Teacher's Leaflet. 1115 



of puffballs were used extensively in pioneer days to stop the bleeding of wounds 

 and especially for nosebleed. 



In one genus of the puff ball family, the outer coat splits off in points on maturing, 

 like an orange peel cut lengthwise in six or seven sections, but still remaining 

 attached to the base. There is an inner coat that remains as a protection to the 

 spores so that these little balls are set each in a little star-shaped saucer. These 

 star-points straighten out flat or even curl under in dry weather, but when damp 

 lift up and again envelop the ball to a greater or less extent. 



Lesson IV 



SOME OTHER INTERESTING FUNGI 



Purpose. — To call attention to some of the more beautiful and common 

 fungi. 



Method and Material. — Tell the pupils about these fungi, showing 

 the pictures or describing them and telling where to look for them, 

 thus making the fungi an object in field excursions and walks. 



" Hedgehog Fungi." — One of these looks like an exquisite white frozen 

 fountain and may be seen in late summer or early aututnn growing 

 from dead limbs or branches ; it is often eight inches across (see page i). 

 Another species looks like a bunch of branching coral and is a most 

 beautiful object against the dead wood from which it grows. 



Things to he observed: 



a. These fungi come from a stem which extends into the wood. 



b. This stem divides into many branchlets. 



c. From these branchlets there hang long fleshy fringes like miniature 

 icicles. 



d. These fringes always hang downward when the fungus is in natural 

 position. 



e. These fringes bear the spores. 



The Scarlet Saucer (Sarcocypha cocinea). — In early spring, when 

 hunting for the first hepaticas, this is to be found on sticks of rotting 

 wood, half buried in the leaves. 



Observations by Pupils: 

 a. Where did you find the fungus? 



b. What is the shape of the saucer? How large is it? Is it regular 

 and beautiful or irregular and distorted? 



c. What is the color inside ? 



d. What is the color outside? 



e. Turn the one you bring in bottom side up, that is, scarlet side down 

 pn a piece of white paper, and see whether you can get a spore harvest. 



