rising of these pA^liia from a previously flat surface shows that a 

 growth i^ gbilig o« and, consequently, pressure is increasing in intensity, 

 80 that when the ripe heads are e:cposed to a certain tesiperature or to 

 other forces, the tension is Tarought to a crisis and the spores are pro- 

 jected "by elastic pressure. Necessarily \shen this pressure begins to 

 abate by the relief vMch follows the continued discharge, the spores 

 are not acted upon by so great a force as at first, l!his may ejiplain ^y 

 the last spores instead of being shot into the air are merely pushed slowly 

 to the surface. Indeed, it is almost certain that a great many spores 

 are never ejected at all, but perish within the decaying stromata. 



The liberation of the asco spores taaces place in the follow- 

 ing way. On the ostiole of the perithecium there appears a light drop, 

 from which the spores come singly and very slowly. Finally the spores are 

 ■Girown out, always toward the "light and at a distance of two to eight 

 centimeters. i.s a result of the phototropic rotation and bending of the 

 stipe. One part of the head will be exposed to the light, then another, 

 the dischare talcing place always at a point directly facing the light. 



The further dissemination of the ascospores is brought 

 about, according to Palck (64) by air currents due to chaaige in temperature. 

 The Claviceps stipe functions in increasing the space for the falling of 

 the freed spores thus affording more chances that they may be taken up by 

 the air currents and carried farther away. If the stromatal heads were 

 but a short distance above the soil surfac*, then only a small number of 

 the ascospores w:ill be disseminated. 



Siae, weight, and surface area of the spores play an 

 important role in their dissemination. £., -purpurea ascospores have, in 



