REPRODUCTION IN COPRINUS RADIATUS. DO 



tliroiigh the cap of the fungus, a short time before expansion (when 

 the umbrena-like top is down), to show that the hair-like stem is 

 hollow, and that the plant in infancy is enveloped in a complete 

 veil or bag, the presence of which is shown by the ring of cells and 

 hairs which forms the circumference of the diagram. 



For a proper comprehension, however, of this minute fungus 

 much more than a superficial examination is necessary, and thefirst 

 thing to be done in the way of dissection is to secure a good longi- 

 tudinal section of the fungus from top to bottom, as shown in PL 

 55 (J) — this enlarged 35 diameters, at once shows the immense 

 number of cells which go to make up one of the fugitive little 

 plants belonging to Copn'nus radiatus. By reference to the figure 

 it will be seen that the stratum of flesh which forms the pileus is 

 only six or seven cells in thickness, and the external surface is 

 covered with a few hairs of different sizes (the remnants of the 

 universal veil or wrapper) some of the smaller hairs being tipped 

 with a gland. Another good vertical segmental section across the 

 cap and gills will show the appearance of the plicato-radiate outer 

 surface of the pileus to be caused by a series of cracks which are 

 brought about by the necessarily sudden expansion of the cap, which 

 act of expansion tears (in these positions) the component cells of the 

 pileus apart, PI. 54e, and PI. 55k. A transvei'se section through 

 the fungus when in an infant state shows the commencement of 

 these fissures, as at PI. 54, i, and PI. 55, l. The gills have no 

 trace of a trama — the so-called trama being the cells which form 

 the substance between the hymenium in the gills ; if present this 

 substance would be at m m., PL 55, but one of the characters of 

 the genus Coprinus is that the gills have no distinct intermediate 

 substance in the gills. In the plant under examination the 

 lamellaj or gills are free from, and form a collar round the stem 

 (PL 55, n), and are only about seven cells in thickness. 



Good sections down and across this stem when young will show, 

 it (gossamer like as it is) to be piped or hollow from top to bottom 

 (PI. 55 o), and the hairs seen at the base (p p) are the torn 

 remains of the veil or wrapper which once held the edge of the 

 pileus (q) down to the base of the stem. In this figure several 

 spores may be seen at the base, carried up amongst the cells of the 

 stem. On looking at an entire plant of C. radiatus in this way 

 under a low power of the microscope it appears to be formed of a 

 few thousands of cells only, but if these cells are now measured 

 and counted, which is by no means a difficult matter, it will be 

 found that instead of thousands it really requires millions of indi- 

 vidual cells to build up one of these minute plants which a breath 

 destroys. The smallnoss and lightness of one fungus is such that 

 it requires 150 specimens to weigh a grain, or 72,000 to weigh an 

 ounce troy. In the type specimen of C. radiatus now figured 

 there were 22,560,000 cells in its structure irrespective of the 

 spores, which numbered about 3,200,000 more. If all these cells 



