SPORE-DISCHARGE IN THE TREMELLINEAE 163 



looks more or less downwards. This arrangement is seen, for 

 instance, in Auricularia mesenterica, in Himeola auricula- judae, 

 and in Femsjonia luteo-alba. Auricularia mesenterica is broadly 

 attached like Stereum hirsutum and has its hymenium confined 

 to its lower surface. Hirneola auricula-judae (Fig. 57) is attached 

 by a point and is ear-shaped. Its hymenium is limited to the con- 

 cave surface of the ear ; and the ear, as it grows in size, gradually 

 bends downwards so that the concavity is directed toward the 

 earth. Femsjonia luteo-alba (Fig. 58) has small conical fruit- 

 bodies which are reminiscent of the relatively gigantic hoof-shaped 

 fruit-bodies of Fomes fomentarius. They grow downwards from the 

 sides of fallen branches of Oaks and Birches and have a flattened 

 under surface. This inferior surface is covered by the golden 

 yellow hymenium, so that the basidia look more or less toward 

 the centre of the earth. Among other gelatinous fungi in which 

 the hymenium is restricted to the lower downward-looking surface 

 of the fruit-body may be mentioned Exidia glandulosa (Witches' 

 Butter), Guepinia spathularia, and Tremellodon gelatinosum, all 

 of which I have studied in the woods around Kenora, Ontario. 

 It is evident that many Tremellineae, but not all, respond to the 

 stimulus of gravity in such a way as to cause the hymenium to look 

 more or less downwards, thus resembling the more substantially 

 constructed Agaricineae, Polyporeae, Hydneae, and Thelephoreae. 

 The fruit-bodies of the Tremellineae, with the exception of those 

 which are more or less spherical or hemispherical, tend, as sys- 

 tematists have remarked, to resemble the fruit-bodies of the other 

 main groups of the Hymenomycetes. Thus : (1) some gelatinous 

 fruit-bodies form thin layers and are Corticum-like ; (2) Auricu- 

 laria mesenterica, except for the slight wrinkling of its hymenium, 

 resembles Stereum ; (3) Protomerulius, with pores 011 its under 

 surface, resembles Merulius ; (4) Protohydnum and Tremellodon, 

 with spines on their under surface, resemble Hydnum ; and (5) 

 Calocera cornea and C. viscosa resemble unbranched and branched 

 Clavariae respectively. A gelatinous fungus with obtuse, well- 

 developed, gelatinous gills has recently been found in Africa, and 

 Mr. 0. G. Lloyd kindly sent me some specimens. Unfortunately, 

 the fruit-bodies, when wetted, did not revive, and the basidia were 



