1922] DUFF—GEOGLOSSACEAE 267 
while in Spathularia they are multinucleate from the beginning. 
The nuclei in the later stages of these bodies are arranged in pairs. 
Ascogenous hyphae take their origin in these procarps, and after 
engaging in crozier formation, give rise to asci. 
Materials and methods 
The material for this investigation was all obtained by collec- 
tion, and was variously fixed, the fluids of Flemming and Carnoy, 
medium chrom-acetic acid and picro-sublimate, being used. It was 
imbedded in paraffin and cut in serial sections 2.5—10 4 thick. The 
usual staining methods were employed. Safranin and acid fuchsin 
proved to be the best general purpose stains, while Haidenhain’s 
haematoxylin gave much the best results where details were 
required. In some cases the young fructifications sectioned in 
situ were stained by VAUGHAN’s (21) method for the differentiation 
of fungous hyphae and host tissues. This method gave very clear 
differentiation of the fungous tissue from the substratum, but had 
the serious disadvantage of impermanence. 
As is not infrequently the case, the cells of certain tissues, while 
in a state of rapid growth and development, proved to be exceedingly 
difficult to differentiate cytologically, due to the density with which 
they are filled with deeply staining substances. As a result it has 
been impossible to answer some questions of nuclear behavior as 
fully as would be desirable. Otherwise the tissues appeared to be 
quite easily amenable to the usual microtechnical methods. 
As already indicated, this paper deals in more or less detail 
with the four forms Cudonia lutea, Spathularia velutipes, Tricho- 
glossum hirsutum, and Leotia lubrica. With the object of emphasiz- 
ing the comparative aspects of the investigation, the contents are 
arranged in two parts, the first of which deals with the develop- 
ment of the ascocarp, with particular reference to the veil, and the 
second with the manifestations of sexuality in these plants. 
I. Development of ascocarp 
CUDONIA LUTEA 
The earliest stage of Cudonia lutea of which we have knowledge 
is shown in fig. 3. At this stage the ascocarp is very minute, and 
measured but 84 from base to apex. It can be seen to consist of 
