234 
A large number of my observations prove the fact that many fungus spores 
first germidate on the hymenium of the parent, whether the latter is in a state of 
decay ornot. As for the woody Polyporei, especially those species in which the pores 
are disposed in strata as in P. fomentarius Fr. P. igniarius Fr. &c. The different 
strata of pores are simply formed by the spores germinating upon the old hymenium 
and forming a new series of pores underneath. The glaucous bloom so often seen 
between and at the mouths of tubes is no other than mycelium and cells from 
germinated spores. This observation can easily be confirmed. 
An unfertilised spore may throw out a thread or even burst and discharge 
its nucleus, but as far as my experience goes a barren spore of this nature stops 
with this discharge. 
An interest of the first importance attaches itself to the correct interpreta- 
tion of the meaning of the cystidia; long ago Bulliard, Klotysch, and Corda, 
described the cystidia as analogous organs with antheridia or pollenidia; the 
latter author represents Cystidia with open summits ejecting a spermatic liquid ; 
De Bary however can see nothing in cystidia but ‘‘ cylindrical hairs ” because they 
somewhat resemble ‘pilose formations” seen upon the pilei of some fungi, the 
opinions of botanists who differ from De Bary are described by the latter author 
as ‘‘ entirely gratuitous.” But it is only necessary to examine a few fungi belong- 
ing to different genera of the Hymenomycetes to find that De Bary’s views are 
founded upon insufficient cLservation, the cystidia under Pluteus, Armillaria, and 
Lactarius are totally different in character from hairs. The very fact of cystidia 
being crowned with four spicules and springing from the same stratum of cells as 
the spicule-crowned basidia indicates the probable analogy of function and 
relationship between the basidia and cystidia. The barren cells of the hymenial 
surface I consider to be the analogues of the paraphyses amongst the Ascomycetes. 
As if to show the insufficiency of his observations, De Bary says ‘“‘it seems” 
cystidia have not yet been met with in the Hydnei and Clavariei. But if the 
fruiting surface is examined of a very moderate number of the Hymenomycetes 
the cystidia will be found exactly alike in size and shape with the hasidia, and 
unless the extra translucency of the former is taken into consideration the fungus 
really appears to possess no cystidia at all. The common mushroom is a good 
example of this phenomenon for in this species the cystidia and basidia are so much 
alike in size, and they pass into each other’s form so much that in a young plant it 
is almost impossible to distinguish basidia from cystidia. It is highly probable 
that cystidia are present in all the Hymenomycetes but they are often overlooked 
from their very small size and their similarity in appearance with the barren cells 
or basidia. Some cystidia are enormous in their comparative size and this is 
especially the case in Coprinus atramentarius and C. niveus, in these the cystidia 
are some 200 times the bulk of the basidia. 
If it be once granted that cystidia are really sexual organs then it may at 
once be seen why they are so highly developed in the common and fugitive species. 
We find them of great size in Coprinus Psathyrella, &c., and in the plants coming 
under these sections fecundation and germination almost takes place at the samé 
