CLASSIFICATION OF FUNGI 



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fungus animals. However this may be, they are true plants and have many of 

 the characteristics of the fungi. They may differ from the fungi in their vegetative 

 functions, yet they have so many things in common that I am inclined to place 

 them under this group. 



Many, such as the yeast fungus, the various fermentative fungi, and the 

 Bacteria concerned in the process of decomposition, are indeed very useful. The 

 enrichment and preparation of soils for the uses of higher plants, effected by 

 Bacteria, are very important services. 



Figure 6. The lefthand figure represents a vertical section through a young plant of 

 the gemmed puff-ball showing the cellular structure of the stem-like lower half, 

 called the subgleba. The righthand figure shows a vertical section of the egg stage 

 of an Amanita, a very poisonous fungus which grows in woods and which might 

 be mistaken for a young puff-ball if not cut open. The fungus forms just below 

 the surface of the soil, finally bursting the volva, sending up a parasol mushroom. 

 Natural size. Longyear. 



Parasites derive their nourishment from living plants and animals. They 

 are so constituted that when their nourishing threads come within range of the 

 living plant they answer a certain impulse by sending out special threads, envelop- 

 ing the host and absorbing nutrition. Saprophitic plants do not experience this 

 reaction from the living plants. They are compelled to get their nourishment 

 from decaying products of plants or animals, consequently they live in rich ground 



