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The Q.M.C. Fungus Foray. 

 By G. Massee, F.L.S. 

 {Mead October 21st, 1898.) 



It was arranged that during the autumn of 1898 a fungus 

 foray should be held in Epping Forest under the auspices of the 

 Quekett Microscopical Club, but owing to circumstances over 

 which mortals have no control this great idea was frustrated, the 

 season being too dry, and all that could be effected by the 

 enthusiastic party assembled at Chingford was to so direct their 

 footsteps as not to be swallowed up by the yawning chasms in the 

 ground caused by the extreme di'ought, partake of slight refresh- 

 ment to compensate for wear and tear in endeavouring to effect 

 the same, and return home with empty vasculums. The next 

 suggestion made was a chat on what, under more favourable 

 auspices, the material collected would have illustrated. This 

 suggestion was carried out, and the following is a summary of the 

 principal points alluded to. 



Fungi were differentiated as a group before the evolution of 

 terrestrial (dry land) vegetation, and as a combination of necessity, 

 convenience, and gratitude, lived in the fii^st instance as parasites 

 upon various members of the group of plants from which they 

 were evolved, the seaweeds or algae. A small section, the con- 

 servative party, have retained this habit up to the present day. 



All fungi are parasites in the sense of requiring organic food, 

 some being satisfied with dead matter, others attacking living 

 organisms ; many are capable of utilising with equal satisfaction 

 living or dead matter as food. 



In primitive aquatic forms the entire fungus is buried in the 

 body of the host on which it is parasitic, the one form of repio- 

 dU'tive bodies, which are of sexual origin, and closely resembling 

 those of the ancebtral algal type, being liberated on the decay of 

 the host, and dispersed by v/ater. 



The evolution of terrestrial vegetation afbrded an opportunity 

 for the extension in space of fungi j and the extent to which they 



JouRN. Q. M. C, Series II.— No. 44. 10 



