GASTEROMYCETES. 

 Fig. 273. 



[ 285 ] 



Polysaccum crassipes. 



Cells of the h3'meniura, with basidia and spores. 



Magn. 400 diams. 



Fig. 274. 



Fig. 275. 



Scleroderma vulgare. 



Fig. 2/4. Portion of the internal mass, 

 dianis. 



Magn. 200 



Fig. 275. Cells of the hymenium, with basidia and 

 spores. Magn. 400 diams. 



of the now bag-like peridium, as a fine pow- 

 der. In Lycoperdon, &c., it is not the peri- 

 dium which is continued inwards to form 

 chambers ; it forms a single or double sac, 

 containing a fleshy substance {gleha), hol- 

 lowed out into sinuous cavities clothed with 

 basicUa. In course of ripening, the spongy 

 mass disappears, leaving only a collection of 

 minute spores and filamentous fragments, 

 which are emitted by the bursting of the pe- 

 ridium, a process exhibiting many cui'ious 

 peculiarities in this group. 



The Phalloidei are roundish or ovoid 

 fleshy balls in their earlier stages, but when 

 opened exhibit a distinct peridium and a 

 central lacnnose, sporiferous structure. The 



GASTEROMYCETES. 



Fig. 276. 



Fig. 277. 



mm 



Lycoperdon cepseforme. 



Section of the gleha, showing the loculi, on the walls of 

 which the spores are produced. 



Magn. 200 diams. 



peridium consists of two layers, an inner 

 and an outer, united by firm gelatinous tis- 

 sue traversed by transverse membranous 

 septa, and exhibits a tendency to split, like 

 an orange, into quarters. When the peri- 

 dium bursts, which it usually does at the 

 apex, the central sporiferous structure 

 emerges, under various forms. In Phallus 

 it is a capitate or clavate co- 

 lumn ; in Clathrus (fig. 277)j 

 an elegant, globular, fleshy 

 trellis; in Aseroe, a column 

 with a stellate head, &c. In 

 all cases, the spores^ w hich are 

 developed on convolutions of 

 the fleshy sporiferous mass 

 {gleha), on basidia, are found 

 detached and confluent into a 

 wet, viscid mass adhering to the 

 sporiferous surface, at the time 

 this has emerged from the pe- 

 ridium and expanded to its full 

 size. This fluid condition of 

 the mature sporiferous layer is 

 distinctive between the Phal- 

 loidei and the Hymenomycetes, to which they 

 bear many relations. 



The Hypogsei receive their name from 

 their subterraneous habit of growth, in w hich 

 they resemble Truflles, a tribe of Ascomy- 

 cetes bearing much external similarity to 

 these plants (see Tuberacei). The ge- 

 neral character is that of globular or de- 

 pressed balls, growing underground, sessile 

 on a flocculent mycelium. They exhibit a 

 peridium enclosing a fleshy gleba, excavated 

 into sinuous cavities hned by a membrane 

 bearing basidiospores. These fruits do not 



Clathrus 

 cancellatus. 



The sporiferous 

 frame - work 

 emerged from 

 the ruptured 

 peridium. 



l-6th nat. size. 



