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BOTANY. 



EXERCISE LXXV. 

 Fungi. 



The common mushroom, or toadstool, as children call 

 it, is a well-known example of this group of flowerless 

 plants. It is found everywhere growing upon decaying 

 organic matter. If, in gathering specimens for study, you 

 break them off above the surface of the ground, you will 

 leave the plant itself behind, and bring only the fruit. 

 The part concealed in the rich mold, or spread on its sur- 

 face, is a tangled mass of filaments that you might mis- 

 take for fibrous roots ; but it answers to the root, stem, 

 and leaves of higher plants. This portion of the plant is 

 called the mycelium, represented by the root-like fibrous 

 portion of Fig. 477. 



When you are looking for the mycelium of mushrooms, 

 observe the young fruit just appearing above the surface. 

 You may often find it in clusters, in all stages of growth, 

 in rich mold, or on decayed logs or stumps. 



Fig. 477 represents a full-grown mushroom and several 

 younger ones at different periods of development. The 

 younger ones are smooth, globular masses, but, as they 



FIG. 477. 



FIG. 478. 



get larger, the outer wrappage breaks, as you see at the 

 right in the figure, and reveals a stem with an umbrella- 

 like cap. The ring around the stalk, seen in the full- 



