Scoficld : DICTYOPHORA RAVENELII HURT. 529 



The reproductive area usually occurs on a branch strand of 

 the mycelium. The length of this branch varies with the dis- 

 tance of the main strand below the surface of the soil. In some 

 instances this branch is so short that the sporophore seems ses- 

 sile upon the main strand. Often the sporophore-bearing branch 

 and the strand from which it comes are very small (Fig. 8), 

 and the main strand here seems to diminish but little in size 

 after giving off the branch. Both the branch and the strand, 

 however, increase in size as the sporophore develops. In all 

 cases the development of the sporophore takes place very close 

 to the surface of the soil so that upon nearing maturity it pushes 

 partially above the surface before the rupturing of the volva 

 and the elongation of the stipe takes place. A number of 

 these nearly mature sporophores are shown in an accompanying 

 plate. Before taking up the development of the sporophore a 

 brief description of the mature organ will be given to explain 

 the parts and to define the terms used. 



The mature sporophore (Fig. 7) is 8 10 cm. high and con- 

 sists of a base B, volva F 1 , F 2 , F 3 , stipe S, indusium /, pi- 

 leus P and gleba G. The base may be considered for the pres- 

 ent as a part of the volva, although structurally and develop- 

 mentally it doubtless belongs to the same area as the stipe. 

 The volva is slightly pinkish and consists of more or less defi- 

 nitely organized outer and inner layers with a disorganized 

 milky-gelatinous layer between. The stipe is hollow, 2-3 cm. 

 in diameter, dirty white, tapering at each end, with walls com- 

 posed of several layers of chambers and passing with the pileus 

 into a thick, white, recurved collar at the distal end. The 

 border of the collar is entire, not convoluted as in some species. 



The indusium or veil is membraneous and not of definite 

 structure. It is attached at the point of union of the stipe and 

 pileus and also to the volva near the base (Fig. 7, /). It rup- 

 tures irregularly upon the elongation of the stipe and may break 

 from near either the point of attachment, or partially from both, 

 and hang about the stipe as is shown in the first cut. Most 

 commonly, however, it seems to break from near its attachment 

 to the volva and hang between the pileus and stipe. 



The pileus is conic-campanulate, 2.5-3.5 cm. long and 2-3 

 mm. thick, dirty white and with an entire, slightly recurved 

 margin. It is composed of closely folded layers of pseudo-paren- 

 chymatous tissue, which give to its surface a finely wrinkled or 

 granulate appearance. 



