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HALLY JOLIVETTE SAX 
of the fibers of adjacent asters. The lower portion of figure 13 is 
nearer the periphery. Three or four dense masses of cytoplasm have 
been cut across. They appear rather closely approximated when seen 
from this view. The appearance here in general is characteristic of 
the stage when the interastral region is formed by the meeting of the 
rays from the adjacent centers prior to the delimitation of the spores. 
This stage is frequently met with and must be of comparatively long 
duration. 
The spores are delimited while the nuclear beaks point toward the 
membrane. At the time of delimitation the spore is practically 
spherical in shape. The membrane is very delicate at first. The 
cytoplasm contained within the spores is finely granular and dense. 
The epiplasm — the portion of the cytoplasm outside of the spores — 
is very vacuolate, except at the periphery of the ascus. The centro- 
some is conspicuous and stains red. Figure 14 represents a slightly 
oblique cross-section through an ascus soon after the spores are 
delimited. The spores are still peripherally located with the centers 
pointing toward the plasma membrane of the ascus, but not touching it. 
The membrane of the ascus is intact. The central portion of the epi- 
plasm is vacuolate with delicate thread-like strands of cytoplasm 
throughout. The nuclei with their beaks are in contact with the 
spore membrane. The nucleole and the chromatin granules are visible 
in the wider portion. The center is distinct. 
The ascus continues to grow larger. The spores rotate soon after 
delimitation so that the central body points downward and outward. 
The beaked nuclei are still in contact with the spore membrane. 
Figure 15 shows this condition. The ascus is cut longitudinally. 
The section represented is near the periphery of the ascus. The 
centers are pointing outward and toward the base of the ascus. The 
membrane is distinct. The epiplasm is vacuolate throughout the 
part containing the spores. Clearly defined strands run between the 
spores and out to the peripheral layer in the ascus. The spores then 
become much elongated. At the same time the nucleus leaves the 
spore membrane. The central body is in contact with the nuclear 
membrane. The nucleus becomes more or less ellipsoidal with the 
central body toward the lower end and the nucleole at the opposite 
end. The membrane of the spore is still very delicate. The cyto- 
plasm is less dense than in the earlier stages after delimitation. This 
condition is shown in figure 16, which represents a small part of an 
