A XEROPHYTIC FUNGUS FLORA 



III 



They survive through periods of drought by drying up and retain- 

 ing their vitality. The hyinenomycetous stick or log flora is 

 therefore xerophytic. 



While it has now been demonstrated that many of the fruit- 

 bodies of wood-destroying fungi are able to withstand desiccation 

 unharmed, the resistance of the mycelium to dry conditions still 

 requires an experimental investigation. Quite possibly in some 



List of Hymenomycetes with Fruit-hodies wMcJi can become Desiccated 

 without losing their Vitality. 



cases the xerophytism of a fungus is only partial, so that desicca- 

 tion is fatal to the mycelium but harmless to the fruit-bodies. 

 However, the rapidity with which fruit-bodies, on the advent of 

 rain, develop upon sticks which have been dried up for Aveeks in 

 summer, points to the conclusion that the mycelium in the wood 

 must very frequently retain its vitality in a state of desiccation. 

 A somewhat striking laboratory experiment with Polystictus versl- 



