FUNGI 



37 



prooew, which itets in after prolonged multiplication 

 by acroeporea, can be observed, with its resultant 



b <J c d ^ e^ 



Fi>r. 3. Eurotium ABpergillus-glaucus : 

 rniination of spore in three phases ; ', head of reproduc- 

 iivpliii- liearin.L,' spores; ft, c, appearance of conjugating 

 fllameiiu ; d, c, growth of enveloping coat, complete in/; ij, 

 .ranee of asci (two buds); h, a ripe ascus; t, spores 

 lying loose and ready to be set free. 



development of the perithecium and its asci (see 

 fig. 3). 



T'</>'-i-it<-i-t. In this group, as in the preceding, 

 the hvmenium is permanently without external 

 opening, but the chambers become narrow, coiled, 

 and branched, and the whole complex sporocarp 

 thus attains an extreme complexity. Most are 

 subterranean, and are best represented by the 

 important genus Tuber (see TRUFFLE). With this 

 (or sometimes in the last group near Elapho- 

 myces) is to be reckoned the very common mould 

 of jam, bread, t\:c. ( I'ciiifiltimn yltuiriiiit ) ; it rarely, 

 however, attains full development beyond the acro- 

 >pore hearing form. 



(G) Lii-lienes. As the majority of lichen-forming 

 fungi belong to the Ascomycetes, the lichens are 

 very commonly now described under this head by 

 i writers. Yet not only the time-honoured 

 distinctness of this group, but its remarkable 

 variety and interest make separate treatment still 

 expedient, hence see LICHENS. 



Besides the large number of forms in which the 

 existence of an acrosporous phase as yet rests upon 

 analogy alone, De Bary reckons as ' doubtful 

 Ascomycetes' such forms as Laboulbenia, E.xoas 

 en-, and also the important species which excite 

 alcoholic fermentations, Saccharornyces (fig. 2a). 

 YEAST, FERMENTATION. 



r'rom forms in which the characteristic mode of 

 reproduction of the Ascomycetes is only doubt- 

 fully represented we readily 'pass to those in which 

 i! does not appear at all, but in which multiplication 

 occurs only by acrospores or basidiospores, which 

 may be of various forms. One group, however, 

 we have to consider in which the sporocarp, here 

 termed an <n-iili um, so closely resembles that of an 

 A-comycete as to induce De Bary and most writers 

 kon it with these rather than with the follow- 

 ini: -eric-. 



(7) Tlie Uredttiece or dScid-iomycetes. These are 

 the Rust fungi, a remarkable series of parasitic 

 moulds, formerly associated with the Ustilagineus 

 which they somewhat resemble in habit, but from 

 which they differ in structure and life-history. The 

 alternation of generations is remarkably complete 

 and well differentiated, the different forms having 

 conMaiitly been reckoned in distinct genera, which 

 >s yet by no means fully criticised. The most 

 familiar case is that of the Rust of wheat (I'm-fiiiin 

 irniiiiKis), in which the generation found on the 

 Mrberrj was described as JEcidium berberidis. 

 Other important forms are known as Uredo sp. A.-C-. ; 

 to this grouo is also reckoned the coffee disease 

 of Ceylon, Hemileia vastatrir. The life-history 

 of the group will be understood by reference to 

 RUST. 



BASIDIOMYCETES. We now come to the lla*idio- 



m\cetc- pi.,|.. i, which derive their name from the 

 Ixtxuliti which segment off or ' abjoint ' the spore* 

 (lig. 4, {/). Thi-.-e are usually non- parasitic and 

 have generally large and well -developed sporocarp* ; 



they an- divided into two main group-. 



A. HYMENOMYCETKS. Hymeniuin exposed upon 

 the surface of the fqxirocarp. 



(a) 'I ri-ini-llini. Gelatinous with haxidia each 

 l>earing only one spore, often arising laterally 

 Auricnlaria (Jew's Ear), Tremella (q.\.j. 



( b ) H i/menomycetes proper, not gelatinous, two to 

 six spores arising on each hasidium (lig. 4, a d). 



KB. 4. 



a, vertical section of an agaric ( Hymr.nomycetes} ; b, section of 

 three 'gills;' c, section of tip of gill, showing course of 

 hyphse-bearing basidia, of which five bear spores; d, portion 

 more highly magnified: e, young Phallus ' (lagteromycetes) ; / 

 the same at moment of rupture of peridium ; g, more tully 

 opened (the same figure on a smaller scale). 



In the simplest forms the sporocarp is erect or 

 branched, and bears a hymenium over its whole 

 surface. Of this small group of ( 1 ) Clavarinei many 

 species of Clavaria are common. 



(2) In the allied Thelephorei the hymenium forms 

 also a simple smooth surface, but is restricted either 

 to the upper or under surface ; in the latter case the 

 fungus may be sessile or stalked, and have a distinct 

 ' hat ' 01 pileus ( Thelephora, Stereum, &c. ). 



(3) In the Hydnei the hymenium becomes differ- 

 entiated in various irregular and discontinuous 

 forms, which may t>e warty, bristly, or comb-like. 



(4) In thePolyporei the*hynienium is continuous, 

 hut with many more or less tubular depressions. 

 Here belong several important genera, notably 

 Boletus (q. v.), Polyporus (see AMADOU), Fistulina 

 (q.v.), as well as the pestilent Merttliua lachry- 

 mam (Dry Rot, q.v.). 



(5) In the immense group of Agaricini (1200 

 European species) the series culminates, the hy- 

 menium being arranged in regular radiating lamella- 

 or gills. Most important of course is the genus 

 Agaricus and Mushroom (q.v.), which is broken 

 up into many subgenera (Amanita, Armillaria, 

 tVe.l Cortinarius, Hygrophorus, Russula, Lac- 

 tarius, Coprinus, Cantharellus (chantrelle), Maras- 

 mins are also important. Many of these are edible, 

 others again poisonous. 



li. GASTEROMYCETES. Here the spores arise 

 quite as in Basidiomycetes ; but the hymenia are 

 completely enclosed within the fungus-body. Of this 

 the outer layer (peridium) becomes differentiated 

 from the deeper substance (qleba). Both layers 

 may undergo very remarkable histological and 

 anatomical modifications, and these changes of 

 ripening often result in the sudden acquirement of 

 the most extraordinary forms. Hence, although the 

 species are by no means so numerous (about 550), 

 there are 70 genera. These are mostly large fungi, 



