STROPHARIA SEMIGLOBATA 



335 



The gradual exhaustion of the hymenium, as shown in Fig. 118, 

 may be realised at a glance by noting the gradual increase of the 

 past-generation basidia as one passes from A to C. Corresponding 

 with this increase is a decrease in the number of future-generation 

 basidia. The number of present-generation and coming -generation 

 basidia is about the same for A and B. This accords with other 

 observations which have taught me that, in Stropharia semiglobata, 

 during the first few days of the spore-discharge period, on any 

 given area of the hymenium, the number of basidia producing spores 

 at any one time remains fairly constant, and that, as in Panaeolus 

 campanulatus, during the last few days of the spore-discharge 



The Number of Elements in the Hymenium of Stropharia semiglobata. 



period when the activity of the hymenium is approaching its close, 

 there is a tendency for this number to decrease. In the area A 

 there are present about 44 basidia. Let us assume that the average 

 number of basidia which successively bring their spores to maturity 

 on this area is 5. Then, by division, we can calculate that, alto- 

 gether, such an area as A would give rise to 9 successive generations 

 of basidia. If, however, we assume what may well be nearer the 

 truth, namely, that the average number of basidia of each generation 

 is 4 instead of 5, then the number of successive generations on the area 

 A would be increased to 1 1 . The size of the paraphyses gradually 

 increases with the progressive collapse of more and more basidia. 

 This fact may be verified by comparing the few paraphyses clearly 

 outlined in the area A with the paraphyses shown in the area C. 



In the above Table the nature and number of the elements 

 in all three of the areas shown in Fig. 118 are set forth. Parts 



