ASCOMYCETES. 7 



are terminal branches of hyphae forming the tissue of the 

 ascophore, and quite distinct in origin from the asci, which 

 are developed at a later stage than the paraphyses, and grow 

 up between the latter. Paraphyses are of value in a specific 

 diagnosis, and the following points should always be noted : 

 presence or absence of septa ; form, as cylindrical, clavate, or 

 lanceolate ; simple or branched; presence or absence of colour 

 at the apex or tip, which may be straight, curved, or vari- 

 ously curled or contorted ; in some species the paraphyses are 

 agglutinated or held together by colourless or coloured niuei- 

 lage ; finally, the paraphyses may be of equal length to the 

 asci the most usual condition or longer. 



When the paraphyses are slender, the transverse septa are 

 difficult to see when examined in water ; when any doubt as 

 to their presence is entertained, in fact always when septa 

 cannot be seen at first, the preparation should be treated 

 with dilute potassic hydrate, which can be accomplished by 

 allowing a drop of the solution to be drawn under the cover- 

 glass, when if septa are present, they will show up clear and 

 sharp. In other cases paraphyses are so very delicate that 

 their presence is doubtful; in such cases a drop of iodine 

 solution will be of service. 



Colour. Fatty matters are very general in fungi, and 

 are often highly coloured; but it is not yet determined 

 whether the fat is itself coloured, or only serves as a 

 vehicle for the colouring matter. According to De Bary, 

 such is the origin of the colours passing from yellow to 

 brick-red in so many fungi, as Peziza aurantia, &c. The 

 brilliant tints so common in the disc or hymenium of so 

 many of the Discomycetes is entirely due to the presence of 

 colouring matter in the tips of the paraphyses. 



The green colour present in some fungi, as Chlorosplenium 

 aeruginosum, is not due to the presence of chlorophyll. 



Habitat. In collecting specimens, it is of great import- 

 ance to note the habitat, which, within due limits, may be 

 considered as part of the specific character; a species, fjr 

 instance, that habitually grows on the ground is not likely 

 to occur on naked wood ; neither is a species that is known 

 to grow on wood likely to occur on herbaceous stems; in 



