turned red it was sterile, the
constituent filaments, ordinarily colourless, and almost empty of
solid matter, were filled with a highly-coloured protoplasm; they were
of less tenuity, more irregularly thick, and instead of only rarely
presenting partitions, and remaining continuous, as in other parts of
the plant, were parcelled out into an infinity of straight or curved
pieces, angular and of irregular form, especially towards the surface
of the fungus, where they compose a sort of pulp, varying in cohesion
according to the dry or moist condition of the atmosphere. All parts
of these reddish individuals seemed more or less infected with this
disintegration, the basidia divided by transverse diaphragms into
several cylindrical or oblong pieces, which finally become free.
Transitional conditions were also observed in mixed individuals. This
sterile condition is called by Tulasne "gemmiparous," and he believes
that it has ere now given origin to one or more spurious species, and
misled mycologists as to the real structure of perfect and fruitful
_Dacrymyces_.

PHALLOIDEI.--In this order the hymenium is at first enclosed within a
sort of peridium or universal volva, maintaining a somewhat globose or
egg-shape. This envelope consists of an outer and inner coat of
somewhat similar texture, and an intermediate gelatinous layer, often
of considerable thickness. When a section is made of the fungus,
whilst still enclosed in the volva, the hymenium is found to present
numerous cavities, in which basidia are developed, each surmounted by
spicules (four to six) bearing oval or oblong spores.[Q] It is very
difficult to observe the structure of the hymenium in this order, on
account of its deliquescent nature. As the hymenium approaches
maturity, the volva is ruptured, and the plant rapidly enlarges. In
_Phallus_, a long erect cellular stem bears the cap, over which the
hymenium is spread, and this expands enormously after escaping the
restraint of the volva. Soon after exposure, the hymenium deliquesces
into a dark mucilage, coloured by the minute spores, which drips from
the pileus, often diffusing a most loathsome odour for a considerable
distance. In _Clathrus_, the receptacle forms a kind of network. In
_Aseroee_, the pileus is beautifully stellate. In many the attractive
forms would be considered objects of beauty, were it not for their
deliquescence, and often foetid odour.[R]

[Illustration: FIG. 8.--Basidia and spores of