Fungi 



205 



Gymnosporangium, which is rather common on Juniperus vir- 

 giniana (red cedar), forms its basidia in the '' cedar apple' 1 stage. 

 Bring the yellowish " cedar apples" into the laboratory and cover 

 them with a bell jar to keep them moist. They may be germinating 

 when brought in; if not, they will soon germinate in the moist 

 chamber. For mounting whole, fix in 

 6 per cent formalin in water, stain in 

 iron-haematoxylin, and follow the 

 Venetian turpentine method. For 

 sections, fix in Flemming's weaker 

 solution. 



The Fleshy Fungi.- -For habit 

 study, nothing is equal to fresh ma- 

 terial; for second choice, buy canned 

 "mushrooms" (usually Agaricus cam- 

 pestris) at the grocery; forms not 

 readily available in field or grocery 

 may be preserved in formalin alcohol 

 (6 c.c. of formalin to 100 c.c. of 50 per 

 cent alcohol) . When formalin is used 

 in water, the fungi become too soft. 

 Larger forms of the mushroom, puff- 

 ball, and bracket types may be dried 

 in an oven. The circulation of air 

 should be good and the temperature 

 should be kept at about 50 C. After 

 drying, the fungi should be poisoned. 



For sections, Gilson's fluid deserves more recognition than it has 

 received. It is particularly good for soft forms, like Tremella. 

 Gilson's Fluid.- 



95 per cent alcohol 42 c.c. 



Water 60 c.c. 



Glacial acetic acid 18 c.c. 



Concentrated nitric acid 2 c.c. 



Corrosive sublimate (saturated solution in 

 water) 11 c.c. 



Fix about 24 hours and wash in 60 or 70 per cent alcohol. 



FIG. 59. Coprinus: young basidia 

 with the four nuclei which, later, pass 

 into the spores; fixed in chromo-acetic 

 acid and stained in safranin, gentian- 

 violet, orange. X 780. 



