Fungi 



413 



Cup fungi and morels. These are fleshy forms found in open 

 forests on the soil and on decaying wood. In the cup fungi 



F 



Fig. 254. A, B, C, Craterellus, showing habit of growth, a cross-section of the wall, and a 

 basidium with two spores ; D, E, F, Cantharellus, showing stipe and pileus, a cross-section 

 of the pileus showing gills, and a part of the gill showing basidia with four spores. 



the ascospores are produced in a layer covering the inside of the 

 cup. In the morels the spore-bearing layer covers the elongated 

 and much-wrinkled top of the hollow fruiting body. Morels 

 are edible when fresh and by many persons are much esteemed for. 

 their peculiar flavor. Truffles also belong to this group. They 

 resemble puffballs in form, but grow underground. They are 

 much sought after in France and are collected by the use of 

 pigs, and of dogs trained to locate them. 



Lichens. Among the parasitic fungi are some that live on 

 such one-celled green algae as Protococcus. The fungus forms 

 the plant body and completely envelops the algal cells. These 

 forms constitute the lichens, which are gray-green, irregular- 

 shaped plants that are common -on the bark of trees, on rock 

 surfaces, and occasionally on the soil (Fig. 255). Like other 

 fungi they produce fruiting bodies, small disk-like or cup-shaped 

 elevations, in which sac spores are produced in great numbers. 



