TOADSTOOLS AND MUSHROOMS (HYMKNOMYCETES) 387 



basidia and may reach the ground directly beneath or be carried 

 away by the wind. When favorably situated, the spores grow 

 new mycelia, thus com- 

 pleting the round of life. 

 The basidiospore is the 

 only spore formed and no 

 sexuality has been dis- 

 covered. 



Small brick-like masses 

 of organic matter, usually 

 consisting of manure and 

 containing mycelial 

 threads of the Mushroom 

 in a dormant state, are 

 sold on the market, and 

 used in starting Mush- 

 room beds, the mycelial 

 threads contained consti- 



tuting the so-called Mush- ^^ ^^^ _ ^j^^ j,^^j^ g^j^^^^^ ^ 



room spawn. polyporus Fungus. X i. 



In another rather com- 

 mon family ( Polyporaceae) of the Hymenomycetes, the hymenium 



Fig. 341. — A Ilydnum, a 

 Fungus in wliich the hymenium 

 is borne on tooth-like projec- 

 tions. X h 



Fig. 342. — a Basidio- 

 mycete, Clavaria, with n 

 much branched sporo- 

 phore. X 5. 



lines tubes with pore-like openings. These are known as the Pore 

 Fungi, and to this family belong some Toadstools, some of which 

 are edible (^Fig. S40), and the Bracket Fungi^ which form shelf- 



