106 RESEARCHES ON FUNGI 



Experience has shown that spores which have just been liberated 

 always have a fresh and turgid appearance when observed in water. 

 They give one the impression that they are capable of germination. 

 That spores, newly shed from a fruit-body which previously has been 

 kept desiccated for a long period, may germinate readily under 

 suitable conditions, has been proved for the only two species so far 

 tested, namely, Dtedalea unicolor and Schizophyllum commune. A 

 fruit-body of the former species was kept dry for three years, and one 

 of the latter for one year. They both recovered when wet cotton 

 wool was placed on their upper surfaces. Spores 

 liberated within ten hours after the fruit-bodies 

 had been moistened germinated readily within 

 a further twenty-four hours in hanging drops 

 of a nutrient medium containing meat extract, 

 grape-sugar, peptone, and gelatine (Fig. 38). 

 These observations seem to afford strong evidence 

 in favour of the view that, whenever spore-emis- 

 sion is taking place from a fruit-body, the 

 emitted spores are living. 

 F were 8 ^ ?ro r m' JvS Xt not ^frequently happens that a desiccated 

 fruit-bodies, in course fruit-body, separated from its substratum and 



of germination after ,, . .,,.. 



twenty-four hours in a allowed access to water, in addition to liberating 

 SSltZ: 1' spores also recommences growth. Such growth 

 Schizophyllum commune. i n species of Polyporefe may lead to a slight 



Magnification, 700. J 



elongation of the hymenial tubes or even to the 

 production of very shallow new ones at the edges of the fruit-bodies. 

 Renewed growth of this kind can easily be detected macroscopically, 

 and it has been observed in Polyporus rigens, Polystictus hirsutus, 

 and Glwoporus conchoides. The fruit-bodies in question had been 

 kept dry for a year before being moistened. 



Most succulent fruit-bodies, such as those of species belonging to 

 the genera Psalliota, Amanita, Coprinus, Boletus, &c., are unable to 

 survive even partial desiccation. The Marasmii are exceptions to 

 this rule. Fruit-bodies of Marasmius oreades were gathered from a 

 " fairy ring " in a field and, when tested in the laboratory, were found 

 to be freely liberating spores. They were then well dried by means 

 of hot air. During the drying process the fleshy pileus became quite 



