ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE 
LAMELLAE IN SCHIZOPHYLLUM 
COMMUNE 
By J. Е. ADAMS 
Columbia University 
(WITH PLATE 9) 
- Fries (15) in establishing the genus Schizophyllus which he 
later (21) changed to Schizophyllum says that it is to be dis- 
tinguished from Agaricus and Merulius by the longitudinal 
splitting of the gills with the resulting halves becoming revolute. 
Hoffman (’60) describes the carpophores as consisting of 
lamellar systems which correspond to the crenatures of Buller 
(09). The smaller secondary gills are often but not always 
divided. He believes that the upper surface of the carpophores 
should be regarded as a “pellicula” comparable to the velum. 
Winter (84) and de Вагу (87) add nothing of consequence 
to the description by Hoffman. 
Fayod (289) includes Schizophyllum in the tribe ‘‘ Panoides”’ 
with Panus as representative of the gymnocarpus type. He noted 
that the young lamellae are entire and held that the splitting was 
hygroscopic. 
Buller (^og) is quite explicit as to the origin of the gills. He 
says in substance: 
“Тһе under layer of the pileus is produced downwards to form 
the gills. Whilst a pileus is extending by marginal growth, the 
interlamellar spaces gradually widen. When a space has attained 
a certain width, it becomes divided into two down the middle, 
owing to the formation within it of a new gill which arises as a 
short median downgrowth from the pileus flesh. The splitting of 
the gills permits the hymenial surfaces being protected during 
periods of drought. The recurving of the gill plates may be partly 
explained when a fruit body dries up by the cell walls of the hy- 
: 326 
