﻿BOTANICAL GAZETTE 



distinct palisade zone of cells which at maturity become so com- 

 pactly crowded together that any remaining slender supporting 

 hyphae of the chains of rounded cells are pinched off. The blemato- 

 gen in C. micaceus, therefore, becomes free from the pileus in the 

 form of mica-like flakes, which are easily removed; but the 

 blematogen is set free in a different manner from the cleavage 

 process occurring in species of Amanita and Amanitopsis which 

 have been studied with respect to this feature. In C. micaceus the 

 outer surface of the pileus remains intact, and the blematogen 

 is freed by scaling off, or "desquamation" as interpreted by 

 DeBary. 



2. The general, annular, prelamellar cavity is formed 

 by a tearing apart of the fundamental plectenchyma in the angle 

 between the pileus and stem fundaments, due to tension resulting 

 from differences in rapidity of growth. For this reason the tissue 

 surrounding the cavity is at first more or less shredded. The 

 cavity is relatively large in C. comatus, and weak or very weak in 

 C. atramentarius and C. micaceus. In the two latter species, during 

 the tearing or shredding of the fundamental plectenchyma, isolated 

 hyphae or loose strands of a few hyphae extend across the cavity here 

 and there because of its weakness. 



3. The palisade layer of the young hymenophore begins 

 its formation near, at, or upon the apex of the stem, and then pro- 

 ceeds outward in a centrifugal direction over the under surface of 

 the pileus, following the centrifugal growth of the latter. In 

 C. comatus the palisade layer begins some distance from the apex 

 of the stem, since there is a circular sterile area on the under surface 

 of the pileus next to the stem. In C. atramentarius and C. micaceus 

 it begins at the apex of the stem fundament and then proceeds 

 outward in a centrifugal manner. In some cases it extends a short 

 distance down the surface of the stem apex. In these species it may 

 be organized before or at the time of the formation of the weak gill 

 cavity. 



4. The lamellae originate as downward projecting 

 salients of the palisade hymenophore fundament, in a series radi- 

 ating outward toward the margin of the pileus, the younger portions 

 of the salients being toward the margin of the pileus and continuing 



