1922] DUFF—GEOGLOSSACEAE 275 
seen. These fragments are composed of interwoven threads more 
or less degenerated in appearance, and in one case still connected 
with one another by a few hyphae, which give them the appearance 
of having been torn apart by the growth of the ascocarp (fig. 27). 
Dirrricn (7) describes the veil of Leotia as having a ground sub- 
stance of gelatinous material formed by the progressive inward 
swelling (‘‘Verquellung’’) of the peripheral hyphae. In this matrix 
are imbedded threads which are rather compactly interwoven. 
Apparently, therefore, so far as structure is concerned, the tissue 
fragments observed correspond fairly well to the veil tissue of 
Leotia as described by Dirrricu. Had very young ascocarps been 
available, and had such tissue been found covering them, par- 
ticularly as entire structures, DirrricH’s view that Leotia is at 
first angiocarpous would have been substantiated. On the other 
hand, had the material included a satisfactory series of very young 
stages which did not show traces of a veil, the writer would have 
felt justified in denying its presence in Leotia lubrica. The youngest 
stages available, however, were advanced sufficiently to show a 
well differentiated cap and young paraphyses, and consequently 
were considerably older than the youngest stages which Brown, 
and probably also Dirrricu, had under observation. Under these 
circumstances the writer does not feel that the evidence is sufficient 
to lend conclusive support to either view. It would seem best, 
therefore, to regard the question as still open. 
SIGNIFICANCE OF VEIL IN HELVELLINEAE 
Ever since the appearance of Dirrricn’s (7) original paper on 
this subject, each succeeding investigation has served to emphasize 
the inadequacy of the distinction drawn by SCHROETER (20) between 
the Helvellineae and the Pezizineae. According to this classifica- 
tion, in the former group the hymenium is formed upon the surface 
of the ascocarp, and therefore is freely exposed from the first, while 
in the latter the hymenium is originally inclosed. ScHROETER’s 
fundamental idea appears to have been that in the Pezizas the 
hymenium is formed within the ascocarp in an inclosed depression, 
while in the Helvellas it appears upon a flat or convex surface, not 
closed in. 
