pileus are a number of radiating lamellae, or gills, the sides of 

 which are covered with the hymenial layer, on which the spores 

 are produced. The sporophores are usually found in clumps 

 near the base of the attacked tree the pileus is yellowish, or 

 brownish, in colour, with dark scales, and the stipe bears a mem- 

 branous, collarlike ring. The sporophores are edible. The 

 mycelium forms firm white sheets between the bark and the 

 wood on the roots, or at the base of the trunk. The fungus 

 spreads by means of its spores, which are disseminated in 

 myriads as a fine white powder and which are capable of 

 producing a new mycelium, and also by means of the 

 rhizomorphs, which spread through the soil, bore into sound 

 roots and produce a vigorously growing mycelium in them. 



Fomes annosus causes the well-known Deodar root-disease. 



Trametes Pini has been found destroying Pinus excelsa. 



The life histories of these two species is given in detail in 

 Part V below. 



Much of the so-called " dry rot " of timber which has been 

 used in construction is, in Europe, caused by a fungus named 

 Merulius lacrymans, which is believed to occur also in India. 



Fomes Pappianus is destructive to babul (Acacia arabica). 



120. Ustilaginaceae.Kyphdd are 



septate. No sexual reproduction. The mycelium produces 

 dark-brown, or black, resting spores. Each of these on 

 germination produces a short tube from which numerous 

 small conidia called sporidia are abstricted. If supplied 

 with sufficient nourishment, as would be the case in a 

 field which has been manured, these conidia are capable of very 

 rapid multiplication, by budding, or sprouting, after the manner 

 of yeast cells. As the nourishment becomes exhausted, each 

 conidium develops a hypha, and proceeds to form the mycelium 

 which produces the resting-spores. These fungi are particularly 

 destructive to cereal crops, such as wheat, oats, maize, and 

 others, and are also found on many wild grasses, the mycelium 

 living in the tissues of these plants and ultimately developing 

 masses of dark-coloured resting spores. These characteristic 

 spores, resembling as they do a sooty powder, have caused the 

 fungi in this group to be characterised by the popular name of 

 smuts. Several fungi in this group, e.g. one of the commonest 

 species occurring on oats, are characterised by the fact that the 

 mycelium is only able to enter, and infect, the plants attacked 

 when the tissues of the latter are very young and tender, i.e. 

 shortly after the germination of the seed. Having once gained 

 an entrance, the mycelium of the fungus spreads through the 



