— 126 — 



of the nuclei is hero only as a result of the dividing of them, one 

 can then perhaps explain the formation of large and small nuclei 

 in such sense, that the large nuclei are grown and ready to divide 

 nuclei, and the small ones in this case must be considered as the 

 result of the dividing of same. 



To conclude the description of the development of P. curvula, 

 one has only to add that the processes, which take place during 

 the formation and development of the asci, ran their ordinary 

 course. The pairing of nuclei in ascogenous hyphae is distinctly 

 marked already, at a small distance fi'om the ascogonium. At the 

 base of the ascogenous hyphae the picture is not so distinct, for 

 the latter send out branches very thickly and profusely, which cling 

 heavily to each other. 



Podospora anserina. 



All above stated about the development of P. curvula can be 

 fully attributed to P. anserina. The difference consists only in the 

 smaller dimensions of the nuclei of the ascogonium (fig. 28). Here 

 also it was possible to ascertain the origin of the ascogenous hyphae 

 from several cells of the ascogonium. This species is especially 

 convenient for watching the pairing of the nuclei in ascogenous 

 hyphae (fig. 29), The fusion of two coiled threads, which Wolf 

 takes for a sexual process, could not be observed here, and the 

 antheridia, as shown on fig. 27, do not develop here at all. 



As to the development of the ascus, peculiar on account of its 

 containing only four spores, the informations obtained fully affirm 

 the description of this process by Wolf. In fact, after the formation 

 of eight nuclei in the ascus, the pairing nuclei do not separate, 

 but only slightly withdraw fî'om each other. Next to each such 

 pair, appears a clear zone, which separates the nuclei from the 

 surrounding dense protoplasm (fig. 30). This zone at first, is not 

 very distinct and, only after a certain time, it becomes prominent. 

 After this around the clear spaces a sheath is formed, and the 

 spore so produced, fi-om the beginning, contains two sister nuclei. 

 Such two nuclei in the spores can be noticed till its full maturings 

 that is till its sheath darkens. As reported by Wolf, one could 

 meet asci with three spores, two of which had three nuclei and 

 one had two. 



