Spore-sac Fungi — Ascomycetes 



underground, they must be hunted for by dogs and pigs trained 

 for the purpose. A pig will scent a truffle at a distance of twenty 

 feet, and will run quickly to the spot to dig it out with her snout. 

 An attendant must follow the pig to secure the truffle before the 

 pig eats it. Edible species have not been found growing in this 

 country. 



ORDER HYPOCREALES 



The order Hypocreales contains certain fungi which are 

 parasitic on other fungi, and also on insects. In the genus 

 Cordyceps there is a club-like form about an inch long, and 

 of a rich red colour, which lives as a parasite on the 

 pupae of various moths buried beneath dead leaves. In 

 New Zealand a similar fungus lives on caterpillars. The 

 mycelium in time replaces the body, but maintains out- 

 wardly the form and appearance of the caterpillar. These 

 growths are much prized by the natives as food. The 

 form which grows on the truifle-like Elaphomyces is shown 

 in the species of Elaphomyces upon which the Cordy- 

 ceps lives as a parasite grow two or three inches below 

 the surface of the ground, and somewhat resembles a 

 truffle in appearance. 



ORDER SPHERULES 



(See Plate Facing Page 1 16) 



The Xylaria pictured is a woody fungus which is 

 common, growing on logs or at the bases of trees or 

 stumps. The collections of asci {perithecia) are fully im- 

 bedded in the fleshy part of 

 the fungus {stroma), which is 

 formed almost wholly of 

 Fungus growing on caterpillar hardened mycelium. 



Hy-p6-cr£-a'-les C6r'-dy-96ps E'-lSph-6'-my-ces Splie-iK-a'-les Zy-la'-rl-5 



136 



