Fungi: Their Nature and UsesCooke, M. C. (Mordecai Cubitt)
Science
Fungi: Their Nature and Uses
Cooke, M. C. (Mordecai Cubitt)
Fungi
A species of _Sclerotium_ on the gills of dead Agarics originates
_Agaricus tuberosus_, another _Agaricus cirrhatus_,[J] but this should
be kept _in situ_ when cultivated artificially, and induced to develop
whilst still attached to the rotten Agarics. _Peziza tuberosa_, in
like manner, is developed from _Sclerotia_, usually found buried in
the ground in company with the roots of _Anemone nemorosa_. At one
time it was supposed that some relationship existed between the roots
of the anemone and the _Sclerotia_. From another _Sclerotium_, found
in the stems of bulrushes, Mr. Currey has developed a species of
_Peziza_, which has been named _P. Curreyana_.[K] This _Peziza_ has
been found growing naturally from the _Sclerotia_ imbedded in the
tissue of common rushes. De Bary has recorded the development of
_Peziza Fuckeliana_ from a _Sclerotium_ of which the conidia take the
form of a species of _Polyactis_. _Peziza ciborioides_ is developed
from a _Sclerotium_ found amongst dead leaves; and recently we have
received from the United States an allied _Peziza_ which originated
from the _Sclerotia_ found on the petals of _Magnolia_, and which has
been named _Peziza gracilipes_, Cooke, from its very slender,
thread-like stem. Other species of _Peziza_ are also known to be
developed from similar bases, and these Fuckel has associated
together under a proposed new genus with the name of _Sclerotinia_.
Two or three species of _Typhula_, in like manner, spring from forms
of _Sclerotium_, long known as _Sclerotium complanatum_ and
_Sclerotium scutellatum_. Other forms of _Sclerotium_ are known, from
one of which, found in a mushroom-bed, Mr. Currey developed _Xylaria
vaporaria_, B., by placing it on damp sand covered with a bell
glass.[L] Others, again, are only known in the sclerotioid state, such
as the _Sclerotium stipitatum_ found in the nests of white ants in
South India.[M] From what is already known, however, we feel justified
in the conclusion that the so-called species of _Sclerotium_ are a
sort of compact mycelium, from which, under favourable conditions,
perfect fungi may be developed. Mr. Berkeley succeeded in raising from
the minute _Sclerotium_ of onions, which looks like grains of coarse
gunpowder, a species of _Mucor_. This was accomplished by placing a
thin slice of the _Sclerotium_ in a drop of water under a glass slide,
surrounded by a pellicle of air, and luted to prevent evaporation and
external influences.[N]
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