8 



GUIDE TO THE MODELS OF FUNGI. 



radiatus, usually less than half an inch high, and so delicate that 

 it may be destroyed by a breath. It is so light that seventy-two 

 thousand specimens would be required to weigh an ounce, and yet 

 each individual is built up of more than twenty-five million cells. 



In studying the Agaricinccc, the first point of importance is the 

 determination of the colour of the spores, whether they are white, 

 pink, brown, purple, or black. The colour of the spores is fre- 

 quentlj^ the same as that of the gills ; but this agreement cannot 

 be depended upon, as the colour of the gills often changes during 

 growth. Thus the gills of the common mushroom are first white, 

 then pink, next purple-brown, and ultimately black ; while the 

 spores are dark purple-brown. The colour of the spores can be 

 easily observed by removing the stalk of the fungus, and laying the 

 cap, with the gills under, on a piece of paper or glass. In a few 

 hours the fallen spores will form a coloured impression of the gills. 



SUB-CLASS I.—HYMENOMYCETES. 



ORDER I.— AGARICINEiE. 

 GENUS I.—AGARICUS L. 

 The genus Agariciis is divided into five series by the colour of 

 the spores : — 



I. White spores .... Leucospori. 



2. Pink spores 



3. Brown spores 



4. Purple spores 



5. Black spores 



Hyporhodii. 

 Dermini. 



PRATELLiE. 

 COPRINARII. 



These groups, except the last, are well represented in the 

 models, and the outlines on the back of the case show, by the 



tint of the paper on which they are drawn, 

 the colour of the spores. 



These series, however, somewhat over- 

 lap, and some species exhibit relationships 

 with other Agaricinece not belonging to the 

 genus Agaricus. 



The colour of the spores having been 

 determined, it is necessary to examine a 

 section of the specimen, especially in re- 

 lation to the attachment of the gills to the 

 stem, and to observe the presence or ab- 

 sence of a ring {atittulus) round the stem. 

 The stem may be solid or hollow, and 

 thickened upwards or downwards ; it may 

 be naked at the base, or spring from an 

 enclosing wrapper (volva). The cap may be thick and fleshy, or 

 thin and membranous; deeply depressed, or rounded and incurved. 

 The gills may be thick or thin. 



The material on which the fungus grows should be noted, 

 whether on the earth, on dung, on dead or living plants or animals; 



Fig. 2.— Section of Agaricus 

 phalloides Fr. 



