Jennines & Hanna—Oorallorhiza innata R. Br. 9 
cells of this region. Minute bodies in groups make their 
appearance along the course of these degenerating hyphe; the 
nucleus is in a state of great activity, becoming larger, and 
containing a number of bodies which stain deeply with Hoff- 
mann’s blue. This is an indication of the increase of materials 
in the substance of the nucleus, a fact of some significance 
when we recall the fate of the hyphe in the cells; their walls 
collapse and become shrunken, and finally the contents of the 
cells become one homogeneous mass. Following Groom’s' termi- 
nology we may name the region the mediocortex as characterised 
by the presence of these degenerating fungal masses. Inside this 
mediocortex there are usually two layers of parenchymatous 
cells with walls of cellulose, containing abundant starch but no 
hyphee. 
In the centre of the rhizome there is a simple vascular cylinder 
of somewhat modified collateral bundles, composed of small and 
usually quite rudimentary elements, the phloem in each case being 
confined to the periphery. 
The hyphae, after passing into the hairs, are distributed in the 
deeper tissues in a definite and regular manner. They do not 
appear to pass from the underground portions of the plant into the 
young aerial shoots. Above the line marked a in fig. 1 no hyphe 
were present in any of the cells, nor were they present anywhere 
in the cells of the flower stalk. 
If we take a longitudinal section through a small portion of the 
rhizome, such as that seen on the right hand in fig. 1, a little to 
one side of the median plane, a very peculiar appearance is seen 
of alternating bands of light and shade on the surface of the 
section. On closer examination the light coloured bands are found 
to be due to the presence of the endotrophie hyphe forming dense 
coils in the cells. 
SUMMARY AND CoNCLUSIONS. 
From a consideration of the facts observed there can be very 
little doubt that ultimately the hyphe present in the cells are 
absorbed and made use of in forming food materials for the host 
plant. 
1 Ann. Bot. 1895. 
