MONOGRAPH OF THE EABOULIJENIACE/E. 



225 



sponds very closely in all the genera, up to the formation of the proearpe, with certain 

 differences of detail ; and in all cases the mature proearpe consists, as in Stigma- 

 tomyces, of the three essential parts above mentioned. The carpogenic and tri- 

 chophoric cells are practically identical in all cases ; but the trichogyne is subject to 

 very considerable variations, even in the same genus. In its most simple form it is 

 unicellular, as in the case of Stigmatomyces, without branches, and of no great length. 

 Oilier unicellular trichogynes may be more or less branched, consisting of an abruptly 

 enlarged portion from which radiate more or less irregular short lobes or branches, 

 which are the receptive portions, sometimes quite numerous, as in the genera Amor- 

 phomyces and Dimorphomyces (Plate V, figs. 4, 5, 20, and 24), Camptomyces (Plate 

 VI, fig. 4) ; and, to a less extent, in Peyritschiella and Dichomyces, both of which 

 have trichogynes which are nearly simple or but slightly lobed (Plate VI, figs. 16 and 

 32). A similar trichogyne appears to be characteristic of Dimeromyces (Plate IV, 

 fig. 17) ; but sufficient material is needed to determine this point. 



The multicellular trichogynes, which are the more numerous, may be branched or 

 simple, even in the same species, and sometimes reach a very remarkable degree of 

 development ; becoming many times septate and copiously branched, the free extrem- 

 ities being either straight or more or less definitely spirally twisted (Plate II, figs. 1-5, 

 t r, and Plate XXI, fig. 15). The terminal portion of the trichogyne alone is receptive, 

 and it is this part which is subject to the spiral twisting, the most striking instance of 

 which occurs in the genus Compsomyces (Plate XI, figs. 9 and 10), well developed 

 specimens of which, like that represented in fig. 9, producing more highly developed 

 trichogynes than are found elsewhere in the family. In all cases the receptive tips 

 have the same refractive appearance when mature that is noticeable in the correspond- 

 ing organs of the Floridea3, and the continuity of the protoplasm of successive cells is 

 readily demonstrated, as in other parts of the plant. However highly the trichogyne 

 may be developed, it disappears with great rapidity as soon as fertilization has been 

 accomplished, collapsing and breaking off, its point of insertion sometimes remaining 

 as a scar-like prominence (Plate II, fig. 14, tr) ; while less frequently its base becomes 

 somewhat indurated and persists even in the mature individual (Plate XXI, fig. 12 

 and Plate XVII, fig. 18). In a majority of cases, however, all signs of it have disap- 

 peared at an early stage in the development of perithecium after fertilization. 



The process of fertilization, in so far as concerns the adherence of the antherozoids 

 to the trichogyne, has been already referred to ; the former in almost all cases being 

 carried to the latter, whether they are discharged directly upon it or make their way 

 to it by floating passively through the water, which, as we have seen, is apt in a 



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