ON THE STRUCTURAL ANATOMY OF FUNGI. 19 



and a section of the Elvellacei, the Hymenophore is disposed as 

 a cap or Pileus, the most prominent feature- of the mushroom. 

 When identifying plants we first note their Habitat, or place of 

 growth, their Season, or time of appearance, and their Mode of 

 growth, whether solitary, in groups or rings,, or in tufts or 

 bundles, etc. These points must not be neglected.. Next, the 

 Pileus presents itself for examination. 



THE PILEUS. 



This organ includes the upper surface and substance of the 

 mushroom. It may either be raised upon a stem, central or 

 lateral, or may spring directly from the base. In each species 

 it has distinctive size and shape, colour and appendages, of which 

 observation must be taken. Certain Fungi divide into branches, 

 each of which bears a small Pileus. These little caps are called 

 Pileoli. The exterior appearance of the Pileus in different species 

 is described by the following terms : — 



Ascending, when directed upwards from a lateral stem. 

 At length, or then, meaning when more mature. 

 Campanulate or Campaniform, shaped like a bell. 

 Clammy, surface slightly moist to the touch. 

 Conchate, shaped like an oyster-shell. 

 Conical, in form of a cone. 



Concave, hollow on surface, margins slightly elevated. 

 Convex, surface rotund. 

 Corrugate, surface irregularly crumpled. 

 Costate, surface somewhat ribbed. 

 Crisped, curled up from the margins. 

 Cuspidate, tapering upwards to a sharp point. 

 Cyathiform, shaped like the bowl of a wint-^-lass. 

 Delicate, slight and fragile. 



Depressed, the centre somewhat sunk irregularly 

 Dilate, extended from side to side. 



Dimidiate, divided into two halves or lobes, usually of unequal 

 size. 



Disc, the central or uppermost flat surface. 



Dry, devoid of sensible moisture. 



Elastic, regaining shape when pressed and released, springy. 



Even, surface having no elevations or depressions. 



Expanded, spread open, nearly flat. 



