TYPES OF CRYPTOGAMS; THALLOPHYTES 



265 



318. The Spore-Plant. — Search for indications of fruiting, and 

 note the appearance of the " button mushrooms " in all aTailable 

 stages. Draw. See if at any stage up to maturity an outer envelope 

 of tissue (yolva) can be found enclosing the entire fruiting body. 

 If such be present, what becomes of it at maturity ? If material is 

 available, compare the "species of Amanita (poisonous) in regard to this. 



Examine specimens in which the cap is expanding and see if 

 there is another tissue forming a veil covering the under surface of 

 the cap. If such be pres- 

 ent, how is it attached ^"^ 

 and what becomes of it? 



Take a fresh, well- 

 expanded mushroom or 

 toadstool. Remove the 

 stalk, or stipe, close under 

 the cap, or pileus, and lay 

 the latter, gills down, on 

 a piece of paper. Let it 

 remain undisturbed for a 

 few hours, or over night, 

 so that the spores may 

 fall upon the paper. Note 

 carefully their color, also 

 the form in which they 

 are arranged on the paper. What determines this form ? Examine 

 some of the spores under the highest available power of the micro- 

 scope. Measure and draw. 



Describe the stipe. Is it a hollow tube or solid ? Does it taper ? 

 Note length, diameter, color. 



Describe the cap, or pUeus, in regard to diameter, thickness, nature 

 and color of the upper surface, also color below. 



Examine the plates, or gills, which compose the under portion of 

 the pileus. Cut a complete pileus and stipe, through the center, and 

 draw an outline to show the shape, noting particularly how the gills 

 are attached. What is the color of the gills ? 



319. Origin of Spores. — Make a cross-section of one of the gills, 

 and with a magnifying power of about 200 diameters examine the 



B 

 Fig. 195. — Portions ot Gills of 



a Fungus {Agarieus). 

 A, slightly magnified; B, one 

 of the parts of A, more mag- 

 nified, kym, hymenium ; h, 

 central layer. 



