176 



INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF FUNGI 



little sphere, and is formed of from six to eight cells curved in 

 the form of a comma. 



In Pyronema mdaloma Tulasne states that the scolecite 

 in this species is most certainly a lateral branch of the mycelium. 



This branch, is isolated, 

 simple, or forked at a 

 short distance from its 

 base, and in diameter 

 generally exceeding that 

 of the filament which 

 bears it. This branch 

 is soon arched or bent, 

 and often elongated in 

 describing a spiral, the 

 irregular turns of which 

 are lax or compressed. 

 At the same time its 

 interior, at first con- 

 tinuous, becomes divided 

 by transverse septa into 

 eight or ten or more cells. Sometimes this special branch 

 terminates in a crozier shape, which is involved in the bent 

 part of another crozier which terminates in a neighbouring 

 filament. In other cases the growing branch is connected by 

 its extremity with that of a hooked branch. Of these con- 

 tacts Tulasne was uncertain whether they were normal or 

 accidental. But of the importance of the scolecite he conceived 

 there was no room for doubt, as being the certain and habitual 

 rudiment of the fertile cup. Inferior cells are produced from 

 the flexuous filaments which creep about its surface, cover and 

 surround it on all sides while joining themselves to each other. 

 At first continuous, then septate, these cells by their union 

 constitute a cellular tissue, which increases little by little until 

 the scolecite is so closely enveloped that only its superior 

 extremity can be seen. These cellular masses attain a con- 

 siderable volume before the hymenium begins to show itself in 

 a depression of their summit. So long as their smallness 

 permits of their being seen in the field of the microscope, 

 it can be determined that they adhere to a single filament 



Fig. 71. — Scolecite. After Kililmaii. 



