66 



MYCOLOGY 



been shed, thus permitting the opening out of the cap and the freer 

 discharge of the remaining spores. The discharged spores are conveyed 

 by the wind (Fig. 20). The mushroom type is the usual kind where 

 the spores are discharged without deliquescence. 



The spores of Bulgaria, Gyromilra, Peziza and others of the 

 AscoMYCETALES are scattered by the wind, but those of Ascpbolus 

 immersus and Saccobolus are dispersed by herbivores. The spores of 

 Peziza repanda, according to Buller, are shot up into the air to a 

 height of 2 to 3 cm. and leave the spore sac (ascus) together, but 



Fig. 20. — Semidiagrammatic sketch in a field with horse mushroom, Agaricus 



{Psalliola ) arvensis, showing Hberation and discharge of spores horizontally 



and from velum. Reduced to y<i. {After Buller, Researches on Fungi, 1909: 218.) 



separate as they leave the ascus mouth. Puffing is due probably to a 

 stimulus given'j to the* protoplasm in contact with the ascus Hd, and 

 it is observed when poisonous substances are applied such as iodine 

 mercuric chloride, silver nitrate, copper sulphate, sulphuric and acetic 

 acids are used. With^some of these forms the ascus may be considered 

 as a squirting apparatus by which a jet of spores leaves its mouth. 

 The writer^ noted the puffing of the spores in Peziza hadia when the 

 large saucer-shaped fruit bodies were held in the hand. At intervals 

 of several minutes the puffing took place. 



Ascobolus immersus as a coprophilous (dung-inhabiting) fungus has 

 1 Harshberger, J. W.: Journ. of Mycol., 8: 158, October, 1902. 



