508 



ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE NATURAL ORDERS. 



magnified at Fig. 1333, produce four small cells at their free sum- 

 mit, apparently by gemmation and constriction : these are the spores. 

 It is maintained that the larger intermingled cells, (of which one is 

 shown at Fig. 1332, a,) filled with an attenuated form of matter, are 

 the analogues of antheridia. The lowest Fungi produce from their 

 mycelium only simple or branching series of cells (Fig. 92-94). 

 The mycelium itself either ramifies through decaying organized 

 matter, as the Moulds, &c. ; or else — like the Blight and Rust in 

 grain, and the Muscardine so destructive to silkworms, and others 



so destructive to the Grape, the Potato, &c. — it attacks and spreads 

 throughout living tissues, often producing great havoc before its 

 fructification is revealed at the surface. Sometimes the last cells of 

 the stalks swell into a .vesicle, in which the minute sporules are 

 formed ; as in Fig. 92. Sometimes the branching stalks bear single 

 sporules, like a bunch of grapes (Fig. 94), or long series of cells, or 



PIG. 1328. Sphaeria rosella. 1329. Asci from its interior, containing- sporules, highly mag- 

 nified. 1330. Agaricus campestris, the Edible mushroom, in its various stages. 1331. Section' 

 through the pileus, to display the gills. 1332. A small piece of a slice through the thick- 

 ness of onu of the gills, magnified ; showing the spores borne on the summit of salient cells 

 of both surfaces. 1333. One of the sporule-beaiing cells, with some subjacent tissue, more 

 magnified. 



