SPECIAL MORPHOLOGY I FUNGI. 



153 



ment relating to the Toadstools, and more especially that of the 

 Agaricinea. In these latter there are formed, at definite parts of 

 the floculent mycelium, small hollow heads (yolvce) ; at the bottom of 

 the cavity there grows a corpuscle, shortly pedunculated below, and 

 enlarged into spherical form at the top. In the lower part of this 

 protuberance, a horizontal circular cavity is formed, to the upper 

 surface of which are attached the tubes, lamella, &c., which bear 

 the hymenium. The bottom of the cavity is only formed by a 

 membrane (indusium), which is either separated from the pedicle 

 on its further development, or, loosening itself from it and the 

 upper part at the same time, remains as a membranous ring (annu- 

 lus) upon the stalk. The upper part, which supports the hyme- 

 nium on its lower surface, dilates subsequently, and appears as an 

 umbrella-like expansion, called the hat (pileus). The whole then 

 breaks through the volva, which is very soon dissolved. 



Almost all the works that have hitherto appeared on the lower Fungi 

 are wholly useless, and may, without farther consideration, be cast aside, 

 since the work must again be commenced from the beginning. Investi- 

 gations are of no value where they do not trace the composition of the 

 forms from the individual cells. Even by the aid of delineations (as, for 

 instance, in Nees von Esen- 

 beck's System of the Fungi 

 and of Flocculent Plants. 

 Schwamme}, we do not learn 

 whether we have to do with 

 individual cells, or structures 

 composed of such cells ; and 

 yet on this depends every- 

 thing. I must confess that 

 I find it quite impossible to 

 determine one of the lower 

 Fungi from the ordinary 

 descriptions, as they do not 

 express what nature exhi- 

 bits. Even delineations are 

 not often of much avail. This 

 arises from the fact that in 

 many cases the specific dif- 

 ference does not certainly 

 rest in the plant, but in the 

 observers, their instruments, 

 and the magnifying power 

 used. My own limited ob- 

 servations yield the following 

 results : on the Allium fistu- 

 losum there is, on the yel- 

 low leaves, a small epiphyte 

 (Botrytis?) (fig. 122.), con- 

 sisting of one single multi- 

 fariously ramifying cell. It 

 germinates in the intercel- 



128 JBotrytis (parasitica ?). A, Grown out from the stomate of a leaf of Allium jistu. 



