186 



BOTANY 



Order III. Phallineae 



The development of the fruit has been carefully studied in several forms, 

 among them Ithyphallus impudicus, the common " Stink-horn," so called on 

 account of its disgusting odor (Fig. 151). 



Upon the subterranean mycelium the fruit-bodies are borne much as in the 

 Mushroom, and in their early stages are solid, roundish bodies, white in color. 

 These enlarge until they are nearly as large as a hen's egg, and on sectioning 

 such a young fruit it is found to consist of an outer white shell, the Peridium, 

 and a central-body of very complicated structure (Fig. 151, C). The latter 



FIG. 152. A, Lycoperdon cselatum (X ). B, Geaster sp. (Xl). C, basidia of 

 G. rufescens. D-F, Cyathus striatus (X 2). (C, after TULASNB.) 



consists of a central elongated hollow core, which extends the whole length of 

 the central-body. The outer portion of the latter forms a dome-shaped struc- 

 ture, whose interior is divided into chambers lined with the hymenium. This 

 spore-bearing structure is the " Gleba." At maturity the cylindrical core elon- 

 gates very rapidly, and, bursting through the peridium, carries up the cap- 

 shaped gleba upon a stout hollow stalk. The tissues of the fruiting-parts are 

 very mucilaginous, and the spores -are surrounded by a slimy fluid, which gives 

 off a most offensive odor. This odor attracts carrion-insects, which are possi- 

 bly of use in transporting the spores. In the curious genus Clathrus the com- 

 plete central-body has the form of a hollow lattice-work, which is bright red 

 in color. 



