104 A PLAIN AND EASY ACCOUNT 



SPORIDIIFEROUS FUNGI. 



THE sixth and last group consists of the Ascomycetes, 

 in which the spores are developed in cells or bags, called 

 asci, often accompanied by abortive asci in the form of 

 threads, and termed paraphyses. These are produced 

 upon a cellular stratum, sometimes forming a cavity, or 

 envelope, which constitutes the peridium, and some- 

 times the peridium is absent. A portion of the members 

 of this group are subterranean in their habits ; and 

 though the majority of them are too small to serve as 

 articles of food, there are some which have great 



O 



repute amongst the lovers of delicious repasts. 



In the order Elvellacei the hymenium becomes more 

 or less exposed. The substance is in most instances 

 fleshy, in others waxy, and the form is commonly either 

 cup-shaped or club-shaped. The genus Peziza con- 

 tains some of the most elegant of British fungi, as in 

 the example (Peziza aurantia) given on our title-page, 

 and which was gathered amongst the grass on Hamp- 

 stead Heath, early in November. It is by no means an 

 uncommon species, very beautiful, but of no economic 

 value. Another species (P. coccinea) is still more 

 beautiful both in form and colouring, but less common. 

 Almost every fallen twig of the larch will afford examples 

 of the little white and red Peziza (P. elegans). Two 

 other species, of more modest hue, have the recommen- 

 dation of being esculent. 



