126 ^ REPRESENTATIVE PLANTS 



them, and if possible, furnish your own specimens for 

 study. 



External features. Observe that there is, as a rule, an 

 entire lack of a stalk, the cap or pileus growing directly 

 from the wood. Observe the consistency of the cap as 

 compared to the softness of the ordinary mushrooms. What 

 evidence can you find that these plants live more than one 

 year? Not all, but some do. Compare the under side, 

 or spore-bearing surface, with the same region in the mush- 

 room. What do you find ? Study a section of a bracket 

 fungus. Observe the spongy nature of the caj). (The 

 Indians make punk from certain forms.) Also the gill, pore, 

 or spiny layer, in which the spores are produced. 



Drawings. Draw upper surface and sectional view, also 

 a portion of the under surface (m). 



Economic importance. These plants often cause serious 

 injury to living trees, their mycelia penetrating into the 

 woody tissues and causing death. They sometimes attain to 

 very large size and are frequently used for ornamental work. 

 Certain forms (notably, one called the sulphur mushroom, 

 on account of the color,) of soft consistency are edible in 

 the young state. 



Type 8. Sac Fungi. Cup Fungi. Morels 



Habitat. There are many forms of these fungi, some 

 assuming the shape of ciq^s, some looking like elongated 

 spongy masses, covered with ridges. The morel is a 

 common form found in open woods in April and May and 

 is highly esteemed as a delicate food fungus. 



Appearance. Examine the pileus or cap and observe the 

 form, whether cuplike, club-form, or irregularly covered by 

 ridgelike convolutions. The inner surface of the cups, the 

 outer surface of the clubs and ridges are spore bearing. 

 Draw carefully such forms as you have, both externally and 

 in long section. 



