x 
. 
a BOTANICAL GAZETTE [JANUARY 
are binucleated. In the mature carpophore the majority of the 4 
‘cells in the stipe and pileus are multinucleate, but this condition — 
arises from the amitotic fragmentation of the two nuclei origi- 
nally present in each cell. The subhymenial cells from which ~ 
the basidia spring and the paraphyses are always binucleate. — 
This involves the remarkable fact that all the cells which are 
directly concerned in producing the basidiospores are through-— | 
out their development binucleated. In other words, all the cells 
of the Keimbahn are binucleated, the multinucleated condition 
only arising in cells of strictly limited development and found — 4 
in the organs of nutrition, support, transportation, etc. Maire 4 
also finds that the pairs of nuclei divide simultaneously as_ 
‘conjugate nuclei’ (12), so that in the successive cell genera- 
tions which arise in the development of the carpophore the two 
nuclei in each cell are always of widely separated nuclear 
ancestry, the whole condition duplicating exactly what has been P| 
described by Dangeard and Sappin-Trouffy (3) and Poirault — 
and Raciborski (12) for the rusts. Further, in the young? 
basidium two and only two nuclei are always present, just as in 
the teleutospore of the rust. These two nuclei fuse to form the | 
furnish the nuclei for the typically four basidiospores. 
descriptions of Rosen (13) and Wager (16, 17), according t 
which a series of nuclei fuse successively in pairs to form th 
primary nucleus of the basidium, are entirely incorrect accordin 
to Maire for the large series of forms examined by him. 
In his second note Maire describes observations on a serie 
of Gasteromycetes, in which he finds exactly the same cor 
ditions as described above for the Hymenomycetes. 
Maire believes that the fusion of nuclei in the basidium 
without doubt sexual in its nature, since the pronuclei whic 
unite are of widely separated origin, although passing the who. 
course of their development in a single cell series. These fa 
bring the carpophore of the Basidiomycetes into closest para 
lelism with the whole life cycle of the Uredineae, both as to 
nature of their vegetative cells and in the similarity of th 
