1922] DUFF—GEOGLOSSACEAE 285 
Another feature in common with the lichens is the fact that the 
procarps of the Helvellineae are not ‘“‘initial organs’’ arising from 
the mycelium and later becoming surrounded by the tissue of the 
ascocarp, as they are in Ascobolus, etc., but are formed within an 
already well developed ascocarp. This is true of Rhizina, in which 
the fructification begins as a ‘wholly undifferentiated button of 
mycelium.’’ It is not until the ascocarp has attained a diameter of 
about 1mm. that the procarps appear. They then arise by the 
differentiation of certain centrally situated hyphae of the fruit 
body. In Cudonia the procarps arise at an even later stage, that 
is, after the ascocarp has become differentiated into cap and stem, 
while those of Spathularia are delayed still further in their appear- 
ance. 
There is still another point of resemblance between these Geo- 
glossaceous fungi and the disco-lichens in their common possession 
of a feature noted by Nrenpurc (18), namely, that the procarps 
are offshoots of a unique hyphal system (designated by him “‘genera- 
tiven Hyphen”’), which makes its appearance at an early stage. 
NIENBURG shows that in Icmadophila aeruginosa the ‘ generativen 
Hyphen”’ appear as deeply staining threads in the young ascocarp 
anlage before it becomes erumpent. As the fructification increases 
in size these hyphae proliferate to form scattered knots of threads, 
which are connected together, having a common origin, by ‘‘ Verbin- 
dungshyphen.” The latter are evidently a part of the system of 
“‘generativen Hyphen.’’ These knots become transformed into 
procarps, and distinct trichogynes are formed which penetrate the 
tissues of the ascocarp and project into the air. Although spermatia 
frequently become attached to the trichogynes there is no conclusive 
evidence that they are functional, or that a process of fertilization 
takes place. Many of the procarps disorganize without producing 
ascogenous hyphae, but those that survive act as the source of 
these threads. 
In Sphyridium the first elements of the pre-fertile system, the 
“generativen Hyphen,” appear at a somewhat later stage than in 
Icmadophila. In this form they grow into a series of very clearly 
defined nests of hyphae, which, as in Icmadophila, are connnected 
together by ‘‘Verbindungshyphen.”’ The growth of the vegetative 
