iQ2o] DUFF—GEOGLOSSACEAE 343 



position. This position is retained until they give rise to the 

 procarps. At this time the height of the fruit body is about 2 mm., 

 and the cap has been well differentiated from the stem. At such 

 a stage the generative hyphae largely fill the upper portions of the 

 cap, and the procarps arise as branches from these hyphae. The 

 procarps are numerous, coiling, and deeply staining structures, 

 scattered irregularly throughout the cap. These coils are con- 

 tinued upward by what appear to be "typical" multiseptate 

 trichogynes, which penetrate the envelope, projecting into the air 

 for a short distance. Spermogonia and spermatia are entirely lack- 

 ing, and it is not thought that the trichogynes are functional organs. 



Despite the great difficulty of staining differentially both the 

 generative hyphae and the procarps, owing to the remarkable 

 affinity for stains exhibited by these structures, there is sufficient 

 evidence to show that the cells of the procarp, including those of 

 the trichogyne, are originally uninucleate. Later the ascogonial 

 cells become multinucleate, the nuclei being small and paired; 

 and ascogenous hyphae arise from them into which these nuclei 

 probably pass. , > 



It is important to note that up to this time there has been no 

 sign of a hymenium. The fruiting surface now makes its first 

 appearance in the form of paraphyses immediately beneath the veil. 

 Before the paraphyses have attained their full development the 

 ascogenous hyphae, that meanwhile have taken their origin from 

 the procarps in close proximity, and have rapidly proliferated and 

 gone through various evolutions of hook formation, begin to organ- 

 ize asci. This young hymenium is inclosed by the veil, and 

 remains so until many of the asci are mature and spore discharge 

 is ready to commence. The nuclear phenomena preceding spore 

 formation are typical in their chief features. 



The developmental history of Spathularia velutipes follows a 

 course not unlike that of Cudonia lutea. The youngest fruits of 

 this species that have been examined are somewhat larger than the 

 youngest species of Cudonia, being in the neighborhood of 0.5 mm. 

 in height. At this stage the young Spathularia is covered with an 

 envelope, but the inner tissues are quite undifferentiated, and there 

 are as yet no signs of any structures resembling the generative 



