THE 



C I N C I N NAT U S. 



VOL. 11. SEPTEMBER 1, 1857. NO. 9 



THE FUNGI. 



The propagation and development of the Fungi are among the 

 most curious subjects in the economy of nature. They form an 

 extensive family of plants belonging to the Linnaean class Cryptoga- 

 mia. Some of the species go under the familiar name of Mashrooms. 

 These plants vary greatly in size, form, color and consistence. They 

 are found of all colors except green. Their consistence is coriaceous, 

 fleshy, spongy, gelatinous, corky or ligneous. Their anatomical 

 structure, when examined with the microscope, is found to consist of 

 cells, some round, others elongated. When at maturity they uni- 

 formly present minute closed globules or spores, which are capable 

 of reproducing the plant, like seeds. The abundance of these spores 

 and sporules in some fungi may be said to be legion. 



There are now over two thousand species of fungi known, and 

 these are distributed into some hundred and sixty genera. We 

 would say that in regard to this class of plants, their mode of growth 

 and development, much remains still in the dark, and not until since 

 the microscope has been brought to such degree of perfection could 

 they be successfully investigated. Their sporules or germs are infini- 

 tesimal, too minute in general to be injured by any mechanical 

 means and have the power of resisting any chemical process, and 

 will consequently remain unharmed in earthy or vegetable substances 

 for an unlimited period of time; and they may pass through the 

 digestive organs of animals or endure the action of heat without 

 sustaining the smallest injury; and there is good ground to even 

 VOL. II., IX.— 25. (385) 



