io6 EESE ARCHES OX FUNGI 



Experience has shown thai spores Avhich have just been hberated 

 always have a fresh and turgid appearance when observed in water. 

 They give one the impression that they are capable of germination. 

 That spores, newly shed from a fruit-body which previously has been 

 kept desiccated for a long period, may germinate readily under 

 suitable conditions, has been proved for the only two species so far 

 tested, namely, Daidalea unicolor and ScJtizopJiylliwi commune. A 

 fruit-body of the former species was kept dry for three years, and one 

 of the latter for one year. They both recovered when wet cotton 



Avool Avas placed on their upper surfaces. Spores 



liberated within ten hours after the fruit-bodies 



had been moistened germinated readily within 



a further twenty-four hours in hanging drops 



of a nutrient medium containing meat extract, 



grape-sugar, peptone, and gelatine (Fig. 38). 



^^^ rv These observations seem to afford strong evidence 



^-^ g \^ in favour of the view that, whenever spore-emis- 



^.^^ sion is taking place from a fruit-body, the 



emitted spores are living. 

 Fig. 38.— Spores, which It not infrequently happens that a desiccated 



were shed from revived '■ J ri 



fruit-bodios. in course fruit-body, separated from its substratum and 



of germination after t, n . , ,. . ,., . 



twenty-four hours in a allowed acccss to water, m addition to liberating 

 SS«"S": b: spores also recommences growth. Such growth 



SchizophyUum commune, j^ specics of Polyporcaj may lead to a slight 

 Magnification, 700. ^ . . . , 



elongation of the hymenial tubes or even to the 



production of very shallow new ones at the edges of the fruit-bodies. 



Renewed growth of this kind can easily be detected macroscopically, 



and it has been observed in Folyporus rigens, Folystictus hirsiUus, 



and Glceoporus conchoides. The fruit-bodies in question had been 



kept dry for a year before being moistened. 



Most succulent fruit-bodies, such as those of species belonging to 



the genera Psalliota, Amanita, Co})rinus, Boletus, ike, are unable to 



survive even partial desiccation. The Marasmii are exceptions to 



this rule. Fruit-bodies of .}farasmiiis oreades Avere •Ji'athered from a 



"fairy ring" in a Held and, when tested in the laboratory, Avere found 



to be freely liberating spores. Tht-y Avere then Avell dried \>y means 



of hot air. During the drying process the tieshy pileus became quite 



