64 MUSHKOOMS. 



and the novice will find many beautifdl illus- 

 trations in various works. In their early stage 

 they are enclosed in an egg-shaped veil (volva), 

 having a gelatinous inner layer. Some are 

 bright-colored, others are pure white, and the 

 stems of one species look as if covered with 

 lace work. The most familiar one, Phallus im- 

 pudicus, " the fetid wood • witch," we have 

 placed in the list of fungi at the end of this 

 book, with its description. 



Class II. ASOOMYOETES, OR SPORE SAO 

 FUNGI. 



This is the second division of the Basidia- 

 bearing fungi. It includes all the fungi that 

 have the spores enveloped in delicate sacs called 

 asci. It is divided into several orders, but we 

 will only mention the one which contains the 

 most familiar plants. This order is named the 

 Disc-like fungi (Discomycetes). In this the 

 spore-bearing surface is on the upper or outside 

 surface of the mushroom cap. It is divided 

 into many genera, of which we shall mention 

 three — the Cup fungi, or Pezizas, the Morels 

 or Morchellas, and the Yellowish fungi or Hel- 

 vellas. 



