INTRODUCTION 



with other hyphae belonging to other spores of the same species. 

 In rare instances, as in the Tremellinacecz, the spores germinate and 



Fig. 5. Coprhnts atramentarius Fr. 



A, cystidium, orifice open at D ; 



B, basidium ; c, spores. X 200. 



Fig. 6. Hymenochczte 

 nigrescens Cooke. 



Part of hymenium with 

 long cystidium, c. X 300. 



Fig. 7. Psathyrella prona Gill. 

 Spores germinating. X 350. 



produce a rudimentary mycelium (promycclium) bearing spores, 

 from which only is a true mycelium produced. The mycelium 



or finely matted growth produced by ger- 

 ^^ minating spores is the " spawn " of gar- 



j\ ^^ A I deners ; it is usually white in colour, but is 



K ^fet sometimes tinted ; in one or two instances 



V VM U^^fc^ it i s blood-red. If the mycelium or spawn 

 \\ /4f W^ be placed upon a suitable matrix the 

 fungus will, under favourable circumstances, 

 be reproduced. The spores of some 

 Basidiomycetes very speedily die after 

 falling from the hymenium. No sexual organs are known in the 

 Basidiomycetes. 



The season of growth is usually the autumn, but a considerable 

 number appear in the spring and summer, and some continue to grow 

 till late in the autumn or even early winter. Many species of 

 Marasmius will, after being quite parched in dry weather, revive in 

 rain, and several of the late-growing species of Clitocybc and Collybia 

 revive after being frozen. There are two crops of some Basidio- 

 mycetes every year, one vernal and the other autumnal ; this is the 

 case with Coprimis atramentarius, of which the first crop appears after 

 the rains of April and May, the second in September or October. 

 If vernal examples are gathered and buried with decayed wood or 

 beside decaying posts a crop of perfect fungi will appear in 

 September or October. There are sometimes three crops of 

 Coprimis micacens in one year. If living plants of Coprimis 



