ey ae eee 4 
168 The Botanical Gazette. 
with starch, while the remainder of the cortex toward the 
epidermis contains a considerable quantity of it. j 
When first studying these stems it was observed that the 
cell contents of the cortical tissue stained a dark purple with — 
hematoxylin and often a brownish hue was secured. As this 
mass of protoplasm completely surrounded and permeated by 
a great number of septate hyphal threads and these wert 
often traced to similar ones outside of the stem. The latter _ 
were somewhat larger and always presented a much denser 
Structure. At first it seemed that the threads might be acc 
dental and due to the presence of some parasite that had at 
tacked the individual plant, but later they were found in the 
stems of plants obtained from various parts of the country. 
The hyphe are confined to a certain region of the stem 
and are seldom found within 3—-4™" of the tip. The cell 
nearest the tip, in which they first appear, contain but a few 
and it is here that their structure can be best studied. Fare 
ther back from the tip the threads increase in abundance ! 
Seen to be a cylindrical tube with walls of a distinctly 3 
nated structure, septate and the outer surface in many 
Covered with protuberances. The central cavity of the aan 
mentous masses of protoplasm of 4 SM 
character. The hyphe branch freely and often rer ee 
ataeas a common center which may be the nue 
e cell, 
The cell wall of Fe chreads fl 
traced throughs $ are pierced readily and the thre! 
number of 
* 
