364 J. B. CLELAND AND E. CHEEL. 



NOTES ON the EARLY STAGE OP DEVELOPMENT 

 OF Lysurus Gardner I (L. australiensis). 



By J. Burton Oleland, m.d., and Edwin Oheel, Botanical 

 Assistant, Botanic Gardens, Sydney. 



With Plate XIV. 



[Read before the Royal Society of N. 8. Wales, October 3, 1917.'] 



In a paper published by this Society (Vol. xlix, p. 204, 1915), 

 we recorded the distribution, and noted certain characters 

 of development of this species. In the following notes we 

 draw attention to certain internal structures that have 

 apparently not been observed previously. 



In the very early stage of development there appears to 

 be a thin whitish membrane within the jelly-like egg or 

 volva, quite distinct from the substance of the egg itself. 

 This whitish membrane holds the receptacle in position. 

 For example, when the volva splits open, there is seen at 

 the base of the volva and within it, a definitely shaped cup 

 in which the base of the receptacle is fixed. At the base 

 of this white membranous cup, and consolidated with it, 

 are five lanceolate-shaped lobes which have held the arms 

 of the receptacle in position. When the plant reaches 

 maturity, it is evident that the five arms held in position 

 by this whitish inner membrane break away, the receptacle 

 thus liberated, giving a sudden spring like a jack-in-the- 

 box and rupturing the upper part of the volva. The recep- 

 tacle is thus quite free, and leaves the thin whitish mem- 

 branous cup and lobes adhering to the base of the dull 

 eoloured jelly-like volva. 



The gleba or spore-bearing mass is contained within the 

 five arms of the receptable, and when the latter elongates 

 and is forced through the volva, the arms finally open out 

 and thus liberate the slimy mass of greenish-brown gleba. 



