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are parted by the force of the eviction, but immediately resumed their old position 
again with a jerk, as if impelled by their own elasticity. Here then we have a 
primary function for paraphyses. They form the parallel thready cellular tissue 
of the hymenium and complete, so to speak, the vegetative structure of the plant, 
previous to the development of the reproductive organs ; they, moreover, by their 
structure serve as free channels along which the delicate asci may be developed 
without risk of distortion or injury ; and by their peculiarities of form, they still 
maintain an impervious disc, notwithstanding the great lateral increase of volume 
below, and thus prevent the speedy evaporation of the watery fluids so essential 
to spore production. 
It may be observed here, in passing, that the disc is most exposed to the 
risk of too great evaporation, since the exterior of the cups is protected by various 
contrivances and sealed against any loss by transpiration. 
What may be the special functions of the curious pointed fusiform para- 
physes, found in several of the minute species of Peziza we have not as yet been 
fortunate enough to discover. All the species in which this form of paraphysis 
is found are very minute, and the difficulties in such an investigation are conse- 
quently great. 
Tt has been remarked that some of the forms of paraphyses throw off their 
apical cells, which cover the disc with a mealy coating. Hitherto we have not 
‘been successful by any means at our disposal in compelling these cells to ger- 
minate. Indeed we have no grounds whatever to consider them of the nature of 
conidia, but only as free cells cast off for some purpose from the tips of the 
paraphyses. As far as our observations have led we are disposed to regard this as 
a subsidiary mode of protecting the disc from radiation, and thus retaining the 
moisture so essential not only to the production, but also to assist in the expulsion 
of the sporidia. 
The instances in which the phenomenon here alluded to takes place are 
‘ almost wholly confined to species the dises of which are black or dark coloured, 
and are not found in the true Pezize, which contain a large proportion of water 
in their composition, but in such genera as Patellaria and L'ympanis, which are 
comparatively waxy and dry, and consequently wherein greater economy of the 
fluid contents of the hymenium is essential. This, however, is merely a sugges- 
tion, since no facts have come to light which directly establish the conjecture, 
except the circumstantial evidence alluded to. 
Whether threads are produced at any time, or in any species, intermixed 
with the paraphyses, which threads develope bodies of the nature of conidia or 
spermatia, is an open question. At present I am not prepared to give an opinion. 
In a very old specimen of Helvella infula I have found cylindrical bodies which 
greatly resemble conidia, and in other species I have seen occasionally spermatoid 
bodies, which as yet I am unable to account for. This remark is suggested in 
order to indicate one direction in which further observation is desirable. 
Finally, some observations are necessary on the supposed functions 
