LAHOUATORV STUDIES 2:U 



Fungi (Tremellales) and the ytill more reduced Exoha- 

 sidiales are probably to be placed here. 



Laboratory Studies, (a) Collect specimens of puff-balls in 

 various stages of growth. IMake very thin sections of the young 

 spore fruit, and look for the cavities lined with spore-bearing 

 cells (basidia). 



(b) JMount in alcohol some of the dust which escapes from a 

 dry iniff-ball. Examine with a high power, and note the spores 

 and fragments of brokcn-up filaments. 



(c) Dig up tiie earth under a cluster of young i)ufT-balls, and 

 observe the vegetative filaments. Examine some of these 

 filaments under the microscope. 



(d) In the summer look for Earth Stars (Geaster) in which 

 the outer peridium is rolled back (open) when wet, and closed 

 when dry. 



(e) Stalked Puff-balls (Tylostoma) may often he found witli 

 a stallv 3 to 10 or more centimeters long holding the spore 

 cavit}' aloft. 



(/) Look for Bird-nest fungi in fruit on sticks and twigs on 

 damp ground. Note that when j^oung the fruits are closed 

 and solid, and that as they become older much of the internal 

 tissue deliquesces, leaving the little egg-like spore packets. 



(g) Collect specimens of Stink-horns in various stages of 

 development and preserve in formalin. Make vertical sections 

 of the immature (globose) spore fruit and note the circular 

 spore layer. Study the basidia and basidiospores under a 

 high power. 



(h) Collect a few toadstools in various stages of development, 

 securing at the same time some of the subterranean vegetative 

 filaments. Note the appearance of the young spore fruits, 

 and how they develop into the mature toadstool. 



(0 Select a mature (but not old) spore fruit with dark- 

 colored spores, cut away the stem, and place the top (pileus) 

 on a sheet of white paper, with the gills down. In a few hours 

 many spores will be found to have dropi)ed from the gills uj)on 

 tlic paper; these are the so-called "spore-prints". 



(j) Examine the minute structure of various parts of tiie 

 spore fruit and the vegetative fdaments, and ol)servo that tiiey 

 are composcnl of rows of cylindrical colorless oolis joiiunl end to 

 end. 



