PHYSIOLOGY AND MORPHOLOGY OF CALIFORNIA HEPATIC: 15 
resemble the sclerotia formed in the cells of Fossombronza, 
though they do not develop in such great numbers. This is 
doubtless due to the fact that the comparatively early decline 
and death of the host tissues impairs the vigor and health 
of the parasite before these structures can develop in great 
numbers. 
As soon as the host cells begin to show the effects of para- 
sitism there develop upon the surface of the host at indefinite 
points along the surface-hyphe, perithecia-like structures (Fig. 
11) the real function of which, however, has not been demon- 
strated. Professor Roland Thaxter kindly attempted to iden- 
tify the fungus for me but being unable to determine the true 
nature of these structures was forced to wait for more advanced 
stages. The writer has prepared a number of slides of micro- 
tome sections which show these bodies to be hollow. 
_ Beyond a wall no other structures have yet been observed in 
connection with the interior of these somewhat globular bodies. 
They seem to develop from short processes that appear here and 
there along the external hyphe. ‘They assume very early the 
spherical habit and develop at various points on their surface 
short spine-like processes at first pointing in different directions 
but ultimately either disappearing or lying all in one plane at 
the base of the structure bearing them. On certain host plants 
the tissues of which have already begun to turn brown, these 
perithecia-like bodies develop in such numbers as to be almost 
in contact, and the complex of hyphz on the surface and within 
the host is very elaborate. Two-celled conidia were found on 
the surface of the host but it could not be proved that these 
spores belonged to the fungus infecting Azeura, although no. 
other fungus was observed in the material. 
It is the intention of the writer to work out the development 
and life history of this fungus and the one associated with Fos- 
sombronza more fully in a later paper. At the present moment 
the main object is to discuss the relation of parasite and host. 
In the case of this fungus there is less evidence of anything 
comparable to a symbiotic relation than in the relation of the 
Fossombronza parasite to its host. In fact, as soon as infection 
is brought about, the host seems to show signs of resulting 
