472 Umversity of California Publications in Botany [.'^°^- '' 



VI. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 



In summarizing the morphology and development of Schizophyllum 

 it may be said that : 



1. The sporophores vary greatly as to form and shape. 



2. The segments of the mycelium and sporophores and spores are 

 regularly binucleate. 



3. The fungus develops its sporophores as does no other member 

 of the Hymenomycetes so far studied, the hymenium primordium aris- 

 ing in an apical cavity. 



4. The "gills" arise upon the surface of an apical depression due 

 to tensions set up by unequal rates of growth. 



5. The "lamellae" are such by analogy only, being the edges of 

 smooth hymenial areas, and therefore- Schizophyllum belongs in the 

 family Thellephoraeeae. 



As regards the economic aspects of Schizophyllum, it has been 

 shown that : 



1. Members of this genus are found throughout the tropical and 

 temperate zones of the world. 



2. They live upon a great number of woody plants, both in the 

 Dicotyledonae, Monoeotyledonae, and Gymnospermae. 



3. The fungus possesses unusual vitality. 



4. The mycelium is found only in small amount in infected wood. 



5. It can grow upon fresh wood, and, under very favorable condi- 

 tions, living wood. 



6. Natural infection takes place through some injured or weakened 

 part of the tree. 



7. The fungus is usually associated with other parasitic fungi, 

 which probably do most of the damage attributed to Schizophyllum, 

 but escape attention due to the longer time necessary for them to 

 produce fruit bodies. 



