Vv. ORIGIN OF MOULD. 205 
gain entire ; and it muft be remarked, that the 
ripe ones are not altogether decompofed, Both 
in the round and fungiform is a little head in the 
centre, which continues adhering to the ftalk; 
it is cinder-coloured, and does not appear black 
like the exterior. It is difficult to be detached 
from the ftalk, but, with gentle preffure, a fmall 
jet of feeds, refembling thofe I have defcribed, is 
‘raifed ; after which, the central head becomes a 
dry, empty fkin. 
If the heads, black and ripe, are opened by 
means of water, quantities of feed fo great efcape, 
that they adhere to the plants, and the ftalks par- 
ticularly, in fuch a manner that one would fup- - 
pofe the exterior compofed of feeds alone, were 
they not previoufly feen in a different ftate, The 
_ deceitful appearance of two plants in this {tate is 
reprefented fig. 9. One is completely covered 
with feed ; the head is magnified, and great part 
of it alfo covered. Three ftalks are reprefented 
fig. 4. The whole feeds of one head are expof- 
ed; another head is partly covered by the integu- 
ment; and the third wholly fo, 
A quantity of this duft conttitutes the powder 
which blackens the hands when mould is touch- 
ed; and it is confidered real feed, by the cele. 
rated Florentine botanift. To afcertain the 
truth, he had recourfe to a method apparently 
decifiye, which was fowing the duft. He ftrew- 
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