414 



BOTANY 



ruptured at tlie apex. The gleba is black when ripe, an<l contains numerous 

 chambers filled with interwoven hyphse which produce lateral, pear-shaped hasidia 

 with four sessile spores (Fig. 363, 2). This species, which is considered pois<>nou>, 

 is sometimes mistaken for one of the Truffle Fungi. 



The genera Hovista and Lycoperdon (Fig. 363 3) (Pulf- 

 balls) have also spherical fructifications, which are at first 

 white, and later of a brown colour. In the last-named 

 genus they are also stalked, and in the ease of Lycopcnlmi 

 Bovista may even become half a metre in diameter. The 

 peridium is forme* 1 of two layers; the outer se para te- 

 at maturity, while the inner dehisces at the summit. 

 The hymenial layer of basidia, in the fungi of this group, 

 lines the chambers of the gleba. The chambers are also 

 provided with a fibrous capillitium consisting of brown, 

 thick-walled, branched hyphie whiclijspring from the walls, 

 and aid in distributing the spores. The fructifications are 

 edible while still young and white. When mature they 

 contain urea which is not elsewhere found in plants. 



FIG. 363. 1, Sclerotlernia viilgare, fructification ; -, liasidia of 

 same. (After Tri.ASNE.) 3, Lycoperdon gemmutinii ; /,, CH^II / 

 ii-ininlnxui'. (/, ..'. /, nat. si/i-; .'enlarged.) 



Fit;. 3t'>4. I'hallnit iiy<i/, ; >-><>. 

 (After KKOMBHOLZ, A nat. 



-i/c.) 



In the related genus Geaster (Earth-star) (Fig. 363, 4) the peridia of the nearly 

 spherical fructifications are also composed of two envelopes. When the dry fruit 

 dehisces, the outer envelope splits into several stellate segments and the inner 

 layer of the peridium becomes perforated by an apical opening. 



