122 



TUE PLANT WOELD. 



few, two or three or more plants in a cluster, but sometimes a 

 larger number are formed in a tuft. The stems arise quite 

 closely together so that the extreme base in a dense cluster tapers 

 to a rather slender point around which all the specimens of a clus- 

 ter arise. Much the same relation of individuals in seen when 

 the specimens are parasitized, the cluster of individuals flaring 

 out above ground because of their size and number. But the 

 form of the parasitized plants is quite different from that of the 

 normal condition of the host, and it requires careful observation 

 and comparisons to become assured that the two conditions are 

 individuals of the same species. The deformed hosts are some- 

 what top-shaped in form, thougli the contour is often quite irreg- 

 ular. The center is depressed or deeplv and broadly umblicate 

 to nearly funnel-shaped. The irregularity may be shown simply 

 by shallow furrows which radiate from the depression out over 

 the broader portion, or in irregularities which resemble excres- 

 cences or rudimentary lobes. The context is much softer and 

 more spongy than that of the normal condition of the host, which 

 is quite firm before deliquescence begins. 



Figure 22. Stropharia epimyces. a. Cystidia on edge of gills, b. 

 Cystidium on side of gill. c. Tuft of sterile cells near apex of stem. 

 (/. Spores. Camera lucida with Zeiss objective 3 ram. Compensation ocu- 

 lar 6, tube not drawn out. Figures then reduced to three-fourths. 



