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 hyphz 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 is 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 hyphz 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. 
