BASIDIOMYCETES— IvYCOPERDACEAE 



247 



Dr. Miquel lists the Lycoperdon Bovista as poisonous; this and Lycoperdon 

 cyathiforme are edible when fresh, but poisonous when the plants are mature. 



NIDULARIACEAB 



This is allied to the above and contains the Bird's Nest fungus. (Cruci- 

 bulum vulgare), which occurs upon wood and manure, and the Cyathus striatus. 

 The false truffle {Scleroderma vulgare) belongs to an allied order. 



ASCOMYCETES 



Mycelium many celled, branched; reproduction both sexual and asexual; 

 spores known as ascospores, limited in number. Arranged in two divisions, 

 the Hemiasci and the Euasci. 



Hemiasci 



Parasites or saphrophytes ; reproduction generally asexual, in fertilization, 

 the contents of the antheridium and the oogonium fuse. 



HEMIASCALBS 



An unimportant group with three orders, Ascoideaceae, Protomycetaceae, 

 which contains some plants that are parasitic, Protomyces macrosporus, upon the 

 members of the carrot family. 



Fig. 75. Fertilization of Pyronema confluens. 1. Three oogonia (o) with fertilizing 

 processes (*) a — antheridia. 2. Oogonium after fertilization, with numerous nuclei. 3. 

 Fart of fruiting body, the ascogonium forming hyphae (a.?), (c) antheridium, (o) oogonium. 

 1-3 greatly magnified. After Harper. 



The family Monascaceae contains one fungus which has been found in mouldy 

 corn and silage in Iowa, the Monascus purpurens Went. It is related to the 

 M. heterosporus (Harz) Shroter, which was found by Harz in a soap factory. 

 The coloring matter from M. purpurens, known as "ang-quac," is used in East- 

 ern Asia as a pigment, being produced by the growth of the fungus on rice. 

 The fungus consists of a mass of septate hyphae, producing conidia and peri- 

 thecia with numerous asci ; the ascospores are from 5-6.5 f., in diameter. The 



