Conaiud: Secotium Agaricoides 
101 
comparable with the sterile base of a Lycoperdon. But the colu- 
mella of Secotium agaricoides is in its origin, development, and 
structure strictly agaricinean. There would seem to be no sup- 
port whatever for relating our plant to the Phallaceae. The 
likeness of Secotium to a puffball as noted on a previous page, 
though quite real, is decidedly superficial, and cannot carry much 
weight. 
On the whole, S. agaricoides would best be placed near to 
Agaricus (Psalliota) , either in the Agariceae or Marasmiae of 
Hennings (1897). It clearly falls within the Agaricaceae of 
Maire (1902). It is to be regarded as a primitive or arrested 
agaric, — perhaps a paedogenic form, reaching its reproductive 
maturity in the “ button ” stage. 
Summary 
1. Secotium agaricoides is a widespread species, occurring in 
Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, Australia, and New Zea- 
land. 
2. In the young carpophore, the fundament of the hymenophore 
first appears, followed by the demarcation of the margin of the 
pileus and the appearance of a gill cavity. 
3. The development of the “ peridiui]|^ ” is like that of the cap 
of Agaricus campestris, showing a primitive velum universale and 
a pileus. No true velum partiale is found, though a layer of 
“ neutral tissue ” occurs which may represent it. The universal 
veil disappears during the maturation of the plant. 
4. The hymenophore consists of radiating, branched, and anas- 
tomosing gills decurrent at the top of the columella. 
5. The trama and hymenium are simple in structure, without 
pseudoparenchyma or cystidia. 
6. The young basidium has two nuclei, which unite to form one. 
This latter divides twice to form four nuclei for the four spores. 
The mycelial cells are binucleate. 
7. Secotium agaricoides is nearly related to Agaricus (Psal- 
liota) , being an arrested or paedogenic form. It is not closely 
related to the Gasteromycetes or Phalloids. 
The author is indebted to the Botanical Department of the State 
