ADJUSTMENTS OF FRUIT-BODIES 69 



in the process of spore-liberation will be sufficiently discussed in 

 Chapter XIX. 



The adjustments of the fruit-bodies of Coprinus niveus in the 

 interest of successful spore-liberation may be summed up as follows : 

 (1) Heliotropic curvature of the stipe, which causes the pilei to be 

 brought out of crevices in the substratum into the open; (2) erection 

 of the pileus by a negatively geotropic curvature of the stipe ; 

 (3) raising of the pileus by elongation of the stipe; (4) adjustment 

 of the gills by the expansion of the pileus ; and (5) deliquescence 

 of the gills and the folding of the pileus rim over the top of the 

 pileus. 



Coprinus plicatiloides, Buller. 1 — This species, like the foregoing- 

 one, is coprophilous and occurs on horse dung. Its fruit-bodies are 

 often very tiny and rank among the smallest in the whole group of 

 the Agaricinese. I have seen specimens less than 1 cm. long and with 

 the expanded pileus only 2 mm. wide. The average length of the 

 stipe is about 3 cm. and the width of the pileus about 5-6 mm., but 

 in large individuals, produced on sterilised horse dung, these dimen- 

 sions may be doubled. The fruit-bodies are extremely delicate and 

 can only stretch their stipes and expand their pilei under very moist 

 conditions. When exposed to moderately dry air they wither up in 

 a few minutes. The life-history of the fungus requires but little 

 time for its completion. Some sterilised horse-dung balls were 

 infected with spores and kept in a warm room. On the tenth day 

 after infection young fruit-bodies made their appearance, and by the 

 fourteenth day spores were being freely liberated. 



The fruit-bodies of C. 'plicatiloides react in succession to the 

 stimuli of light and gravity in the same manner as those of 

 C. niveus. One evening, a fruit-body which had begun to grow 

 vertically upwards from its substratum was covered over with a 

 cap of stanniol paper opened at one end (Fig. 26, A and B). During 

 the night the upward growth continued. Next morning, in response 



1 This name has been given for the sake of convenience in reference. The 

 fungus was obtained at Winnipeg. I have not been able to identify it with any 

 described species, but it much resembles Coprinus plicatilis. Its disc is depressed 

 at maturity, as in ft plicatiUs, but it is narrow instead of being broad. The gills 

 are not attached to a collar, and the spores are oval. 



