286 FIRST FORMS OF VEGETATION. 
likeness. Fungi may be said to resemble the 
earliest stage of all flowering plants. During the 
germination of the seed a close analogy exists 
between the growing embryo and fungi. Both 
are supplied with nutriment previously organized, 
the one by its parent, the other by the decay of 
animal or vegetable matter ; both are developed 
most rapidly when supplied with warmth and 
moisture, and in the absence of light, and both 
liberate carbon to a large amount without assimi- 
lating any from the atmosphere. Indeed, the 
larger portion of every flowering plant which con- 
sists of simple sacs of cellulose, secluded from the 
light, absorbing organic compounds, and develop- 
ing no special colouring matter, may be compared 
to fungi; the green: parts alone performing the 
great function of the vegetable kingdom in keeping 
up the balance of organic nature. 
In many of their properties, the fungi are closely 
allied to some members of the animal kingdom. 
They resemble the flesh of animals, in containing 
a large proportion of albuminous proximate prin- 
ciples; and produce in larger quantity than all 
other plants azote or nitrogen, formerly regarded 
as one of the principal marks of distinction be- 
tween plants and animals. This element reveals 
itself by the strong cadaverous smell, which most 
of them give out in decaying, and also by the 
