CHAPTEE IV 



THE KECEPTACLE 



Having described the mycelium, already designated as the 

 vegetative Fungus, and which is always present, we passed 

 to an outgrowth of the mycelium (sometimes suppressed), 

 which, as the carpophore, is destined to support the receptacle. 

 It is the latter which contains the fructification, or, in the 

 case of naked fruits, supports the fructification itself. It may 

 be urged that the receptacle is part and parcel of the fructifica- 

 tion, but it is really no more intimately so than are the 

 receptacle or the calyx and corolla in flowering plants. This, 

 however, need not be discussed, as it is only a question of 

 analogies. What we desire to include under the present 

 designation is the development, or modification, of the superior 

 continuation of the carpophore, which encloses or supports the 

 essentials of fructification. In the absence of any distinct or 

 evident carpophore, it is still the immediate supporter or 

 envelope of the fructification, which in that case is sessile upon 

 the mycelium. 



This receptacle may be variable in form, and be known 

 under different designations, but its function is the same — 

 that of supporting or enclosing the hymenium, wherever a 

 hymenium or its analogue is present. This organ will be 

 represented in some cases by a pileus, in others by a peridium, 

 an excipulum, a perithecium, a sporangium, or even a 

 proliferous stratum. , 



The best-known form, because the largest and most con- 

 spicuous, is the pileus, which is characteristic of the Hymeno- 

 mycetes. It forms the cap in Agarics and the pileus in 

 Fomes, Polystidus, etc. This cap in Agarics and allied genera 



