CHAPTEE VII 



DICHOCAKPISM 



By the term expressed in the heading to this chapter we intend 

 to indicate such species of Fungi as present two distinct forms 

 of fructification, presumably proceeding from the same mycelium 

 or vegetative system, and hence pertaining to the same species. 

 It is contended that the word " dimorphous " would have 

 expressed this, but we cannot assent, because that word vaguely 

 distinguishes the organism to which it is applied as having 

 two forms, which might apply to the fruit, to the carpophore, 

 or to any other organ, whilst we desire its restriction to such 

 Fungi only as exhibit two forms of fruit. There are a very 

 large number of Fungi which might be brought under this 

 designation, and those would fall into three groups. (1) Those 

 which produce two forms of fruit from the same stroma or 

 mycelium. (2) Those which are reputed to possess two forms 

 of fruit, the genetic connection of which has not yet been 

 clearly demonstrated. (3) And those which produce two 

 forms of fruit successively or alternately, by an alternation of 

 generations. 



We shall attempt to give only a few illustrations of the 

 first kind — those which produce two forms of fruit from the 

 same stroma or mycelium — which will be sufficient to make 

 clear the purport of our definition, and the first shall be selected 

 from a genus in which probably all the species are dichocarpous. 

 Hypomyces is one of the genera of the Pyrenomyeetes which 

 grows upon dead Fungi, chiefly the Hymenomycetes, in broadly 

 effused patches, the mycelium of which is partly innate. The 

 woody Fungus Fomes annosus may sometimes be found with a 

 white mycelium running over the hymenium and penetrating 



