THE STORY OF THE FUNGI i33 



The " cauliflower " fungi are perhaps the 

 most singular of all, the kind most hkely to 

 be met with in the south of England being 

 Sparassis crispa. The plant is usually found 

 at the foot of fir trees, and resembles the white 

 part of a cauliflower in its general appear- 

 ance. 



In the remaining family of the sub-order 

 Hymenomycetes, which has been called Tremel- 

 lacecB, the fungi are very distinctive, owing to 

 their gelatinous nature. These plants are com- 

 mon upon rotten wood, and several of the 

 species are almost certain to be met with even 

 during a short ramble. A very abundant form 

 is that known as Tremella mesenterica. This is 

 of a bright orange colour, and is to be found 

 growing on certain trees and shrubs, such as 

 oak, and particularly gorse. Indeed, it would 

 be difficult to find a piece of common land 

 with furze where this fungus is not present 

 during the winter, at any rate. 



In the sub-order Gasteromycetes are included 

 all the many kinds of Puff Balls. Here, although 

 the spores are borne on stalks, they are produced 

 within the fungus, and are not exposed until 

 quite mature and ready for dispersal. This is 



