THAXTER. — 



mono<;i;ai'I[ OK TIIK rABOULBENIACE.dE. 



227 



spore-segment, and the secondary appendages having a different origin, is usually clearly recognizable; 

 but is sometimes obscured, as in the case; of Teratomyces and Symplectromyces, above referred to, the 

 relation of the crowded appendiculate cells in these forms, to the terminal segment, being uncertain. 



The new material now available illustrates more fully than was formerly possible the range of varia- 

 tion in the primary appendages. The simplest type, a two-celled sterile prominence, is seen in female 

 individuals of Dioicomyrex, and in other types may become complicated by further divisions, as well as 

 by the production of sterile branches; and may remain wholly sterile, or be concerned in the formation 

 of antheridia, or antheridial branches. The latter condition is that which is usually, though not always, 

 found in monoecious types; in which the primary receptacle is directly concerned in the production of 

 procarps. Thus in Stigrnatomyecs, or in Eucantharomyces, Plate XXXVIII, the primary appendage is 

 largely devoted to this purpose, while in Enarthromyccs or in Coreomyccs it is wholly sterile. Among 

 more highly developed primary appendages, those of Rhizomyces crispatus, Plate LII, fig. 19, and 

 Coretkromyces Cryptobii, Plate LI, fig. 3, may be taken as illustrations; while many members of the 

 genus Laboulbenia, in which the stalk of the perithecium is combined with that of the appendage to 

 form a pseudo-receptacle, indicate perhaps the highest development of a primary appendage. This is 

 especially well illustrated, for example, by L. bicomis, Plate LXV1I, fig. 1, or by L. spectabilis, Plate 

 LVII, fig. 12. 



In a number of genera, not necessarily related, the primary appendage bears a characteristic spine- 

 like process, to which reference was made on page 209 of the Monograph. This is especially conspicu- 

 ous in Haplnmyces, Stigmatomyces, Arthrorhynchus and Acompsomyces, among others, and appears to be 

 nothing more than the persistent spore-apex, its presence thus marking the position of the absolute termi- 

 nation of the upper spore-segment. It is formed in all probability almost entirely from the attenuated 

 extremity of the mucous spore-sheath, which in such cases becomes indurated and persistent. In Her- 

 pomyces it is generally associated with a minute appendage of a different type, small, blackish and char- 

 acteristic in appearance, but probably of secondary origin. The spinous process may be terminal in the 

 adult appendage, lateral on a terminal antheridial cell, as in many species of Stigmatomyces, or intercalary 

 in position through the proliferation of the appendage beyond it, a condition seen also in species of Stig- 

 matomyces, as well as elsewhere. 



The theory advanced by Cavara that these plants absorb their food materials by means of the ap- 

 pendages, has been referred to above. But there seems to be no reason whatever for believing that their 

 function is other than that formerly suggested, namely one primarily for protection, where they are suffi- 

 ciently developed to perforin this office, and for holding moisture about the perithecium or sexual organs; 

 as in forms, especially, that live on hosts frequenting moist situations, where water is sure to be condensed 

 upon their surface. That water is actually held in drops by the appendages is easily determined when 

 living hosts are collected under stones, or in other situations which favor the condensation of moisture; 

 yet, although there is perhaps a distinct tendency to a brush-like development of branches in forms thus 

 conditioned, the exceptions are marked; and any generalization in this connection would be unsafe. 

 Haplomyces, for example, inhabits a host, Bledius, that lives in moist burrows in mud or wet sand, and 

 is thus exposed for the most part to a nearly saturated atmosphere, yet the appendage is of the simplest 

 type, without sterile branches of any kind, although the closely allied Cantharomyces, living on the same 

 host is thus provided. Again Rhizomyces crispatus has already been referred to as an example in 



