CLASSIFICATION OF FUNGI. 59 



Class I. GASTEROMYCETES, OR STOMACH 



FUNGI. 



The Basidia-bearing fungi, or Basidiomy- 

 cetes, are divided into three classes, as has been 

 already stated. The third class, Hymenomy- 

 cetes, or Membrane fungi, has been described, 

 but there remain two other groups of which 

 we will now speak more fully. They may 

 be considered too difficult for beginners, 

 and we would not venture to enter further 

 into the subject were it not that some of the 

 most familiar fungi belong to these classes — 

 such as Puff-balls, Morels, and Helvellas. 



The first class, called the Gasteromycetes, or 

 Stomach fungi, matures its spores on the in- 

 side of the plant. The distinction between this 

 class and that of the Membrane fungi, which 

 ripens its spores on the outside, may be more 

 readily understood by one familiar with the 

 structure of the fig, whose flowers are situated 

 on the interior of its pear-shaped, hollow axis, 

 which is the fruit. 



We will divide the Stomach fungi into four 

 orders — 1, the thick-skinned fungi (Sclero- 

 derma) ; 2, the Bird's-nest fungi (Nidulariae) ; 



