CYSTIDIA IN THE MUSHROOM TRIBE. 
79 
At e is seen the cystidium of Agaricus cucumis; at f, the 
cystidinm of Gomphidias viscidus ; at a, Agaricus umbrosus ; at 
h, Agaricus radicatus , with the little operculum or lid, at h, flying 
off. The figures are enlarged to an uniform scale, namely 400 
diameters ; and in each figure the simple cells of the plant and the 
basidia, with the spores, are also illustrated. It will be seen how 
important these bodies are as regards size and persistence. 
Many botanists have noticed cystidia ; but in my opinion cystidia 
have at present by no means received the attention that is their 
due. I could fill several pages of the “ Gardener’s Chronicle ” 
with illustrations of their diverse forms, but in no instance have I 
ever seen a cystidium smaller than the ordinary cells of the fungus ; 
they are usually larger, sometimes hundreds of times larger, 
always more hyaline. 
Professor de Seynes expresses an opinion that cystidia are hyper- 
trophied basidia — that is, basidia (or spore bearers) blown out in 
size ; and Dr. Cooke seems to think this view is supported by some 
cystidia, being furnished with spicules at the top, g, as if they were 
intended to bear spores. If these views are admitted we have 
organs that are hypertrophied and atrophied at the same time, a 
by no means impossible state of things. It is the case of a moun- 
tain bringing forth a mouse. The cell is blown out so as to give 
enormous expectations, and when quite mature it puts out four 
little effete horns, but never produces spores. 
That the cystidium and basidium are modifications of each 
other I am quite prepared to admit ; and as for the four spicules in 
Pluteus, if botanists will only look at A. petasatus they will see 
cystidia with eight or even twelve spicules in three rows. Are 
these then to be considered attempts to produce eight or twelve 
spores instead of the normal four ? Sometimes the spicules are 
proliferous, and each spicule will produce four others of a minor 
order, as at g (. A . umbrosus, enlarged 1280 diam.). Is this for 
sixteen spores? 
In conclusion, I will advert to the way in which the cystidia in 
Gomphidius are borne. In many instances (if not in all) they arise 
from two conjoined cells, as at j (enlarged 160 diameters). I 
have not seen basidia so arise, and it looks superficially like what is 
termed conjugation. It is a very curious thing that Dr. Cooke, in 
figurmgPeniophora sparsa ( u Grevillea,” p. 125, fig. 16), shows two 
metuloids (like small cones) with a forked base ; this is remarkable, 
and to my mind it indicates that the metuloids of Peniophora may 
sometimes arise from two cells, instead of a single on e.^-Prom the 
Gardener's Chronicle, Sept. 17, 1881, _p. 369. 
CRYPTOGAMIC LITERATURE. 
Stevenson, Rev. J. Mycologia Scotica, addenda, in “ Scottish 
Naturalist,” Jan., July, Oct., 1881. 
