CRYPTOGAMOTJS OR FLOWERLESS PLANTS. 



501 



bearing at its summit a rounded body that soon expands into the 

 pileus, or cap. The lamella, or gills (hymenium), that occupy its 



1184 



1183 



1179 



1180 



lower surface, consist of parallel plates (Fig. 1182), which bear 

 naked sporules over their whole surface. A careful inspection 

 with the microscope shows that these sporules are grouped in 

 fours ; and the view of a section of one of the gills shows their 

 true origin (Fig. 1183). Certain of the cells (basidia), one of 

 which is shown more magnified at Fig. 1184, produce four small 

 cells at their free summit, apparently by gemmation and constric- 

 tion : these are the sporules. It is maintained that the larger in- 

 termingled cells, (of which one is shown at Fig. 1183, a,) filled 

 with an attenuated form of matter, are the analogues of stamens. 

 The lowest Fungi produce from their mycelium only simple or 

 branching series of cells (Fig. 74-76). The mycelium itself 

 either ramifies through decaying organized matter, as the Moulds, 



FIG. 1179. Sphaeria rosella. 1180. Asci from its interior, containing sporules, highly mag- 

 nified. 1181. Agaricus campestris, the Edible Mushroom, in its various stages. 1182. Section 

 through the pileus, to display the gills. 1183, A small piece of a slice through the thickness 

 of one of the gills, magnified; showing the spores borne on the summit of salient cells of both 

 surfaces. 1184. One of the sporule-bearing eel's, with some subjacent tissue, more magnified. 



