14 
Massce. — A Monograph of 
tension set up by the continued growth of the collenchyma- 
layer eventually causes it to tear away from the external 
portion of the peridium, and carrying the split-layer along 
with it, becomes extended from the stellate opening as in 
Geaster fornicatus , remaining attached at the tips of the rays 
only (Fig. 55, b). When the extension takes place slowly the 
spherical gleba remains seated on the collenchyma-layer, but 
in most instances the process occurs suddenly, and the gleba is 
shot to a distance of more than a millimetre, and being viscid, 
adheres to whatever it comes in contact with (Fig. 55, b, s). 
The gleba, which externally resembles a spherical peridiolum, 
has been shown by Fischer to consist of several chambers 
separated by thin tramal plates and enclosed in a thin felt of 
hyphae, which may be considered as homologous with the 
endoperidium in Geaster. The basidia are clavate and bear 
from 4-7 smooth, elliptic, colourless spores, which at maturity 
are involved in mucus due to gelification of the hyphae form- 
ing the gleba, including the imperfect endoperidium. A few 
hyphal Cells, especially those situated near the periphery, do 
not undergo disintegration but remain, and become converted 
into gonidia or gemmae, capable of germination. Fischer states 
that, when the ejected gleba is placed under conditions favour- 
able for germination, within a day or two its entire surface is 
covered with germ-tubes, which radiate in all directions, form- 
ing a mycelium from which sporophores spring within a few 
months. These germ-tubes can be seen to originate from 
the above-mentioned gonidia, and not from the basidiospores, 
which rarely germinate, and as a rule undergo disintegration 
in a manner similar to the hyphae of the gleba. Nothing is 
known respecting the development of Thelobolus , which in size, 
habit, and general appearance, resembles Sphaerobolas\ the 
basidia and spores in the two are indistinguishable. 
Ly coper daceae. The characteristic morphological feature of 
this order is the constant presence of a capillitium consisting 
of simple or branched, thick-walled, usually coloured hyphae, 
which remain mixed with the spores in the peridium as a 
dry floccose mass after the deliquescence of the tramal and 
