324 Harper.—Sexual Reproduction in Pyronema 
some evidence that later they become connected by openings 
through their cross walls. Each cell of the carpogonium 
becomes a source of ascogenous hyphae, so that such pores in 
their walls are probably to be associated with some part of 
the fertilization-process. Baur considers that the first cell 
of the carpogonium is the egg-cell, and that the rest probably 
function as auxiliary cells, somewhat as has been described by 
Oltmanns for certain red Algae. 
Darbishire (9) confirms Stahl’s and Lindau’s discovery of 
trichogynes in Physciapidvendenta. He finds a single nucleus 
in each cell of the carpogonium and trichogyne, which latter 
rises about thirty ju above the surface of the thallus. The 
cells of the carpogonium become connected by broad strands 
of protoplasm so as almost to form a single, many-nucleated 
cell. Of most interest, perhaps, is the author’s criticism of the 
interpretation of the trichogyne proposed by Lindau (22). 
According to this author’s latest view the trichogyne has no 
sexual function, but is a boring organ, ‘ terebrator hypha,’ 
which serves to break a way upward through the thallus for 
the apothecium. 
Darbishire shows that the trichogyne as a rule does not 
grow upward to the surface of the thallus in the axis of growth 
of the future apothecium, but rather to one side or the other. 
In some cases the trichogyne grows parallel to the surface of 
the thallus, before it turns to follow the most direct line to the 
surface. Further, its early disappearance and its thin-walled 
cells with abundant protoplasmic contents are the opposite of 
what we should expect of a boring organ intended to open 
a path to the surface of the thallus. The paraphyses grow 
upward just like other newly formed hyphae of the kind and 
need no aid in pushing to the surface. I have myself observed 
and described for Ascobolus (16) how the mass of paraphyses 
acts as a wedge to split the spherical fruit-body at its apex 
and transform it from the cleistocarpous to the discocarpous 
type of fruit-body. 
Lindau’s doctrine seems to be merely a guess, at the best, 
and when thoroughly tested by comparison with the facts, as 
