NATURAL OKDEES. 
29T 
of filamentous threads, appearing like the roots of the fungus 
that arises from them, and to a certain extent performing the; 
functions of roots. In the Agarics or Mushrooms there ap- 
pears first a roundish protuberance on the mycelium, which en- 
larges rapidly, bursts an outer covering {volva\ and protrudes 
a thick stalk (stipe), bearing on its summit a rounded portion, 
which soon expands into the j}ileus or cap. On its under sur- 
face are situated the lamellm or gills {Jiymenium), consisting of 
parallel plates which bear naked sporules over their whole sur 
face. 
a. Properties : tonic when dry, narcotic when juicy ; some are edible, othem 
poisonous. 
Genera. — Lycoperdon, Mucor, Uredo, Agaricus, Boletus. 
569. Charace^, the Chara Tribe. — Aquatic plants composed 
of tubular cells, often with a set of smaller tubes inclosing a 
large central one. Leaves or branches consisting of verticillate 
tubes. Organs of reproduction of two kinds — a round, red 
globule, and an axillary nucule which contains the germinating 
body. 
Genus. — Chara. 
570. Alg^, Seaweeds. — Cellular plants, found both in fresh 
and salt water. Some have the distinction of stems and fronds ; 
others show simple or branching, solid stems 
only ; and others are mere leafy expansions, of 
various colors, green, olive, or rose-red. From 
these we descend to the green Confervse of 
pools and ditches, which grow by a subdivision 
or lateral extension of cells ; and lastly, as the 
lowest form of vegetation, the plant is reduced 
to a single cell, producing new individuals by 
the division of the primary cell. Reproductive 
organs consist of spores contained in perispores 
or sporecases. These are sometimes congre- 
gated together in receptacles of diiferent kinds. 
(Plate VIIL,rigs. 8, 9, 10, 11.) 
GjiNERA. — Fucus, Halymcuia, Ulva, Conferva, Nostoc. 
Fig. 221, a, Peotococcus viridis ; b, the same beginning to 
develop ; c, the same more advanced ; d, e, Schizogonium 
rale. 
Fig. 221. 
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