532 MINNESOTA BOTANICAL STUDIES. 



connected by a small pore, through the base, with the partially 

 disorganized tissue in the center of the stipe. The stipe already 

 shows very slightly its chambered structure and the areas of the 

 pileus and gleba are distinguishable. 



In Fig. 4 the relative size of the various parts is shown to be 

 considerably modified. Gelatinization of the middle area of the 

 volva is nearly complete. The indusium is almost entirely cut 

 off from the volva and occupies a much smaller space than in the 

 previous stage. The gleba is greatly enlarged, and the hyme- 

 nial layer is beginning to show and the pressure of the whole re- 

 ceptaculum is beginning to be exerted upon the inner layer of 

 the volva. The next stage as shown in Fig. 5 shows general 

 enlargement of the parts and rapid development. Just how this 

 enlargement takes place is not easy to understand. Certainly 

 it is not altogether due to enlargement of existing hyphce for 

 excepting in the stipe and pileus actual measurement of the 

 cells in the various stages show slight differences in the sizes of 

 individual cells, so that enlargement must be very largely due to 

 apical growth and branching. 



The development as shown from Figs. 2 to 5 must go on very 

 rapidly, for comparatively few sporophores in these stages were 

 found. In Fig. 6 is shown the sporophore practically mature. 

 The tissue in the middle of the stipe JTis almost completely dis- 

 organized, showing the wall of the other side of the stipe in one 

 or two places. The walls of the stipe are fully developed, but 

 the cells of the walls of the chambers are closely compressed, 

 especially at the angles. The indusium is reduced to a thin 

 layer adhering closely to the sides. The inner layer of the 

 volva is drawn very tightly over the gleba and is pressed against 

 the outer layer at the tip. The gleba is completely developed 

 and the spores are nearly or quite formed. 



Fig. 7 shows the mature plant as previously described. The 

 parts of it may now be described in detail. The base B is 

 made up of small but entire hyphas closely interwoven and 

 shown in detailed structure in Fig. 19. The base forms a cup 

 which loosely contains the base of the stipe to which it is at- 

 tached only slightly, just about the pore which connects the 

 hollow of the base with the hollow of the stipe. The tissue 

 of the central area of the strand is in direct connection with 

 the tissue of the base and the peripheral area of the strand at 

 this time greatly reduced leads directly into the coating of the 

 base and the outer layer of the volva. 



