146 ARMILLARIA MELLEA, 



obscure. The margin is radially striated. The under -side 

 of the pileus is beset with whitish gills which run radially 

 from the stipe to the margin. Those which reach the stipe 

 are decurrent, i. e. are continued for a short distance, often 

 a very short distance, down the stipe ; but others start farther 

 out and fill up the broadening spaces between the rays. 

 These gills bear on their surface millions of minute white 

 spores, the formation of which is the sole function of the 

 toadstool, for each spore is capable under suitable circum- 

 stances of reproducing the whole fungus. They begin to be 

 formed while the toadstool is still a button, they ripen as 

 the pileus expands, and, when mature, fall from between 

 the gills and are carried away by the air currents which 

 pass along the ground surface. It is on account of these 

 spores that the toadstool is called a fructification or 

 sporophore. 



The fungus is very variable, but is not difficult to dis- 

 tinguish. The scaly pileus, the decurrent gills, and the 

 persistent annulus, together with the general colour and 

 shape, render it one of the easiest of the toadstools to 

 identify. 



It is found from the end of September up to the first 

 frosts of winter, and generally in woods where the growth 

 is not too dense. In dark coniferous woods the fungus will 

 readily grow and spread underground, but it seldom makes 

 fructifications. On this account it generally remains un- 

 noticed in such places until its presence is evinced by the 

 trees it has victimized. 



The details of the toadstools are shown in figs. 58-61. 



The fructifications are usually found on stumps or grow- 

 ing on the ground near by. If a bit of the earth is dug up 

 beneath a fructification, it will be found to contain one or 

 more black strands, which resemble leather boot-laces ; 

 and if the earth is pulled away with care the fructifications 

 will be seen to be attached to one of the branches of these 

 strands, as shown in figs. 60 and 61. These strands are called 

 rhizomorphs, owing to their superficial resemblance to the 

 roots of higher plants, and they are composed entirely of 



