250 
CLASS CRYPTO G AMIA. 
remains upon the stipe, while the pileus, released from its con- 
finement, extends upwards, and exhibits an uneven appearance 
upon its edge, caused by its separation from the volva. Fig. 52 
arating from the pileus so as to exhibit thegills beneath. ( d ) 
part of the volva remaining upon the stipe in a circular form, 
and called annulus or a ring. 
“ If the mushroom be left for a time on a plate of glass, a pow- 
der will be found deposited ; this is the seed or organic germ. 
That these are capable of germination is evident to cultivators, 
who now form mushroom beds, by strewing the decayed plants 
on prepared beds of manure.”* 
A species of the genus Agaricus, is common in Italy, and 
much valued for food ; it is of a fine red and orange colour ; 
the ancient Romans esteemed it as a great luxury. The genus 
Boletus contains the touchwood or spunk, which is sometimes 
used as tinder. The Lycoperdon contains the puff-ball. 
It is not to be expected that you will go into a minute inves- 
tigation of the Cryptogamous plants ; they are probably the 
least understood of all the visible works of nature. Some phi- 
losophers have asserted that some of this race do not belong to 
the vegetable, but to the animal kingdom ; they have discovered 
insects in the mushrooms, and they say that like the sponge, and 
the corals, these should be classed among animal productions. 
Few, however, at present entertain this belief; and the fact of 
their having been raised from seed sprinkled on the earth, seems 
to prove them to be of vegetable growth. A curious field of 
inquiry presents itself in the consideration of the difference be- 
tween animal and vegetable life. This we shall hereafter par- 
tially examine, not however, expecting to decide upon subjects 
which lie hidden from the researches of finite beings ; but the 
Delineation of the most important parts — Agaricus — Opinions of some 
philosophers respecting the Cryptogamous plants. 
Fig. 52. 
represents the most im- 
portant parts of the 
mushroom, (a)the gills 
running from the stipe 
to the circumference, 
under the pileus. (5,) a 
young mushroom with 
the pileus of a globu- 
lar form, and not sep- 
arated from the volva. 
c, the volva or wrap- 
per, bursting and sep- 
* Nuttall. 
