ANALYTICAL KEYS. -''I 



HYMENOMYCErES. 



Analytical Key of the Families. 



Plants not gelatinous ; basidia continuous i 



Plants gelatinous or sub-gelatinous, basidia forked, or 

 di\ided longitudinally or transversely 4 



1 — Hymenium uneven, i. e., in the form of radiating plates, 



or folds ; or a lioney-combed surface, or recticulate, 



warty, spiny, etc 2 



H\nienium smooth (not as in R, though it may be con- 

 solute and irregular, or ribbed or veined) 3 



2 Hymenium usually on tiie under side, in the form of radi- 



ating plates, or strong folds. The genus Phlebia in the 

 Hydnaceae has the hymenium on smooth, somewhat 

 radiating veins which are interrupted and irregular. 

 One exotic genus has the hymenium on numerous 



irregular obtuse lobes rRhacophyllus) Agaricaceae. 17 



Hymenium usually below (or on the outer surface when 

 the plant is spread over the substratum ), honey-combed, 

 porous, tubulose, or reticulate ; in one genus with short, 



concentric plates PoI\poraceae. 171 



Hvmenium usually below (or on the outer surface when 

 the plant is spread over the substratum), warted, tuber- 

 culate, or with stout, spinous processes ; or with inter- 

 rupted vein-like folds in resupinate forms Hydnaceae. rgs 



3— Plants somewhat corky or membranaceous, more or less 

 expanded ; hymenium on the under surface (upper sur- 

 face sterile), or on the outer or exposed surface when 

 the plant is spread over the substratum (margin may 

 then sometimes be free, but upper surface, i. e., that 

 tow'ard the substratum, sterile). ( Minute slender spines 

 are sometimes intermingled with the elements of the 

 hymenium, and sliould not be mistaken fur the stouter 

 spinous processes of the Hydnacea?). . Thclephoraceae. jo8 



3 — Plants more or less fleshy, upright (never spread o\ er the 

 surface of the substratum), simple or branched. Hvme- 

 nium covering both sides and the upper surface. Clavariaceae. 200 



4— Basidia forked or longitudinally divided ; or if continuous 

 then globose, or bearing numerous spores; or if the 

 plant is leathery, membranous, ortloccose, then basidia 

 as described. Hymenium covering the entire free sur- 

 face or confined to one portion ; smooth, gyrose, folded 

 or lobed ; or hymenium lamellate, porous, reticulate or 

 toothed forms which are gelatinous and pro\ided with 

 continuous basidia may be sought here. Tremcliincae. 204 



