OF BRITISH FUNGI. 13 







thread-like processes consist of a number of separate 

 individuals which unitedly produce the stem already 

 alluded to. 



The mycelium of fungi is not always composed of 

 filaments, but this kind will, for the present, serve the 

 purpose of illustration. At certain points in this en- 

 tangled mass of threads, a little rounded protuberance 

 at first appears, which, as it enlarges, ruptures, and the 

 young mushroom may be seen within it, with its cap or 

 pilous supported upon its stem. The membrane which 

 has up to this point inclosed the young mushroom is 

 termed the voha, or wrapper, portions or traces 

 of which often remain permanently at the base of 

 the stem. 



The young pileus or cap, for some time after it has 

 emerged from the wrapper, retains its spherical or hemi- 

 spherical form. As it expands, the under surface, which 

 is seen to consist of a membrane, or in some cases only 

 of a mass of entangled threads, ruptures, leaving a 

 portion attached to the stem, or stipe, in the form of an 

 irregular collar, ring, or annulus. This collar is in 

 some species of Agaric permanent, in others it is move- 

 able, whilst in a few it is entirely absent. The breaking 

 away of the membrane from the under surface of the 

 pileus, as already described, exposes a series of plates or 

 ^ill-like processes, called also lamella?, which radiate 

 from the stem. These gills are covered with the fruc- 

 titying surface, termed the hymenium, which bears the 

 spores, or reproductive bodies. 



The accompanying woodcut will make clearer the 



