1922] DUFF—GEOGLOSSACEAE 289 
a later stage give rise to the procarps. The procarps of Cudonia 
are irregularly coiled, and are provided with multiseptate tricho- 
gynes which pass outward and protrude through the veil. The 
nuclear history is not fully known, but the original condition of the 
cells of the procarp seems to be uninucleate, later becoming multi- 
nucleate, and at this stage giving evidence of nuclear pairing. 
Ascogenous hyphae arise from the cells of the procarps, after which 
the procarps become emptied of their contents and finally disappear. 
The procarps of Spathularia appear somewhat later than in Cudonia, 
and are formed close to the hymenium. They are irregular, do 
not possess trichogynes, and are obviously reduced in structure. 
They are multinucleate throughout their history, and the nuclei 
are paired. Ascogenous hyphae arise from them. 
4. In Trichoglossum hirsutum there is no structural differentia- 
tion of sex organs. The ascogenous hyphae arise from threads 
which do not differ in form from vegetative ones. 
5. In Leotia lubrica bodies resembling in some respects the 
“storage bodies’? described by Brown for the same form were — 
found to produce ascogenous hyphae. On this account it is sug- 
gested that they may represent sex organs, that is, they may be 
degenerate procarps. 
6. It is pointed out that there is a very close correspondence in 
the history of the fertile systems of the Geoglossaceae and of certain 
disco-lichens of the Baeomyces group. This is cited as further 
evidence of relationship between them. 
7. It is suggested that the progress of evolution in these plants 
has been from a type in which fertilization took place through the 
agency of the trichogyne, and has been marked by gradual reduc- 
tion of the sex organs. 
This investigation was conducted under the direction of Pro- 
fessor J. H. Fauxy of the University of Toronto, to whom the 
writer would acknowledge his great indebtedness for assistance and 
criticism through the whole course of the work, and also for liberal 
contributions of material. 
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO 
