PUFF-BALL FUNGI— GASTROMYCETES 161 



usual symmetry of outline. The asci are normally monosporous, 

 but occasionally two spores are produced, especially in the 

 extra large or deformed examples, when the spores are differ- 

 entiated ; but before attaining their 'full size, and while yet 

 quite colourless, they escape from the asci through an irregular 

 slit, the latter persisting in the shrivelled form seen on examin- 

 ing the hymenium of mature specimens. The spores, when 

 mature, are broadly elliptical, or sometimes subglobose (averag- 

 ing 1 — 1 2 x 9 /x.), perfectly smooth, and of a deep translucent 

 brown by transmitted light, and furnished with a single well- 

 defined germ-pore. When the spores are first liberated the 

 colour of the gleba is very pale yellow ; from this condition the 

 coloration passes through primrose yellow to clear brown, and 

 eventually dark brown, as seen in the mass. When young 

 the hyphae of the capillitium are colourless, straight, rarely 

 branched, and in this condition there is little or no indication 

 of the spiral marking so conspicuous at maturity ; during the 

 development of the gleba the capillitium threads pass through 

 the same sequence of coloration as already described for the 

 spores, commencing with pale yellow and ending with bright 

 brown. After the formation of the spores, the compact basal 

 portion, below the point of attachment of the lower margin of 

 the peridium to the central axis, elongates into a hollow stem, 

 eight to ten inches high, elevating the yet closed peridium far 

 above ground. The ripening of the gleba, as shown by the 

 progressive coloration of the spores, commences at the base, and 

 nearest the axis, and progresses towards the apex. When the 

 spores are mature, and the capillitium fully developed, the 

 ascogenous hyphae, with the clusters of shrivelled asci, can still 

 be seen, and although usually colourless, are in some instances 

 more or less tinged with brown. In the clusters of split 

 shrivelled asci are others that present no split or fracture in 

 the wall ; these are homologous with the so-called sterile 

 basidia or paraphyses. At this stage the peridium breaks 

 away from the stem at its lower point of attachment, the 

 margin being irregularly torn, when it resembles a half- 

 expanded Agaric ; eventually the whole of the dry and brittle 

 peridium breaks away, and the stem remains with its blackish- 

 brown mass of spores and capillitium, resembling a bulrush, the 



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