FUNGI. 



35 



De Seynes describes in an Agaric the fusion of the 

 bases of the stipes and post-genital lateral fusion of 

 the two caps, the intermediate portion being free. 



The remarkable case figured in the £ Gardeners' 

 Chronicle 3 of 1876 (p. 396) of "twin mushrooms," 

 seems due to the fact that at an early stage the stipe- 

 bases and the central portion of the upper surface of 

 each pileus became intimately fused ; later, as growth 

 in length of each stipe proceeded, great stretching 

 took place, causing the stipe-like elongation between 

 the points of union of each cap (fig. 6). 



Fig. 6. — Agaricus campestris. Longi- 

 tudinal section showing fusion of 

 two individuals both by base 

 of stipes and centre of caps. 

 (After W. G. Smith.) 



Fig. 6 a . — Agaricus campestris. a. 

 Stalk] ess fruit. b. Young stage 

 showing that the position of the 

 " ring " is at the point of attach- 

 ment to the ground. (After 

 W. G. Smith.) 



7. ABBREVIATION. 



This is the opposite condition to that of proliferation. 

 The only case known to the writer which will appro- 

 priately come under this heading is that cited by W". Gr. 

 Smith of a " stemless mushroom" (Ag. campestris). 

 The stipe was completely absent. This was due, 

 according to him, to the fact that " the point of 

 attachment to the ground was at the bottom of the 

 veil, at the same point where the veil was ultimately 

 ruptured." This being so, the necessity for stipe- 

 formation seems to have been obviated (fig. 6 a). 



