242 



FUNGI. 



like the mosses and liverworts, are formed of cells. The 

 spawn of fungi answers to roots in other plants; the 

 growing part, be it umbrella-shaped, as in the mushroom, 

 branched as in the clavaria, or cupped as in the peziza, 

 stands for their stem and leaves ; and the spores answer 

 to their fruit. The cells are of various shapes, sometimes 

 round or oval ; sometimes, as in moulds, branched in a 

 fanciful manner, so as to look under the microscope 

 like crystal trees. They have two kinds of fruit ; one 

 where a seed or spore is formed at the end of the 

 cells ; the other where seed-like bodies, or spordice are 

 formed within the cell. This distinction divides the 

 fungus family into two divisions : 1st, the spore-bear- 

 ing class, Sporiferi ; 2nd, the Ascus-bearing class, 

 Sporidiferi. 



The first group of the Spore class has its hymenium, or 

 fruit-bearing part, open to the air. The numerous 

 members of the large group of surface-fruited fungi 

 (Hymenomycetes) is ushered in by the enormous family 

 of Agarics, the commonly accepted form of fungus or 



"toadstool." Here we have a 

 columnar stem (stipes), hollow or 

 solid. A cap like the top of an 

 umbrella (pileus);/o^5 (lamellae) 

 underneath the cap over which 

 the cells constituting the hymen- 

 ium are spread, upon each of 

 which one or more spores are 

 situated. Many of the Agarics are 



furnished with a veil (vellum), ex- 



3. Spore of do. magnifit d. r , 



4. Hymenium of Agaric, tending from the margin oi the 



1. Cell and Sfore of 



Agaric. 



2. Ascus of Peziza. 



