546 



HUTCHINSON'S POPULAR BOTANY 



FIG. 691. CT.USTER-CUPS. 



small portion of a cluster seen in section, showing 

 the spores within. 



latter is so jelly-like in consistence 



that it is impossible to handle it in 



a fresh condition. It is frequent on 



dead branches, and is a beautiful 



rich golden yellow in tint. It has 



no stem and no definite shape, but 



is variously folded and twisted, 



often like a miniature turban of 



yellow silk. The Jew's-ear is a 



remarkable form that grows upon the stems and branches of dead and dying 



elders and, occasionally, on elm-stumps. Some specimens are remarkably 



like the human ear with its folds and lobes. It is of a gristly consistence 



with minutely velvety exterior, of a greyish-brown tint ; the interior 



polished and of a paler hue, and it is on this surface that the spores are 



produced. 



The Order GasteromycetesB includes the Puff-balls and Earth-stars. The 

 characteristic of this order is the complete seclusion of the hymenium or 

 spore- bearing surface in an enclosed sac until the spores are ripe and ready 

 for dispersion. The Puff-balls (Lycoperdori) are familiar objects in summer 

 and autumn. The "ball" is technically a peridium whose walls are com- 

 posed of two layers, of which the outer breaks up into spines or warts which are 

 clearly shown in fig. 679. In some species these fall away as the fungus 

 becomes mature. The spores are produced in the interior and are liberated 

 by the peridium opening at the summit. The Earth-stars (Geaster, figs. 681, 



682) have the 

 peridium com- 

 posed of three 

 layers which are 

 at first entire, 

 and constituting 

 a depress e|d 

 sphere : but as 

 the spores ripen 

 the two outer 

 layers split into a 

 variable number 

 of segments and 

 turn down. In 

 the common 

 species repre- 

 sented (Geaster 

 hy grometricus) 

 ^e segments of 

 the 



photo 6y] 



FIG. 692. BIRD'S-NEST FUNGUS (Cyathus vernicosua). 



\E. step, 



Quaint little cups (peridia) containing spore-cases (peridiola) attached to the cups by long 

 elastic threads. Representative of the Gasteromycetes. 



