OF THE GENUS TRICHIA. 19 



contain fibres. It does not seem probable that spiral vessels, 

 which have always been considered a type of advanced organi- 

 zation, should be altogether wanting in the vast tribe of the 

 Hymenomycetes, that they should disappear at the close of the 

 series of the higher Cryj)togamia to come to light again in the 

 lower scale of the Gasteromycetes : this argument of course is 

 by no means conclusive, but in a question where so much 

 difference of opinion exists it is deserving of consideration, 

 and cannot safely be altogether rejected. Again the shape of 

 the Trichia-Xhreads exhibits a great departure from the ordi- 

 nary form of spiral vessels ; Schacht, in the work to which 1 

 have alluded, asserts that spiral vessels are seldom branched, 

 and mentions two instances as cases of unusual occurrence, in 

 which branched spiral vessels have been observed : the accu- 

 racy of this statement has been questioned, and it has been 

 alleged that spiral vessels are frequently branched, especially 

 in endogenous plants ; but whichever view be correct, I appre- 

 hend that a branched spiral vessel must be considered abnormal 

 in form, and consequently when we find, as was long since 

 noticed by Corda, that the TV- R'Am- threads are very frequently 

 branched, and sometimes to an extent almost amounting to 

 reticulation, this fact must be admitted to weigh something in 

 the scale against the probability of the existence of fibres. 



Another objection arises from the rapidity with which the 

 Trichia are matured. It is well known tliat the Myxoyasteres, 

 as well as some other of the Gasteromycetes, grow with 

 astonishing rapidity. Batarrea r/audichaiidi, a South Ame- 

 rican species, attains its full size in a few hours ; the develope- 

 ment of Phallus impudicus is familiar to every person who 

 has directed any attention to the subject of fungoid growth, 

 and the genus Trichia forms no exception to this rule. Now 

 if spiral fibres exist, they must be admitted to be formed in 

 the same manner as all other spiral fibres are supposed to be 

 produced, viz., by gradual and successive deposits of thick- 

 ening matter upon the internal wall of the cells ; and if this be 

 so, it is difficult to see how, in the short period allotted for the 

 completion of the growth of the fungus, the fil)res can find 

 time to perfect themselves, 



A further objection arises from the impossibility of de- 

 taching the apparent spiral from the wall of the cell ; I assume 

 that this has never been effected, because if it had been the 

 question would be concluded. I have tried the action of 

 many reagents upon these threads, but have never succeeded 

 in obtaining a free fibre. Now if the elaters of a Jiuiger- 

 mannia, with which more than with anything else the Trichia- 

 threads have been compared, be treated with sulphuric acid, 



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