292 INTRODUCTION TO CEYPTOGAMIC BOTANY. 



are the fruit of Sj^hceropsls, or other sporoferi. Besides 

 these, or in their absence, as in Peziza, he has discovered 

 minute bodies which he considers to be spermatia. These 

 are sometimes contained in distinct organs, sometimes they 

 accompany the ordinary fruit. At present their functions are 

 obscure. As regards the binary fruit, Fries long ere this had 

 pointed out the identity of Fusarium Tremelloides and the 

 orange-coloured Peziza^ which is so very common on decayed 

 nettle stems. Now the binary or even quinary mode of fructi- 

 fication in some Fungi is established, no good botanist can doubt 

 their identity ; but it is yet to be shown that any of the bodies 

 in question are entitled to be compared with spermatozoids. 



804. The remarkable elastic force with which many of the 

 larger Pezizce and Helvellce eject their sporidia has often 

 excited attention. In none is it better seen than in the com- 

 mon Peziza vesiculosa of the hot-bed when the sun is shining. 

 The least agitation raises a visible cloud of sporidia like a thin 

 vapour. The motion of the sporidia in Vibrissea, a genus 

 which grows on tmgs immersed partly in water, is very pecu- 

 liar. They are extremely long and slender, and when partially 

 ejected wave about in the sun till they are finally expelled. 

 The phenomenon is due to their extreme length, which does 

 not allow them to be expelled at one effort (Fig. 66, d). 



305. A few of the species of this group afford excellent 

 articles of food. Morells are found in some parts of England 

 in such abundance as to make their collection for the oilmen 

 worth notice, and even to afford large supplies of an excellent 

 katsup. The principal part, however, of the Morells of com- 

 merce is not of home growth, but comes from Germany and 

 other continental countries. In the former country, they were 

 observed to affect more especially places where wood had been 

 burnt, and the collection was so lucrative as to induce the 

 peasants to destroy the forests by fire, with a view to favour 

 their growth, a practice which was at last checked by the 

 enacting of especial laws. In the north of India, as in Kash- 

 mir, Morells are collected both for food and sale ; and the 

 species which I have had an opportunity of examining do not 

 seem to differ from the more common natives of Europe. One 



