Rhoads : Daldinia vernicosa 



281 



substance. It is thus seen that the interior of the stroma of this 

 plant is of a very heterogeneous texture. As a result of the loose 

 texture of the radiate-fibrous inner substance the mature fruit- 

 bodies can be crushed readily between the fingers. In Daldinia 

 concentrica the interior of the stroma also is of a radiate-fibrous 

 structure. Owing to its more homogeneous structure, however, it 

 is fairly firm and solid, and specimens that have not been attacked 

 by insects are very resistant to crushing. In the latter plant the 

 radiate-fibrous substance is brown instead of colorless, as it is in 



a 



Fig. i. Spores of Daldinia vernicosa showing various stages in the dehis- 

 cence of the exospore wall after treatment with dilute KOH ; a, spore at time 

 of shedding; b, spore showing the initial step in the dehiscence of the exo- 

 spore wall ; c and d, spores showing the casting off of the exospore membrane ; 

 e, cast-off exospore membranes, some with the valves still hinged together; f, 

 a later stage of e, showing the return of the two valves to their original posi- 

 tion. X 500. 



D. vernicosa (Plate 14, B), and the concentric zones are not so 

 sharply defined as those of the latter species. As pointed out by 

 Ellis and Everhart (6) the perithecia of D. concentrica are 

 monostichous and not polystichous as stated by Saccardo. But 

 little difference is exhibited by either the perithecia, asci, or spores 

 of the respective species. The spores of D. concentrica are ob- 

 liquely uniseriate with the ascus, inequilaterally elliptical, dark- 

 brown, and finally opaque. They are somewhat variable in size 

 but usually conform to 12.5-18^ by 7-10 /*. The spores of D. 

 vernicosa are about the same size as in the preceding species but 

 are somewhat smaller and less variable in size. They usually con- 

 form to the limits of 1 0-14.5 fx by 7-7.5/*. 



<3C . Ob 

 03 



