328 



GENERAL MORPHOLOGY OF PLANTS 



and beautiful colors. The flesh 

 of some quickly changes to 

 blue, green, or red, when 

 bruised or cut. 



479. The coral fungi, or 

 fairy clubs (Clavariaceae). 

 The fairy clubs are the small, 

 club-shaped, fleshy, basidium 

 fungi, growing on the ground 

 in forests and .groves. The 

 largest one, " Hercules' club" 

 is 10-20 cm. (4-8 inches) long 

 and 1-3 cm. in diameter. The 

 smallest can just be seen with 

 the eye. The fruiting surface 

 covers the entire surface except 

 the lower part of the stem. 

 They grow singly or in clusters, and many of the species are 



Fig. 288. 



Charred Polyporus (Polyporus igniarius) 

 growing from knot hole on beech. X i 

 diameter. 



Fig. 289. 



Section of the flattened Polyporus (Polyporus applanatus), showing two layers of tubes, 

 one layer developed each year. 



very much branched, suggesting a coral-like growth. None of 

 these are known to be poisonous. 



