146 ARMILLARIA MELLEA, 
obscure. The margin is radially striated. The under-side 
of the pileus is beset with whitish gills which run radially 
from the stipe to the margin. Those which reach the stipe 
are decurrent, i. e. are continued for a short distance, often 
a very short distance, down the stipe ; but others start farther 
out and fill up the broadening spaces between the rays. 
These gills bear on their surface millions of minute white 
spores, the formation of which is the sole function of the 
toadstool, for each spore is capable under suitable circum- 
stances of reproducing the whole fungus. They begin to be 
formed while the toadstool is still a button, they ripen as 
the pileus expands, and, when mature, fall from between 
the gills and are carried away by the air currents which 
pass along the ground surface. It is on account of these 
spores that the toadstool is called a fructification or 
sporophore. 
The fungus is very variable, but is not difficult to dis- 
tinguish. The scaly pileus, the decurrent gills, and the 
persistent annulus, together with the general colour and 
shape, render it one of the easiest of the toadstools to 
identify. 
It is found from the end of September up to the first 
frosts of winter, and generally in woods where the growth 
is not too dense. In dark coniferous woods the fungus will 
readily grow and spread underground, but it seldom makes 
fructifications. On this account it generally remains un- 
noticed in such places until its presence is evinced by the 
trees it has victimized. 
The details of the toadstools are shown in figs. 58-61. 
The fructifications are usually found on stumps or grow- 
ing on the ground near by. If a bit of the earth is dug up 
beneath a fructification, it will be found to contain one or 
more black strands, which resemble leather boot-laces ; 
and if the earth is pulled away with care the fructifications 
will be seen to be attached to one of the branches of these 
strands, as shown in figs. 60and 61. These strands are called 
rhizomorphs, owing to their superficial resemblance to the 
roots of higher plants, and they are composed entirely of 
