I.-SYSTEMATIC AIIEANCtEMENT OF AUSTEALIAN FUNCII. 



SYNOPSIS OF GROUPS. 



In selecting a system of classification I have adopted that which l)Ost expresses the present state of our 

 knowledge as regards the life-histories of the various forms, which after all constitute the ultimate court of 

 appeal in settling affinity. But unfortunately there are numerous cases where the life-history has not heen 

 wrought out, and so certain groups have to bo provisionally placed along with those to which they seem to be 

 most nearly related. Saccardo's Sylloge Fungorum has been mainly followed, while Dr. Cooke's Handbook of 

 Australian Fungi, G. Massee's British Fungus- Flora, De Bary's Fimgi, and Brefold's works have all beeu 

 consulted. 



MYCOMYCETES 



GROUPS OF AUSTRALIAN FUNGI 

 1. 



I. — IItmenomycetes 



II.- — GASTROlirOETES 



III. — Ueedines 



IV. — Pyrenomtcetes 



V. DiSCOMYCETES ... 



VI. TuBEROIDES 



VII. — HynioMYCETES 



VIII. SPH.EROrSIDES 



IX. — Sacchaeomycetes 



X. USTILAGINES ... 



XI. — Phycomycetes 

 XII. — Myxomycetes 



[ Basidiomycetes. 



^cidiomycetes. 



1 



J 



Ascomycetes. 



,- Imperfect forms of Ascomycetes ? 

 Trau.«itional forms. 

 Transitional to animals. 



The systematic sequence of the groups is at present a matter of indivi<lual oi)iuiou, but they are arranged 

 in the order in which they will be treated, and are reduced withiu the smallest limits consistent with clearness. 

 The two main divisions are Mycomycetes, in which there are no sexually produced reproductive bodies, and 

 Phycomycetes, or those approximating to sea-weeds, in which reproduction is sexual as well as asexual. 



The Mycomycetes are divided into two chief classes — Basidiomycetes and Ascomycetes — the former producing 

 naked spores at the ends of large terminal cells called basidia, and the latter producing spores in an ascus or 

 bag. The Ustilagines are regarded as transition forms to the Phycomycetes. The Myxomycetes differ in important 

 points from fungi, and are regarded as more nearly related to animals, but they are conveniently retained here for 

 the present. The Schizomycetes or Bacteria also differ from fungi in chlorophyll being sometimes present, and the 

 hyphsB or the threads of the ordinary fungus absent. To this group belong some of the organisms causing disease 

 in plants, but as the greater part of the forms l)clong to medicine, I have finally decided to omit them. The 

 Uredines are doubtful in their affinities, and they are placed iu a class, jEcidiomycetcs, between the other two until 

 their position is properly settled. 



B 



