Ch. XJ 



THE CUP FUNGI 



451 



A well-known member of this 

 group, sometimes placed in a 

 separate order, is the Morel 

 (Fig. 314), one of the edible 

 Fungi. Its mycelium ramifies 

 in rich ground, and its huge, 

 conical fructification, suggesting 

 the mushrooms (which belong to 

 the Basidiomycetes), bears a 

 compound mass of irregular con- 

 tiguous apothecia, the bottoms 

 of which are lined with hy- 

 menium containing asci and 

 ascospores as in other Disco- 



mycetes. FlG - 313 - — A young ascocarp, 



. , » semi-diagrammatic, in vertical 



Another group Of aSCOmyce- section, of Pyronema confluans; 

 tOUS edible muc h magnified. The largest cells 

 „ . are oogonia, with stout trichogynes, 



r Ungl, alSO at the ends of which are the rounded 

 Commonly antheridia developed from other 

 . hyphae. Fertilization has been 



treated as accomplished, and from the 06- 

 a Separate s P° res are growing new hyphaj 

 , . which are developing the asci, 



Order, in- w liile the paraphyses are here 

 eludes the formed by the subjacent mycelium. 

 „, , (After Harper.) 



1 uberaceoe, 



or Truffles, highly valued in Europe. 

 The loose underground mycelium occurs 

 commonly in association with certain 

 trees, of which it is believed to consti- 

 tute the mycorhiza (page 244) . Further- 

 more, and this is a distinctive feature 

 of the Truffles, the ascocarp, a tuber- 

 like body which is closed except for 

 a small exit, also occurs wholly under- 

 ground, the ascospores being released 

 by decay of the wall. Since they are 

 underground they cannot be found by 



Fio. 314. — Mar- 

 ch/ llu i.t'.lcnta; X i. 

 (Drawn from a photo- 

 gnph by Knight and 

 Step.) 



