Cryptogams or Flowerless Plants — Fungi . 
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habitats, as inside the shell of an egg, upon ink and opium, or upon or within living plants and animals. 
The species do not appear to be much restricted in geographical range, although a large proportion 
are confined to a particular habitat. 
Several Sub-orders have been proposed as primary divisions of the Order, but no plan has yet met 
with general acceptance. 
Vegetative Portion {mycelium') developing from the spores on their germination or from bud-cells, usually 
consisting of delicate elongated, filamentous cells, inconspicuous or concealed under the surface of the ground or 
matrix in which it is growing; or a granular somewhat fluid pulp exhibiting spontaneous motion, in either case 
capable, under favourable conditions, of developing reproductive cells. 
REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS very various, and as yet imperfectly understood, so far as the co-operation of organs 
analogous to the antheridia and archegonia of the higher Cryptogamous plants is concerned. In Mushroom (Agaricus 
campestris) that portion of the plant which is visible above ground is the spore-bearing organ, the filamentous 
mycelium being concealed under the surface. The exposed portion consists of an umbrella-like top ( pilous ) 
supported upon a stout cellular stalk (stipes), to which it is attached in the centre. In the early stage of growth the 
margin of the pileus is united with the stipes by a membrane ultimately ruptured, the remains of which forms a ring 
(yolva) around the stipes.. The under surface of the pileus consists of numerous radiating, vertical, flattened plates 
or gills (lamellce), extending from the apex of the stipes to the margin of the pileus. Upon the surface ( hymenium) 
of these fleshy plates numerous larger (though microscopic) projecting cells ( basidia) bear on their apices each 4 very 
minute, stipitate, naked spores capable of germinating and developing a new mycelium. 
In Touchwood (Polyporus), a Fungus with a persisting reproductive organ of dense woody texture, and often 
attaining a large size, attached to decaying trees, the spore-bearing cells are similar to those of Mushroom, but line 
the interior of the minute vertical tubes, the openings of which are readily distinguishable with a simple lens on the 
under surface of the exposed portion of the Fungus. 
In Puff-balls ( Lycoperdon) the spore-bearing cells line closed cavities in the firm tissue of the Fungus, which at 
length becomes dry and pulverulent, the spores being liberated by the rupture and decay of the enclosing leathery 
coat (periderm). 
