Petek . — Mocharas and the Genus H aematomyces. 417 
ammonia indicate that they are suberised. On the other hand, they 
dissolve in chromic acid, rapidly if previously soaked in water, and they 
do not stain with alkannin or Sudan III. 
The coloration of the slime with methylene blue is not that of pectic 
compounds and it is not discharged by alcohol or glycerine. The slime 
does not stain with ruthenium red. It would appear that it is not 
a pectose slime. 
A small amount of the slime stains blue with chlor-zinc-iodide, and 
is probably cellulose slime, but the main mass is not, as it stains yellow- 
brown with chlor-zinc-iodide and is insoluble in copper-oxide-ammonia. 
The slime gives the reactions for callose in that it is insoluble in 
copper-oxide-ammonia, readily soluble in caustic potash, and stains, 
though scarcely typically, with aniline blue. But it also stains with eosin, 
which does not stain callose : and it does not dissolve in concentrated cold 
sulphuric acid. 
Mocharas is rich in tannin. Ferric chloride produces a green colora- 
tion, potassium bichromate an intense red-brown, and ammonium molyb- 
date yellow. 
I regret that I am unable to institute any comparisons with the results 
of previous investigations of the slimes which occur in the Bombacaceae 
or Malvaceae, as no literature on the subject is at present accessible. 
I have not been able to find any evidence that the formation of 
Mocharas is induced by the action of fungi or bacteria. 
When recently exuded, Mocharas is usually quite free from bacteria, 
or fungus spores or hyphae. Pieces taken from the interior of the mass 
with the customary precautions showed no growth when placed in culture 
flasks in [a) water, (b) a solution containing 5 per cent, cane sugar and 
1 per cent, asparagin, or (c) standard nutrient solution. Agar plates of 
(b) and (c) gave the same result. 
Mocharas, according to the evidence obtained, is derived from an 
abnormal layer of cortical parenchyma which is formed in the stems of 
Bombax malabaricum after they have been felled, or in some instances, 
though apparently rarely, after the cortex has been injured. It consists 
of the remains of the walls of the cortical cells, which retain their 
continuity though much reduced in thickness, bound together by a slime. 
Haematomyces. 
Haematomyces spadiceus , B. and Br., is dried Mocharas. The 
supposed disorganized hyphae seen in a section are the walls of the collapsed 
and distorted cells, while the few cells which retain, more or less, their 
original oval shape constitute the 4 obovate, vesicular asci \ The bodies 
which Berkeley and Broome considered spores are amyloid grains. 
