2l8 



PLANT LIFE. 



the first spore so formed another spore is jjrodured as the first 

 grows older ; and tliis process continues as long as the 

 plant is able to furnish material for the making of spores. 

 In such cases, often the oldest spores are liberated while 

 new ones are being produced at the base of the chain. 



A modillcation of the production of spores singly occurs 

 when the branch destined to j^roduce them gi^es rise to 

 two to eight very slender branches, each of which enlarges 

 at the tip into a single spore, so that the main branch apipears 

 to carry two to eight spores upon slender stalks. Such a 

 spore-producing branch is called a basidium (fig. 213). It is 

 the characteristic form in the higher fungi, which produce 

 conspi(.uoiis fructifications. 



Jig. 214.— .4, a iraffball (tVAir>/<i//,i) halved, showing the internal chambers (shaded 

 dark) lined by hymcniuni {tlie narrow white border). The inter\'enin[i spaces, t,-, 

 and the nnshaded onter part are formed of interwo\-en hvph.i:-. Magnhred s diain. 

 A', a bird's-nest iyiw^vs, (Cruc itnluiii) halved. The similar internal chambers have 

 been ]o(;sened by the disappearance of the intervening liypha- innnedialely abont the 

 hymenium (represented by radiating lines) and a \\a\v stalk hy wliieh eacli remains 

 loosely attached. iM.igniliecl 4 diain. — .Alter Luerssen. 



314. Fructifications. — In the higlrer fungi whose m)-ce- 

 lium is developed within a dead substratum mam- branches 

 are aggregated to constitute a reproducti\e structuie or fructi- 

 fication, which is the only cons[)icuous part of the fungus. 

 (For an account of the vegetative j)arts, see ^j^i ^o, S4- ) 



