FLOWERLESS PLANTS 



393 



has been a long period of growth and preparation under- 

 ground, or below the surface. The body of a fungus gen- 

 erally consists of a collection of fibrous threads or filaments 

 growing in the decaying bark or wood of trees or in the soil. 

 These are the vegetative part of the plant. They may often 

 be seen by stripping the bark from rotten logs, or by care- 

 fully removing the soil around a growing toadstool. Then 

 masses of white threads ramifying in all directions are seen. 

 These are the vegetative or nourishing part of the plant, 

 feeding on the decaying organic matter in which they grow. 



Fig. 169. Development of Mushroom. Fungus Filaments, Buttons and Caps. 

 Edible Agaric. 



At maturity or under proper conditions there arise peculiar 

 fruiting structures, the parts which we generally see exposed 

 and call the fungus. 



Collect some of the common field mushroom (Agaricus 

 campestris) found in fields and pastures and along road- 

 sides. This is umbrella-shaped. Under the conical cap 

 are many radiating plates called gills. On 'these gills the 

 spores develop in great numbers. Lay a ripe fungus (one 

 whose giUs are brown) gills downward on a piece of 

 white paper, and protect with a bowl or bell glass from the 

 air currents. Leave several hours. A beautiful " spore-print " 

 will be formed. Note in the field mushroom that there is a 

 ring of membranous appearance around the upper part of 



