The Structure and Shape of the Fungus Fruit Body
The term fungus does not only encompass the large, often colorful and striking fruit-bodies of the fleshy, edible or poisonous mushrooms found in woods, but it also incorporates a large group of inconspicuous microscopic organisms, such as molds and yeast-fungi.
These hyphae can penetrate various types of material ranging from a woodland humus and rotting wood to the tissues. In some fungi the mycelium develops into a mass of thin or thick roots, threads or even thick cords. The mycelium obtains nutrients from decomposing organic matter.
Some types fungi grow on their mycelium hardened, tuberous, globular or irregular formations, which have a dark surface. They are lied sclerotia and store reserves of food and enable such fungi to survive even in unfavourable growing conditions. In some types of fungi, these sclerotia can later develop into fruit-bodies.
The fruit-bodies of higher fungi, which are the main subject of this book, consist usually of a stipe and a cap. The stipe is cylindrical and its apex is crowned by the characteristically widened cap. Its underside (4ymenophore) assumes different forms according to the particular species.
In Gill fungi and Boleti (Agaricales) it consists of gills or tubes, while in Tooth fungi (Hydnaccae) the lower surface of the cap is covered with teeth or spines. The underside is covered by a fertile layer (hymenium) of spore-bearing projections, called basidia, which produce spores. In the Cup fungus this fertile layer forms the inner lining of the cup, whereas in such fungi as the Morels and the Staghorn fungus it covers the whole or part of the outside of the irregular fruit-body.
Aerial photography on the other hand often reveals these old fungus circles very clearly because of the darker colour of the grass at the edge of the circle. These circles are sometimes popularly thought to have magical qualities and are known as fairy rings. However, the most distinctive mycelium is that of the Honey fungus (Armillaria mellea), which grows thick, dark-colored, branched rhizomorphs rather like bootlaces covered by a shiny, hard skin.
