1 86 Barker . — The Morphology and Development of 
structureless thin layer of cellulose-like material, which doubt- 
less is made up of the empty walls of both the investing 
hyphae and the degenerated central cell. Fig. 32 shows 
ascocarps at this stage, containing some asci with rudimentary 
spores and others with ripe spores. Further degeneration 
takes place within the ascocarp, the ripe spores being liberated 
from the asci and the remainder of the internal hyphae 
breaking down completely, a pseudo-sporangium being thus 
produced (Fig. 33). 
It has been mentioned above that the central cell in some 
cases shows a conspicuous protuberance. This is not only 
seen in cases in which no cavity exists in the central cell, but 
also in instances where the cavity is of considerable size. In 
the teased preparations I have endeavoured to trace the course 
of such protuberances in the latter instances. As far as I can 
make out, the protuberance seems to be an actual outgrowth 
of the central cell which grows over the surface of the latter, 
closely applied to it, until it reaches the neighbourhood of 
the central cavity ; then, at the point where the cavity comes 
nearest to the surface, it appears to penetrate into it and 
become continuous with the main hypha within it. I do not 
state positively that this is actually the case, seeing that the 
protuberance is not differentiated in the least from the central 
cell by staining, and bearing in mind that the shadow of an 
investing hypha may give rise to the appearance of the 
continuation of the protuberance above or below the central 
cell. But, at any rate, at certain planes the existence of such 
a protuberance directly from the central cell, and entirely 
independent of investing hyphae, is most plainly seen, and it 
is only about its length and course that any doubt is felt. 
Fig. 34 shows an example of these appearances. 
In sections I have not been able to trace the course of such 
protuberances owing to the confusing effect of the investing 
hyphae. 
We are now, more or less, in a position to discuss the 
morphological nature and mode of formation of the ascocarp 
from the evidence furnished by these results. 
