2l8 PLANT LIFE. 



many united fungus threads which are terminated by 

 the spores. 



The very simplest of all possible arrangements can 

 be seen in such a form as Oidium lactis, where pieces 

 of an ordinary fungus thread are split off and form 

 the spores. Penicilliiim and Phytophora show a simple 

 branching of the stalk. Even the spores of the 

 mushroom family are not essentially different ; for a 

 mushroom is, though highly specialised, simply a united 

 mass of fungus-tubes of which those that end in the 

 basidia are spore-bearing.^ 



Somewhat more difficult to understand are the Cups 

 of the Lichens and of the Ascomycetes ; in these the 

 entire fruit-body is probably the result of some process 

 of sexual union. The spores are formed inside the 

 fungus tube, and are not constricted off at the tip. 

 Even in these, however, the body of the fungus is an 

 agglomeration of fungus tubes and is not formed like 

 that of the higher plants. 



As they differ greatly in their appearance and mode 

 of life, the main groups of Fungi are not difficult to 

 distinguish from one another. The following rough 

 classification may be of use to beginners : 



I. The Mushroom Group. Toad-stools, Paddock-stools, 

 Mushroom-like forms, and the large woody or fleshy 

 Fungi found on trees and dead wood ; Basidiomycetes 

 ( Hy menomycetes). 



II. Puff-balls and the Birds-nest Fungi. Basidiomycetes. 

 ( Gastromycetes). 



III. Small waxy or fleshy fungi found generally on 

 dead sticks or decaying wood. The shape is almost 

 always that of a cup, saucer, or plate : most are red, 



^The conidial nature of the Basidiomycetes, here given, is not the usual 

 view, but has the support of Dr. Massee. 



