FUNGI. 



[ 282 ] 



FURCULARIA. 



derived from the fructification are as unsafe 

 here as in the Algae in the present state of 

 our knowledge. Thus the division of the 

 Fungi into Basidiosporous and Thecaspo- 

 rous, according as the spores grow upon free 

 points (basidia) or in the interior of sacs 

 (thecee or sc),must be given up, since Messrs. 

 Tulasne, Berkeley and Broome have shown 

 that both kinds of structure occur in the 

 same species of Fungi at different epochs of 

 their growth. Tulasne has also pointed out 

 a peculiar structure analogous to the so- 

 called spermatozoids of the Lichens, namely 

 very minute cylindrical bodies growing upon 

 free points from the fructifying surfaces of 

 the Fungi ; these bodies, quite distinct from 

 the basidiospores and thecaspores, are called 

 spermatia (PL 20. figs. 3, 4, 17, s). The 

 physiological relations of these various 

 structures are as yet quite obscure, and they 

 are dwelt upon but slightly here, from the 

 absence of definite generalizations on the 

 subject ; they present a field for most desi- 

 rable observations. 



The minutiae of the structure of the Fungi 

 will be treated most satisfactorily under 

 the heads of the orders (ASCOMYCETES, 

 CONIOMYCETES), since the elements are 

 very similar in all, while the modes of com- 

 bination are very varied, and in most cases 

 peculiar to the families. 



The Fungi are divided by Mr. Berkeley 

 into six orders, and as the facts which have 

 lately come to light, throwing doubt on the 

 validity of some of the divisions, are not yet 

 sufficiently numerous to allow of satisfactory 

 general conclusions, we adopt these orders as 

 practically convenient, reserving the remarks 

 on this subject to the description of certain fa- 

 milies. (See SPH^ERONEMEI, SPH^RIACEI.) 



1. HYMENOMYCETES or AGARICOIDE^E 

 (Mushrooms, &c.). Mycelium floccose, in- 

 conspicuous, bearing conspicuous fleshy 

 fruits of various forms, which expand when 

 perfect so as to expose the hymenium or 

 sporiferous membrane to the air. Spores 

 generally borne in fours on short pedicels 

 arising from cells of the hymenium. 



2. GASTEROMYCETES or LYCOPERDOI- 

 DE.E (Puff-balls, &c.). Mycelium floccose, 

 inconspicuous, bearing usually globular or 

 oval leathery fruits, which are at first solid, 

 with internal convolutions clothed by the 

 hymenium, bearing the spores in fours on 

 distinct pedicels, the internal convoluted 

 portions finally breaking up and constituting 

 a pulverulent or gelatinous mass enclosed in 

 a leathery membrane (peridium). 



3. CONIOMYCETES or UREDOIDE.E 

 (Smuts, fyc.}. Mycelium filamentous, para- 

 sitical, bearing usually sessile masses of 

 (microscopic) fructification, consisting of 

 groups of sessile or stalked spores, some- 

 times septate. 



4. HYPHOMYCETES or BOTRYTOIDE^S 

 (Mildews, fyc.) (Microscopic). Mycelium 

 filamentous, epiphytic, producing erect fila- 

 ments bearing terminal, free, single, simple 

 or septate spores. 



5. ASCOMYCETES or HELVELLOIDE^B 

 (Truffles, Morells, &c.). Mycelium inconspi- 

 cuous, bearing fleshy, leathery, horny or 

 gelatinous, lobed or wart-like fructifications, 

 containing internally or on the surface groups 

 of elongated sacs (asci or thecce), in the in- 

 terior of which the spores (generally eight) 

 are developed. 



6. PHYSOMYCETES or MUCOROIDEJE 

 (Moulds}. Mycelium (microscopic) filamen- 

 tous, bearing stalked sacs containing nume- 

 rous exceedingly minute sporules. 



BIBL. Berkeley, Fungales, in Lindley's 

 Vegetable Kingdom; Fungi, in Hooker's 

 British Flora ; also numerous papers in the 

 Ann. Nat. Hist. ; Montague, Organographic 

 and Physiologic Sketch of the class Fungi, 

 translated by Berkeley in Ann. Nat. Hist. 

 vol. ix. ; Corda, Icones Fungorum, Prague, 

 1837-40; Greville, Scottish Cryptogamic 

 Flora. See also the references given under 

 the heads of the families. 



FUNGUS-BED. Mycologists find this 

 very useful for growing the microscopic 

 Fungi. It is best made of a small wooden 

 box half-filled with damp bog-earth, and 

 covered with a plate of glass. In winter it 

 should be kept in a warm room. 



FURCELLARIA, Lamx. A genus of 

 Cryptonemiaceae (Florideous Algae), con- 

 taining one common British species, growing 

 on rocks and stones between tide-marks, 

 consisting of a fastigiate, dichotomously- 

 divided frond, 6 to 12" high, of a brownish- 

 purple colour, and somewhat cartilaginous 

 texture. The tetraspores, which are linearlv 

 arranged, are imbedded in the periphery of the 

 swollen pod-like extremities of the branches. 

 Conceptacular fruit as yet unknown. 



BIBL. Harvey, Br. Mar. Alg. p. 147. 

 pi. 18 C., Phyc. Brit. pi. 94 ; Greville, Alg. 

 Brit. pi. 11, Eng. Bot. pi. 894. 



FURCULARIA, Lam. A genus of Rota- 

 toria, of the family Hydatinaea. 



Char. Eye single, frontal; tail-like foot 

 forked. Several species; all aquatic but 

 one, which is marine. 



