228 
PHARMACEUTICAL BOTANY 
outer layer and a spongy inner layer surrounding a cavity into which 
basidia and basidiospores project. These fungi are found in stiff 
clayey soil. 
Order 3.- Phallales, the carrion or stink-horn fungi. This, the 
highest group of the Autobasidiomy- 
cetes, consists of highly and charac- 
teristically colored forms which, when 
mature, emit most vile and penetrating 
odors. The fruiting body, in each in- 
stance, begins as an egg-shaped struc- 
ture which starts its growth from a 
widely spread underground mycelium of 
chalky- white color. As the “eggs” 
enlarge they push above the surface 
of the ground. The central portion, 
elongating, then breaks through the 
outer or peridial portion, which remains 
as a cup or volva at the base of the 
mature fruit body. Upon the summit 
of the central stalk rests the cup-like 
many-chambered gleba. The basidio- 
spores are imbedded in a greenish fetid 
slime formed by a mucilaginous disin- 
tegration of the substance of the 
hymenium. This fetid green material 
is attractive to carrion flies which visit 
the plants and remove the material with 
its embedded spores. The latter will 
not germinate until after passing 
Fig. 104. — Mature stink- . . , 
horn, Diciyophora duplicate, through the alimentary canal of these 
(H arshber ger, from photo . by W. flies. 
H. Walmsley.) 
Class IV. — Fungi Imperfecti 
An assemblage of varied forms, the life histories of most of which 
are imperfectly understood. In this group are included numerous 
parasites which produce diseases in crop plants. 
