ON THE STRUCTURAL ANATOMY OF FUNGI. 29 



plant, are styled Pores. The Tubes are displayed on section. 

 They are coated internally by the Hymenium. The external 

 colour of the Pores is often different from that of the Tubes 

 internally, and is to be observed carefully. It will be necessary, 

 for the purpose of differentiating species, to note the disposition 

 and character of the Tubes, as seen on section. They may be 

 Angular or Cylindrical and Kounded, densely packed together and 

 Numerous, Short or Shallow, Long or Elongate, comparatively 

 Large in diameter or Minute, of nearly Equal length or of Ir- 

 regular length. Special descinptive terms are the following : 



Adnate, Tubes nearest the Stem attached to it in their whole 

 length. 



Alveolate, Pores looking like honeycomb. 



Compound, Tubes running into one another. The reverse con- 

 dition is called Simple. 



Decurrent, Tubes coursing some way down the Stem. 



Depressed, surface of Pores sunk inwards in places. 



Even, not curved in their length. 



Free, no Tubes attached to the Stem. 



Remote, Tubes a little apart from the Stem. 



Sinuate, Wavy, Tubes undulating in their length. 



Torn, Pores rough and jagged superficially. 



SPINES. These characterize the order Hydnei. They are 

 numerous little prickles, teeth, or needles, set on the under side 

 of the Pileus or of the Pileoli. They are covered with the Hyme- 

 nium, and fulfil the same function as Gills, or Tubes. It is need- 

 ful to observe their colour, whether Long or Short, Fixed or easily 

 Detached, Acuminated or Blunt at the tips, etc. 



SPORES. These ai-e the fructifying agents of mushrooms, 

 and are produced upon and disengaged from the whole surface of 

 the Hymenium. To the eye they are only perceptible as fine dust. 

 Under the microscope they are seen to consist of minute bodies, 

 whose form varies in every species. By the microscopic investi- 

 gation of Spores, therefore, it is possible to identify species when 

 all other means fail. And as Spores generally are unaffected by 

 circumstances which destroy the structure of the plant producing 

 them, such as decay, digestion in the stomach, cooking, and so on, 

 it is evident that the microscope supplies a test that might be of 

 importance sometimes. 



