Conard: Secotium Agaricoides 
99 
strands of larger hyphae (fig. i, ii), and occasionally very large 
ones (lo microns). These show distinct nuclei, certain globular 
bodies, and numerous square crystals (fig. i, 13). As the crys- 
tals stain deeply, they are probably of protein, as found by van 
Bambeke in Lepiota meleagris. The course of these larger hy- 
phae is mostly longitudinal, but they are much tangled. They are 
not found in the carpophore. (3) On the surface of the rhizo- 
morph, are many slender (2.5 to 3 microns) hyphae with very 
thick walls (i micron, fig. i, 12) ; in places they form a rather 
compact layer, but they occasionally extend into the center of the 
rhizomorph. The walls stain both with haematoxylin and eosin; 
no contents were observed. 
The young basidium possesses two nuclei near the middle of the 
cell (fig. I, 12), usually lying in the longitudinal axis of the cell. 
These nuclei, like those of the mycelium generally, are small, 
sharply outlined, with one large nucleolus and little or no other 
visible substance. Later a single large nucleus of similar struc- 
ture is found near the distal end of the basidium (fig. i, 6, 8). 
Although satisfactory fusion stages were not found (fig. i, 3, 4), 
there is doubtless a fusion of nuclei to form this one large nucleus. 
Still later, two (fig. i, 7) and then four nuclei are found, clus- 
tered about the apex of the basidium (fig. 1,8). The mitoses were 
not observed. The four sterigmata then grow out symmetrically 
and a spore forms on each (fig. i, 9, 10). The entrance of the 
nuclei into the spores was not observed, but some of the spores 
were clearly seen to possess a single nucleus. 
So far as observed, then, the cytology of Secotium agrees with 
that of other hymenomycetes. 
Discussion. — What of the relationships in general? Fischer 
(1899) in the Pflanzenfamilien admits “about twenty species” 
of Secotium, including the genera Endoptychum Czern. and Elas- 
momyces Cav. The gill structures of S. crythrocephaluni Tub and 
S. Mattirolianiis (Cav.) agree well with those of S. agaricoides 
(Czern.), but Cavara (1897) describes a large-celled psendoparen- 
chyma in the stipe and peridium of his species. This tissue 
occurs in layers alternating with layers of hyphal tissue. The 
spores, also, of 5 ". Mattirolianus are rough, roundish, and of two 
sizes. Cystidia occur in Cavara’s species, as also according to 
