CHAPTER IV 



ADJUSTMENTS OF FRUIT-BODIES IN THE INTERESTS OF SPORE- 

 LIBERATION— Z£iVr/iV?7S LEPIDEUS, PS ALL I OTA CAMPESTRIS, 

 POLYPORUS SQUAMOSUS, COPRINUS PLIOATILIS, GOPRINUS 

 NIVEUS,Al!i'D COPRINUS PLIC'^ TIL 0/1)^6'— REACTIONS OF FRUIT- 

 BODIES TO LIGHT AND GRAVITY— THE PROBLEM OF PILEUS 

 ECCENTRICITY— GEOTROPIC SWINGING— RUDIMENTARY FRUIT- 

 BODIES 



In order to obtain a more precise knowledge of the means 

 whereby, and the extent to which, a fruit-body is able to adjust 

 itself so as to bring its hymenium into the optimum position 

 for spore - liberation, experiments were made upon Lentinus 

 lepideus, Psalliota cmnpestris, Poli/porus squaTuosus, Coprinus 

 plicatilis, C. niveus, and G. plicatiloides, the sporophores of which 

 differ considerably from one another. The first two species belong 

 to the Agaricineas but occupy different habitats. Lentinus lepideus 

 is saprophytic on wood and often produces its fruit -bodies on 

 surfaces which are nearly or quite vertical, such as those of logs 

 and stumps ; whilst, on the other hand, as every one has observed, 

 the Mushroom comes up in more or less horizontal pastures. 

 Polyporus squamosus is a wound-parasite on trees, and is most 

 frequently found attached laterally to tree trunks or thick branches. 

 Coprinus plicatilis belongs to a highly specialised genus. Its 

 fruit-bodies are of small size and come up in short grass. C. niveus 

 and C. plicatiloides are found on horse dung. 



Lentinus lepideus. — The fruit-bodies developed on rotting 

 paving blocks removed from the streets of the city of Birming- 

 ham. Their reactions to external stimuli have already been 

 described in detail in a special paper.i It will therefore only 

 be necessary here to state those results of experiment which 

 bear upon our problem. 



^ Buller, " The Reactions of the Fruit-bodies of Lentinus lepideus to External 

 Stimuh," Ann. of But., 1905, vol. xix. pp. 427-438. 



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