112 MR. GEORGE MASSEE ON THE THELEPHORE E. 
orders of the Hymenomycetes consists in the arrangement of the 
hymenium or spore-bearing surface, which may be briefly described 
as follows :—Agaricine: : hymenium spread over radiating plates 
or gills. Polypores : hymenium lining variously shaped pores or 
depressions. Hydnes : hymenium covering spine-like or granular 
projections. Clavariee: hymenium continuously covering the 
greater portion of the clavate or variously branched hymenophore. 
In the Thelephores we find clearly indicated all the above types 
of hymenium, which will be fully described under the various 
genera. 
From what has already been stated, it will be seen that the 
Thelephoree constitute the base and also the starting-point in the 
evolution of the Hymenomycetes, and, further, that from the The- 
lephorez all the other orders have directly originated ; which 
means that some—not all—of the modifications of sporophore 
and hymenium from the (a)-type indieated in the order have by 
continued differentiation become morphologically so far removed 
from the fundamental type, although sufficiently connected by 
intermediate stages as to leave no doubt about the common origin, 
that they constitute at the present day what are considered as 
distinct orders. The points of departure of the various orders 
from the parent stock will be indicated later on. 
The Tremellinex, although undoubtedly closely allied to the 
Hymenomycetes, present none of the characteristic sequences of 
development common to all the other orders, and cannot be con- 
sidered as having been evolved from the Thelephoreze ; but, on the 
other hand, as pointed out by De Bary *, connect the latter with 
the tremelloid Uredines, which are clearly shown by the same 
author to belong to the Ascomycetes. Hence we must consider 
the Basidiomycetes as having originated from the Ascomycetes at 
the point indicated. A brief survey of the broad characteristic 
features of the two main divisions of Fungi, together with the 
modifications at the point of separation of the Basidiomycetes 
from the Ascomycetes, will indicate the reasons for the above 
statement. In the latter the most pronounced feature is the 
ascocarp, often preceded or accompanied by an asexual or gonidial 
phase of reproduction, which is, however, always subordinate to 
the former. The sporophore usually remains small and simple in 
structure, and in the few exceptional cases assumes forms that 
are repeated in the Basidiomycetes, where the ascocarp or sexual 
* * Fungi, Bacteria, and Mycetozoa,’ Engl. ed. p. 339. 
