318 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [MAY 
was called to the threads which radiate evenly from the base of 
the stipe (fig. 7). From the position of these hyphae near the 
surface of the nutrient medium, and from the fact that they gen- 
erally terminate in delicate growing points, and are not much 
interwoven with the threads of the mycelium, it seems that they 
do not originate from the mycelium, but grow out from the base 
of the stipe. A study of their origin showed this to be the case. 
Some of the branches sent out from the hyphae of the young 
gonidiophore are directed downwards toward the substratum 
(fig. 9,6). These branches were found on many occasions and 
in all stages of development, from those which had begun to 
others which had grown to a considerable length. It is interest- 
ing to note that those branches destined to grow upward con- 
stantly originated just below a septum, while those growing 
toward the substratum always began above a cross-wall. In 
many cases observed this was invariably true. Without doubt 
these radiating branches serve to support the sporophore for, as 
it often starts from a comparatively smal! bundle of hyphae, the 
large head of gonidia with its sterile threads would probably 
bear it down if it were not strengthened by further support. 
The life cycle of this plant seems thus completed. Although 
many cultures were made in different media no perfect form was 
obtained, and indeed it seems probable that among some of the 
more highly developed Hyphomycetes like Trichurus the perfect 
form has been lost even if it ever existed. 
STYSANUS STEMONITES. 
Stysanus stemonites is a common form of the Pheostilbex* 
found growing on decaying wood and bark of all kinds, bic 
which its small sporophores form gray patches of varying 
extent. On account of its great resemblance to Trichurus tt 
was grown in a.series of cultures parallel with those of the latter 
fungus, especially as the thought suggested itself that perhaps 
the sterile bristles might be merely an abnormal production of 
Stysanus. The cultures for this purpose were obtained from 
5Sacc. Syl. Fung. 4: 603. 
