353 
the A sco carp in Lachnea ster corea, Pers. 
from which it arises, but, as development proceeds, and the ascogonial 
nuclei increase in size and distinctness, no corresponding change is recog- 
nizable in those of the branch ; indeed, after a time, the nuclei of its lower 
cells are difficult to distinguish from granules. 
This branch is not a precocious ascogenous hypha, for it never 
branches or develops further, and whereas the ascogenous hyphae become 
emptied as development proceeds, it retains its contents which degenerate 
in situ. Neither does there seem any reason to suppose it of use in con- 
veying food-material to the ascogonium. Although multicellular, it 
corresponds in other features to the trichogyne of Pyronema conflnens , 
and, since it shows evidence of a similar function, it may be conveniently 
designated by the same name. 
Trichogyne. The position of the trichogyne in Lachnea ster corea is 
subject to a considerable amount of variation, sometimes, as in Figs. 9 and 
33, it is almost terminal, but more often it is lateral (Figs. 12, 19), or is 
developed quite near the base of the ascogonium, and passes down almost 
parallel to the lower part of the archicarp (Fig. 10). 
In some cases (Fig. 9) the trichogyne is fully developed, while the 
ascogonium is still perfectly free, and the sheath has only enveloped the 
lower cells of the archicarp ; in others, however, where development seems 
scarcely more advanced, the sheath has already grown up about the 
ascogonium and trichogyne, though the tip of the latter frequently remains 
uncovered for a time (Fig. 10). 
Anther idinni. A considerable amount of material was examined in 
the hope of finding an antheridium arising, as in Pyronema , independently 
of the archicarp, but no structure approaching or becoming incorporated 
with the young ascocarp from without was ever observed, either in uncut 
material or in sections. 
Often, however, at a stage when the sheath had completely surrounded 
the archicarp, a large, more or less empty sac was seen to be continuous 
with the terminal cell of the trichogyne, which at the same time was, in many 
cases, found to be densely packed with nuclei (Fig. 12). 
This sac, or antheridium, is not always well developed, and it was very 
seldom that a longitudinal section of a clearly defined example was obtained. 
One such, however, is shown in Fig. 13, where it is seen to be definitely 
continuous with the short trichogyne. 
From such preparations it would appear that the antheridium is 
a unicellular structure, resembling in this respect that of Pyronema con- 
fluens , and both here and in oblique and transverse sections it can often 
be traced, more or less definitely towards the basal cell, or cell of the 
archicarp next below the ascogonium. 
This cell, in L. ster corea, as in Humaria granulata , differs somewhat 
from the lower cells of the archicarp. It has denser contents (Figs. 10, 
