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1 06 RESEARCHES ON FUNGI 



Experience has shown that spores which have just been liberated 



always have a fresh and turgid appearance when observed in water. 



They give one the impression that they are capable of germination. 



That spores, newly shed from a fruit-body which previously has been 



kept desiccated for a long period, may germinate readily under 



suitable conditions, has been proved for the only two species so far 



tested, namely, Dtedalea unicolor and Schizonhyllum commune. A 



fruit-body of the former species was kept dry for three years, and one 



of the latter for one year. They both recovered when wet cotton 



wool was placed on their upper surfaces. Spores 



Cy r^^- liberated within ten hours after the fruit-bodies 



•^2 had been moistened germinated readily within 



a further twenty-four hours in hanging drops 



of a nutrient medium containing meat extract, 



grape-sugar, peptone, and gelatine (Fig. 38). 



These observations seem to afford strong evidence 



in favour of the view that, whenever spore-emis- 



^^p sion is taking place from a fruit-body, the 



emitted spores are living. 



Fig. 38.— Spores, which j t not infrequently happens that a desiccated 



were shed from revived l J rr 



fruit-bodies, in course fruit-body, separated from its substratum and 

 of germination after . . 



twenty-four hours in a allowed access to water, m addition to liberating 

 m£ S£E k spores also recommences growth. Such growth 

 Schizophyiium commune. m species of Polyporeae may lead to a slight 



Magnification, 700. l J r J ° 



elongation of the hymenial tubes or even to the 

 production of very shallow new ones at the edges of the fruit-bodies. 

 Renewed growth of this kind can easily be detected macroscopically, 

 and it has been observed in Polyporus rigens, Poly st ictus hirsutus, 

 and Gloeoporus cone] to ides. The fruit-bodies in question had been 

 kept dry for a year before being moistened. 



Most succulent fruit-bodies, such as those of species belonging to 

 the genera Psalliota, Amanita, Coprinus, Boletus, &c, are unable to 

 survive even partial desiccation. The Marasmii are exceptions to 

 this rule. Fruit-bodies of Marasmius oreades were gathered from a 

 " fairy ring " in a field and, when tested in the laboratory, were found 

 to be freely liberating spores. They were then well dried by means 

 of hot air. During the drying process the fleshy pileus became quite 



