BASIDIA AND THE DISCHARGE OF SPORES 7 



at the moment of discharge, the drop is carried with the spore. Hence, 

 in Fig. 2 at I, the drop has been represented diagrammatically as 



L i 



A B C D E F 



K 



FIG. 2. Calocera cornea. The development and discharge 

 of a spore. A, an immature sterigma pushing out 

 beyond the gelatinous matrix of the hymenium. B, 

 a full-grown sterigma. C, D, E, and F, stages in 

 the development of a spore, drawn respectively 10, 20, 

 30, and 40 minutes after the stage B. F, the full- 

 grown spore on the end of its sterigma. G, the same 

 spore 40 minutes later than the stage F : a drop of 

 water is being excreted at the hilum. H, the same 

 spore, about 6 seconds later than the stage G : the drop 

 has attained its maximum size. I, a second or less 

 later than H : the spore is being shot away from its 

 sterigma. J, appearance of a spore after it has settled 

 and after the drop which it carried has evaporated. 

 K, a few minutes later than I : the sterigma sinking 

 back into the hymenium. L, remains of the collapsed 

 sterigma, a few minutes after the stage K. Magnifica- 

 tion, 1,740. 



clinging to the discharged spore. The sterigma, a few minutes after 



losing its spore, gradually contracted and was finally drawn down to 



the general level of the hymenium where it became lost to view (K, L) . 



The foregoing observations teach us : (1) that in Calocera 



