STRUCTURE. 



21 



with spores. The first peculiarity which will be observed is, 

 that these spores are almost uniformly in groups of four 

 together. The next feature . to be observed is, that each spore 

 is borne upon a slender stalk or sterigma, and that four of these 

 sterigmata proceed from the apex of a thicker projection, from 

 the bymenium, called a basidium, each basidium being the sup- 

 porter of four sterigmata, and each sterigma of a spore.* A 

 closer examination of the hymenium will reveal the fact that 

 the basidia are accompained by other bodies, often larger, but 

 without sterigmata or spores ; these have been termed cysiidia, 

 and their structure and functions have 

 been the subject of much controversy. t 

 Both kinds of bodies are produced on 

 the hymenium of most, if not all, the 

 Agaricini. 



The basidia are usually expanded 

 upwards, so as to have more or less 

 of a clavate form, surmounted by four 

 slender points, or tubular processes, 

 each supporting a spore ; the contents 

 of these cells are granular, mixed 

 apparently with oleaginous particles, 

 which communicate through the 

 slender tubes of the spicules with 

 the interior of the spores. Corda 



FIG. 3. a. Sterile cells. 6. Ba- 



States that, although Only One Spore IS sidia. c. Cystidium. From Gom- 

 , . i phidius (de Seyiies). 



produced at a time on each sporo- 



phore, when this falls away others are produced in succession 

 for a limited period. As the spores approach maturity, the con- 

 nection between their contents and the contents of the basidia 

 diminishes and ultimately ceases. When the basidium which 

 bears mature spores is still well charged with granular matter, 

 it may be presumed that the production of a second or third 



* This was well delineated in "Flora Danica," plate 834, as observed in Coprimts 

 comatus as long ago as 1780. 



t A. deBary, " Morphologie und Physiologic defPilze," in "Hofmeister's Hand- 

 buch," vol. ii. cap. 5, 1866, translated in " Grevillea," vol. i. p. 181. 



