which had been subjected to drying in the laboratory for 

 a few daj'S after collection, were placed in water to soak for about 

 24 hours. One was then left to lie on a laboratory table, one in a 

 moist chamber in the laboratory, two were placed in an ice chest, 

 one was placed in a moist chamber in a photographic dark room and 

 three were buried out of doors in the sand. In three days, a dense 

 white fungoid crust had formed in the case of the first one on the 

 side in contact with the table. As I did not suspect that this crust 

 was an immature rcsupinate hymenophore, since I was looking for 

 a stalked fruit body to make its appearance, I scraped off most of 

 it in making examination and left it lying with the crust upward. 

 Several days later, I was surprised to find that a similar crust had 

 formed on the opposite side. This was undisturbed and in the course 

 of a week had matured into the hymcnial layer. The one in the 

 moist chamber had meanwhile developed a fruit body similar in ap- 

 pearance. The two tuckahoes in the ice chest showed no signs of 

 growth during two Aveeks there. Thoy were then placed in a moist 

 chamber in the laboratory where within a week l)oth fruited. One 

 formed four fruiting structures and is the one shown in plates 35 

 and 36. 



In the case of the sclerotiuin in the dark room. ;i profuse loose 

 mycelial envelope which completely surrounded it h;nl formed in 

 two weeks. When after tliis tinio it was sul)j('('tt'd 1o tlic diffuse light 



