GUIDE TO THE MODELS OF FUNGI. 



Fungi are reproduced by microscopic cells named spores, which 

 are the analogues of the seeds of flowering plants. The spores 

 may be white, yellow, pink, red, brown, purple, or black ; blue and 

 green are very uncommon colours. The spores of the fungi repre- 

 sented by the models are either borne naked on a particular part of 

 the surface of the fungus {hymeniitm), as in the Agarichiece, Polyporece, 

 etc. ; naked within the substance of the fungus, as in the puff-balls, 

 etc. ; or in little transparent sacs {asci), as in the cup-fungi and some 

 truffles. 



CLASS I.— BASIDIOMYCETES. 



Nearly six-sevenths of the models belong to the naked-spored 

 fungi {Hymenomycetes). In the first order {Agaricinece) the hymenium 

 is spread over the surface of gills; when ripe, the spores fall 

 from the hymenium as a fine powder. 



A microscopic examination of a portion of the gill shows that 

 the spores a a are borne on slender and delicate supports {sterig- 

 mata) bb. The cells at cc are the 

 ordinary cells of the mushroom ; the larger 

 ones at D D are termed basidia. In all 

 the Hymenomycetes the spores are produced 

 in fours. The delicate threads proceeding 

 from the germinatmg spores form the my- 

 celium, which is usually white, and is 

 popularly termed " spawn." From this 

 mycelium the perfect fungus arises, repro- 

 ducing the parent form. 



As a rule, the spores of the larger 

 fungi are very short-lived, some retaining ,^ 



their vitality for only a few hours; while xaoo" 



the mycelium is usually long-lived, waitmg Fig. i.— Section of a portion of 



, , I-.- r _ iU the sill of a mushroom, show- 



suitable conditions tor growth, ing the reproductive bodies 



Some of the higher fungi grow rapidly, or spores. (Enlarged Sco 

 and are fully developed from the spore in a diameters.) 

 few days, like some of those found on dung ; while others take a much 

 longer time. Some are very evanescent,Jliving but a few hours ; while 

 others, which grow on trees, continue to increase in size for many years. 



One of the smallest members of the Agaricinece is Coprimts 



