OBSERVATION OF COMMON FUNGI. 
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face is bright scarlet. The plant is found in woods or groves in 
damp places, often in ravines. 
Note the form of the plant, and if young ones are found note 
that they are at first enclosed like a small hollow ball, but later 
open at the upper side to form the cup as they enlarge. Note 
that the plant is attached by a small portion of the under sur¬ 
face to the decaying stick. Sometimes as the plants are drying 
slightly, or as they are handled, a puff of white “ smoke ” rises 
from the inside of the cup. Watch for this. The inside of the 
cup is the “ fruiting ” surface and the “ smoke ” is made up of 
myriads of minute microscopic bodies called “ spores,” which 
function as seeds in propagating the plant, though they are not 
true seeds. 
The black urn or goblet (Urnula craterium ).—This also grows 
on dead decaying sticks, etc. In shape it is very much like a 
small beaker or wine glass and is very black both inside and out¬ 
side, or when young and fresh sometimes with a pale brown¬ 
ish or fawn color. The mature plant is two to three inches high, 
the stem is slender and about half this length, while the “ cup ” 
is oval to urn-shaped, and from one to one and one-half inches 
in diameter. The plant often grows in dense clusters, or in a 
row on a slender stick in damp woods. 
Note the form and attachment of the plant. Search for; young 
or half grown specimens. Note that the “ cup ” part when young 
is closed at the top. Specimens half grown can be kept in a 
moist chamber in the laboratory. When found they should be 
kept in this way under observation. As they open note that the 
margin of the cup becomes split into regular and prominent teeth 
which recurve as the cup expands and make very pretty objects 
of the plants. Note the change in form, in the character of the 
outer surface, etc., as the plants become older. Watch for the 
j| clouds ” of spores. 
The Morels. 
The morels are also early fungi. They appear in May, and 
grow in damp situations in open woods or in damp low fields or 
waste places. There are several different species which are 
