54 KEPRODUCTION IN COrElNUS RADIATUS. 



mycelium has rested in the ground for twelve months, 

 up old pasture ground, or the dead leaves of an autumn which has 

 passed, mycelium in a resting state is invariably found. There is 

 no such long rest with the mycelium of Coprinus radiatus, for so 

 long as the weather is not too dry, too wet, or too cold, the fungus 

 goes on perfecting itself day after day without ceasing. During 

 hot, very wet, or frosty weather the spawn lies buried, and it rests 

 in the warm, moist dung for short periods of time only. 



Coprinus rudiutus, Fr.. is one of the dung-borne Agarics with. a 

 cap which measures from an eighth to one quarter of an inch in 

 diameter, and this filmy pileus is supported on a stem, which on an 

 average measures from a quarter to three-eighths of an inch or 

 more in height (PI. 54a and 55a). The whole cap is a mere 

 transparent film, and the fragile stem is like an atom of gossamer 

 thread. A breath will totally break down and collapse every part 

 of the plant, whilst a heavy dew or slight shower of rain will 

 destroy a whole colony. These minute Agarics can only be 

 gathered with the aid of small forceps, for if they are taken in the 

 fingers they at once collapse, become liquid, and vanish. So little 

 moisture does a single specimen contain that it is lost in the 

 moment or two consumed in taking it for examination from the 

 garden to the house. The young plants may generally be seen 

 dotted over the dung, like in size to so many pins' heads (PI. 55b), 

 and from this, the infant state, to maturity, the growth of the 

 fungus is very rapid. At seven or eight in the evening nothing 

 but immature plants can be seen (PI. 54c, d, enlarged 20 

 diameters) ; about eleven or twelve a rapid growth commences, and 

 by two or three o'clock in the morning perfect maturity is reached. 

 If the morning is moist the plants will remain in perfection till nine 

 or ten o'clock, but if it is dry they Avill not last after five or six. 

 On shady roadsides or in dark places the time required for 

 growth may probably be a little more or less, but the present 

 observations apply to the plants as found growing on dung in a 

 light and open place. 



To get a good view of C. radiatus it is necessary to magnify it 

 at least from 50 to 100 diameters; the nature of the stem and 

 gills can then be made out, and all the individual component cells 

 be clearly seen. 



Mature plants are figured at e, f (PI. 54), enlarged 10 and 20 

 diameters, the first shoAving the nature of the outer surface of 

 pileus, with its furrows, and the other the lower or fruiting 

 surface, with the nature of the gills, and the collar formed by them 

 near the insertion of the stem. At g is shown the relative number 

 of the basidia or privileged cells, which carry the naked spores, and 

 at H the relative number and position of other privileged cells, 

 termed cystidia. To these latter bodies I shall presently refer more 

 fully, and they are merely adverted to here that some idea may be 

 foimed of iheir great rumber. At i is shown a transverse section 



