THE FUNGI. 165 



2. Cut through the stipes transversely. Are the stipes 

 solid or hollow? If you find any that have juices, state 

 the color of the juices. Do the stipes darken after being 

 cut? 



3. Cut through an entire Toadstool from the base of 

 the stipe to the top of the pileus. Draw. 



4. Obtain spores by allowing some of the Toadstools 

 to remain tube-bearing side down on a sheet of paper. 

 Compare the colors of the spores. Examine them under 

 high powers. 



5. Harden pieces of the tube-bearing portions in chro- 

 mic acid and make microscopic sections transversely 

 through the tubes. Under high power examine the 

 inner edges of the tubes for the hy menial layer, basidia, 

 paraphyses, and spores. 



III. The Tooth-bearing Toadstools (Hydnece). These 

 have the umbrella shape of the two preceding groups, but 

 in place of the gills, or tubes, toothlike points extending 

 downward beneath the pileus. They are not very abun- 

 dant. They are said to be nonpoisonous, but are not 

 much sought after for food, with the exception of one or 

 two species, on account of their disagreeable bitter taste. 



IV. The Coral-shaped Toadstools (Clavariece). These 

 are readily recognized from their shape. They are not 

 abundant. They are not poisonous, and are esteemed as 

 food. 



V. The Puff Balls. These constitute only one of the 

 groups of the Gasteromycetes. They are closely related 

 to the Toadstools, though they present marked points of 

 difference. They are produced by a subterranean myce- 

 lium which decays from the base of the fructification as it 

 matures, and leaves the latter as a loose ball on the sur- 

 face of the ground. This ball is wholly inclosed. The 

 interior is at first white, but as it matures becomes one 

 mass of black spores. The Puff Balls are not poisonous, 



