SPORE FORMATION IN PHILOCOPRA COERULEOTECTA 69 
oblique longitudinal section through the ascus. It was drawn espe- 
cially to show the nuclei at different distances from the lower end 
of the spore. The spores vary considerably in this respect. In some 
the nucleus has just left the lower end; in others the nucleus has 
almost reached the upper end. This difference is not due to the fact 
that parts of the spores are cut off. A comparison of the size of the 
different spores will help to make this clear. The spores have elon- 
gated and are cigar-shaped. The nuclei are ellipsoidal in form. The 
nucleole is on the side, usually nearest the upper end, while the center 
is at the opposite end, thus showing the same relative position as 
seen earlier. The chromatin is visible in irregular granules of varying 
sizes. At this stage the upper ends of the spores extend inward to the 
central portion of the ascus, often giving the appearance of overlapping 
from the upper end downward. The spores are separated from one 
another by a small amount of epiplasm. The epiplasm in the upper 
and lower end of the ascus still takes up a large portion of the ascus, 
the spores occupying the central portion between. The plasma 
membrane is still intact. 
As the spores increase in size the ascus grows both in diameter and 
in length. The spores fill a comparatively large portion of the ascus. 
As the nuclei reach the upper part of the spores, the spores increase 
in length. At this stage the nuclei are near the center of the spores 
where the latter are slightly narrower than at either end (fig. 17). 
The epiplasm in the upper part of the ascus is shown in this figure. 
It is still finely granular as in the earlier stages. That in the lower 
portion is much more vacuolate. 
The nucleus moves nearer the upper part of the spore, which 
increases in diameter. The spore is then spherical with a long tail. 
The nucleus is found in the spherical portion near the place where it 
connects with the tail. Figures 18 and 19 respectively show these 
stages in development. The nuclei are spherical in shape and are 
oriented in various ways. The nucleole and chromatin are distinct. 
The center is visible in some of the well-stained preparations. The 
vacuolate epiplasm surrounding the spores is unchanged. The inti- 
mate contact of the epiplasm and the spores is marked in figures 18 
and 19. 
The upper spherical portion of the spore grows rapidly. The 
nucleus moves toward the center of the spherical part. Figure 20 
shows a section at this stage. The cytoplasm is more vacuolate. 
