388 THALLOPHYTES 
like sporophores on the sides of trees and stumps. In the family 
to which the Hydnums belong the hymenium is borne on tooth- 
like projections (Fg. 341). In another family the sporophore 
is much branched and the hymenium covers the surface of the 
branches (Fig. 342). As to the texture of the sporophore, that 
varies widely in the different families. In some families it is 
gelatinous and without definite shape. It is fleshy in the Toad- 
stools and Mushrooms and in some of the Bracket Fungi it be- 
comes as hard and persistent as wood. 
Fic. 343. — Some of the roots and the lower portion of the trunk of an 
Apple tree which has been killed by the Toadstools. 
Destructive Toadstools and Bracket Fungi.— Some Toad- 
stools attack the roots of trees and cause the disease called Root 
Rot. This disease occurs on a number of fruit trees, such as the 
Apple, Plum, Cherry, and Peach, and on many shrubs and forest 
trees. In Figure 343 is shown some Toadstools which have 
destroyed an Appletree. The Toadstools usually cause the death 
of the roots, and this results in killing the tree. The mycelia of 
the Toadstools probably enter the roots through wounds. 
