212 b\mgi. 



Fungi, in which the membranous spore-bearing surface is 

 a prominent character; the Gtasteromycetes, which may 



be called the vmtrioote or bellied Fuu<ji, in which thesporee 

 are inclosed in the central cavity of the Fungus : the Con- 

 iomycetes or dust Fungi, in which the small dust-like spores 

 constitute the mostconspicnous part of the plant; the llyp- 

 homycetes or thread Fungi, in which the filaments are 

 especially developed; and the Ascomycetes or sack Fungiy 

 in which the spores are contained in small delicate asci or 

 sacks. The .common mushroom with its radiating spore- 

 bearing lamelhe is an example of the first kind ; puff balls, 

 filled with masses of spores beautifully explosive under 

 sudden pressure, are examples of the second ; corn smut 

 is a familiar instance of the third ; the potato mold of the 

 fourth and the common morel of the fifth. Further divisions 

 and subdivisions have been adopted, distributing these 

 plants in orders, genera, subgenera and species. These 

 subdivisions and the characters on which they are founded 

 are interesting to botanists, but cau scarcely be expected 

 to engage the attention of others. But the arrangement 

 of the Agaricini, the principal order of the Ilymenomv- 

 cetes, is so peculiar and presents so many unusual features 

 that you will bear with me if I devote a little space to its 

 consideration. This order contains many species and 

 occupies the first or highest rank among the Fungi. 

 Because of their soft perishable nature they are called 

 fleshy, putrescent Fungi. Their texture is wholly cellular, 

 though varying in degree of hardness and in durability 

 according to the density of the tissue. This difference in 

 the texture of the plants or of certain parts of the same 

 plant and the variations in the lamelhe furnish the chief 

 characters for distinguishing the genera. For example, 

 it' the plant is of a dry coriaceous texture with sharp-edged 

 lamelhe it is a Mara8miU8 ; with thin, eroded, or serrated 

 lamelhe it is a Lemtinu&i with auastoniosiug lamelhe it 



