SPECIAL MORPHOLOGY : FUNGI. 



155 



again from this condition to that of a riper spore, connected by a short 

 pedicle with the cellular wall. (Compare Plate II., fig. 8.) In both of the 

 above-described species of mould, the lowest cell was short, almost 

 barrel-shaped, and immediately attached to the still distinctly recog- 

 nisable cells of the epidermis of the plant, which, although they were 

 withered, were otherwise wholly uninjured, while not a trace of adhering 

 discs or fibres was to be perceived. I likewise observed upon the hyme- 

 nium of Agaricus campestris (figs. 124, 125.) and A. Oreades, and Amanita 



125 



124 



muscaria, the perfect formation of these processes from the large cells of 

 the hymenium, and the origin of the spores as little globules within the 

 points of these projections. On comparing this representation with 

 what follows, it will become very evident that the external membrane 

 of the Fungus-spores cannot be compared with that of the Moss-spores, or 

 the pollen granules ; but that it represents a spore-case. This membrane 

 does not prevent the spore from expanding irregularly, in the act of 

 germination, into many thread- like prolongations, and that at any point 

 indiscriminately. The above-mentioned development of the pileus of 

 the pileate Fungi has been thoroughly observed, and frequently deline- 

 ated.* Of the development of all other Fungi, with the exception of the 



* By Bischoff, among others, Handb. der Botanik, pi. vii. fig. 163. of Agaricus vol- 

 vaceus. 



m Agaricus campestris, shown in a longitudinal section, a, Substance of the pileus. 

 fe, The lamellae, covered by the hymenium. c, The stipe of the pileus. d, The 

 actual plant (mycelium). The dotted line indicates the direction of the section 

 125. a. 



185 a, A section through the lamellae of the pileus of the Agaricus campestris (fig. 

 124.). The lamellae are covered by the hymenium, on which appear the spores, b is 

 a portion of the hymenium, with the spore -cases in three different stages of formation ; 

 the middle one shows already the four processes, c, A spore somewhat more deve- 

 loped. In the process to the right is a spore in the first stage ; to the left, one some- 

 what more developed. d shows a spore-case with four processes and many half- 

 developed spores. e, The upper part of a spore-case, with a process, and a fully 

 developed spore. 



