tort] CURRENT LITERATURE 307 
The large number of cystidia thus crossing the interlamellar spaces would 
themselves be a great hindrance to the escape of the spores in their fall were 
it not for the fact that they disappear from the area of spore discharge just 
prior to the maturity and discharge of the spores. The author has shown in a 
previous publication’ that in a large number of Hymenomycetes studied the 
Spores are shot from the sterigmata to near the middle of the interlamella 
€ now shows that in C. atrameniarius the same progress of spore devel- 
pment, discharge, and autodigestion of the lamellae takes place, and further, 
that the cystidia disappear in advance of spore discharge by a similar autodi- 
gestion, the fluid content of the large cystidium perhaps being absorbed by the 
subhymenium, while the wall is digested. In C. comatus he says there are no 
cystidia on the sides of the gills, but the edges are provided with numerous 
larger, elongated cells which are crowded and many of which extend laterally, 
thus Meeting those of adjacent gills. This broad gill margin, which is absent 
In C. atramentarius, thus serves to prop the gills apart. 
In his general remarks on Coprinus fruit bodies, he points out that the type 
of gill in Coprinus, very thin and with parallel sides, is not so well adapted to 
Spore escape as the thicker and more or less V-shaped gill of the mushroom 
(Agaricus campestris) type, since the overhang permits the spores to escape 
Teadily, and thus they are maturing simultaneously over the entire hymenial 
Surface. The lamellae of the Coprini which lack this overhang mature their 
‘pores from below upward. Autodigestion removes the older portions after 
Spore discharge and the cystidia before spore discharge, the whole series of 
events showing a remarkable adaptation. 
© has now determined that even in the plicate Coprini there is slight 
autodigestion of the lower edge of the gills. The splitting of the gill from 
Aiove downward probably gives an overhang here, and thus the form of the 
gill is ultimately more of the V-shape. 
He has found cystidia as props in C. atramentarius, C. narcoticus, C. ster- 
swrarens, C. Simetarius, and C. niveus; while the following lack cystidia on the 
ae of gills but have the tumid margin: C. comatus, C. sterquilinus, and C. 
blicatiloides. Autodigestion has been observed in eight species of Coprinus. 
In his general remarks on cystidia he states that they are unbranched. 
However, one genus of Thelephoraceae (Asierostroma) and one of Hydnaceae 
Tr eal rnia 
"Butter, A. H. R., Researches on Fungi. pp. 287. 1909. 
