66 



MYCOLOGY 



Ijeen shed, thus permitting the opening out of the cap and the freei 

 discharge of the remaining spores. The discliarged spores are convcyec 

 by tlie wind (Fig. 20). The musliroom type is the usual Icind when 

 the spores are discharged without deliquescence. 



The spores of Bulgaria, Gyromitra, Peziza and others of thi 

 AscoMYCETAiKS are scattered by the wind, but those of Ascobolu 

 immersus and Saccobohis arc dispersed by herbivores. The spores 

 Peziza repanda, according to Buller, are shot up into the air to ; 

 height of 2 to 3 cm. and leave the spore sac {asms) together, bu 



Fig. 20. — Semidiagrammatic sketch in a field with horse mushroom, Agaric; 



{PsaUiola ) arvcnsis, showing liberation and discharge of spores horizontal 



and from velum. Reduced to J i. {After Buller, Researches on Fungi, 1909:218.) 



separate as they leave the ascus mouth. Puffing is due probably to 

 stimulus given^ to the protoplasm in contact with the ascus lid, ar 

 it is observed when poisonous substances are applied such as iodin 

 mercuric chloride, silver nitrate, copper sulphate, sulphuric and acet 

 acids are used. With'some of these forms the ascus may be considers 

 as a squirting apparatus by which a jet of spores leaves its mout 

 The writer' noted the puffing of the spores in Peziza badia when tl 

 large saucer-shaped fruit bodies were held in the hand. At interva 

 of several minutes the puffing took place. 



Asrobolus immersus as a coprophilous (dung-inhabiting) fungus h 

 ■ ITnusiiukrckr, J. W.: Joiirn. of Mycol., 8; 15S, October, 1902. 



