Gallacea Scleroderma {Cke.) Lloyd. 197 



Lacunae invariably arise by certain cells within a small area 

 in the h\-phae of the tramal plates or smaller trabeciilae becoming 

 miiltiseptate, but not increasing in length. These smaller ceUs 

 become somewhat inflated and globose. They are then torn 

 apart along a median zone, so that a small ca\ity is formed 

 (fig. 4). This is at first hned by the inflated cells which shortly 

 give rise to basidia, the lacuna at the same time becoming more 

 or less elhptical. 



At a shghtly later stage a third phase of glebal formation is 

 entered upon. Lacimae appear to be rapidly formed in the 

 region of the inner wail of the peridimn, their formation pro- 

 ceeding much more slowly in the major part of the gleba. The 

 h\-phae of the inner wall of the peridiiun grow rapidly, and 

 lacunae appear in it (fig. 13) as tissue is added to this peripheral 

 region. 



The trabeculae and basal disc have now become considerably 

 reduced in thickness, the basal disc being confined to a small 

 pul\-inate region at the base (fig. 13) ; the trabeciflae, although 

 fairly stout at their junction with the disc, become thinner as 

 they approach the peridiiun, until they are barely discernible 

 where they merge with it. 



When the plant is about half size (or even earUer) the tramal 

 hx'phae and trabeciflae become gelatinised, further increase in 

 size being confined to the inner layer of the peridiiun, the h\"phae 

 in this region continuing to grow, giWng rise to glebal tissue 

 imtfl maturity is reached. In the mature plant the whole of the 

 tramal plates and trabeculae, with the exception of the hy- 

 menium and subh\Tneniiim, are gelatinised, but the peridium 

 remains unaffected throughout the hfe of the plant. Structurally 

 there is no difference between tramae and trabeciflae, save that 

 of size, for the tramae arise from the trabeciflae and both give 

 rise to h\Tnenium. Nevertheless, for facihty of description it is 

 necessarv to retain these distinctive names. 



Mature or drv plants are qiute hoUow, the collapsed gleba 

 being distributed as a thin film over the inner walls of the peri- 

 dium and trabeciflae ; the latter being stouter than the tramae 

 are able to retain their form, gi\"ing the plant a veined appear- 

 ance when cut (fig. 8). That shrinkage is due to the dr^dng of 

 the gelatinous portions of the tramal plates (tramae) is ob\'ious 

 when the foUowing facts are considered: if half-grown plants 

 are sectioned, they are seen to be solid throughout, yet if they 

 are dried, and again examined, collapse of the gleba wiU be seen 

 to have taken place, showing that loss of moisture is the deter- 

 mining factor; should sections of this dr\- gleba be placed in 

 water, they slowly sweU untfl they assimie their normal size. 

 Furthermore, should plants collected before gelatinisation of 



