THE FUNGI 



167 



hymenium. This is one of the best known of the edible Fungi 

 (Fig. 131, B). 



Order IV. Pezizineae 



The Pezizineae are a large order containing more than three thou- 

 sand species, among which are a number of conspicuous forms. 

 Among the most familiar are the Cup-fungi (Peziza, Ascobolus, etc.). 

 The mycelium is well developed, composed of extensively ramifying 

 hyphae which are usually 

 buried in the nutrient 

 substratum. Most of the 

 genera are saprophytes, 

 growing both upon ani- 

 mal and vegetable mat- 

 ter. A smaller number 

 are parasites, either 

 strictly so, as in the 

 genus Pyrenopeziza, one 

 species of which, P. 

 emergens, has been found FIG. 132. -A Cup-fungus. Pezizasp. (Natural size.) 



.upon the Blue-gum (Eucalyptus globulus) in California ; or they may 

 be parasitic in their earlier stages and complete their development 

 in the dead tissues of the host. This is seen in various species of 

 Sclerotinia. 



Reproduction. A few of the Pezizinese produce conidia, but in 

 most of them there are only the ascospores, which are commonly 







FIG. 133. A, B, Pyronema confluens. (After HARPER.) A, group of sexual or- 

 gans, highly magnified. B, antheridium, 5, fusing with the trichogyne, t. C, As- 

 cobolus sp. Young spore-fruit, in optical section, showing the ascogenous cell, ? , 

 from which the ascogenous filaments arise (X about 225). (Somewhat schematic.) 



