GASTEROMYCETES. 

 Fig. 273. 



[ 285 ] 



Polysaccum crassipes. 



Cells of the hymenium, with basidia and spores. 

 Magn. 400 diams. 



Fig. 274. 



Fig. 275. 



Scleroderma vulgare. 



Fig. 274. Portion of the internal mass, 

 diams. 



Magn. 200 



Fig. 2/5. Cells of the hymenium, with basidia and 

 spores. Magn. 400 diams. 



of the now bag-like peridium, as a fine pow- 

 der. In Lycoperdon, &c., it is not the peri- 

 dium which is continued inwards to form 

 chambers ; it forms a single or double sac, 

 containing a fleshy substance (gleba), hol- 

 lowed out into sinuous cavities clothed with 

 basidia. In course of ripening, the spongy 

 mass disappears, leaving only a collection of 

 minute spores and filamentous fragments, 

 which are emitted by the bursting of the pe- 

 ridium, a process exhibiting many curious 

 peculiarities in this group. 



The Phalloidei are roundish or ovoid 

 fleshy balls in their earlier stages, but when 

 opened exhibit a distinct peridium and a 

 central lacimose, sporiferous structure. The 



GASTEROMYCETES. 

 Fig. 276. 



Lycoperdon cepaeforme. 



Section of the gleba, showing the loculi, on the walls of 

 which the spores are produced. 



Magn. 200 diams. 



peridium consists of two layers, an inner 



and an outer, united by firm gelatinous tis- 



sue traversed by transverse membranous 



septa, and exhibits a tendency to split, like 



an orange, into quarters. When the peri- 



dium bursts, which it usually does at the 



apex, the central sporiferous structure 



emerges, under various forms. In Phallus 



it is a capitate or clavate co- 



lumn ; in Clathrus (fig. 277), 



an elegant, globular,, fleshy 



trellis; in Aseroe, a column 



with a stellate head, &c. In 



all cases, the spores, which are 



developed on convolutions of 



the fleshy sporiferous mass 



(gleba}, on basidia, are found 



detached and confluent into a 



wet, viscid mass adhering to the 



sporiferous surface, at the time 



this has emerged from the pe- The sporiferous 



ridium and expanded to its full frame - work 



size. This fluid condition of 



Fig. 277. 



the mature sporiferous layer is peridium. 

 distinctive between the Phal- i-6th nat. size. 

 loidei and the Hymenomycetes, to which they 

 bear many relations. 



The Hypogaei receive their name from 

 their subterraneous habit of growth, in which 

 they resemble Truffles, a tribe of Ascomy- 

 cetes bearing much external similarity to 

 these plants (see TUBERACEI). The ge- 

 neral character is that of globular or de- 

 pressed balls, growing underground, sessile 

 on a flocculent mycelium. They exhibit a 

 peridium enclosing a fleshy gleba, excavated 

 into sinuous cavities lined by a membrane 

 bearing basidiospores. These fruits do not 



