98 FUNGUS-FLOEA. 



CONIOPHORA, D.C. (emended), (figs. 1-3, p. 94.) 



Broadly effused, adnate ; margin defined or indeterminate ; 

 hymenium withont cystidia, when mature powdered with 

 the smooth, coloured spores. 



Coniopliora, D.C, Flor. Fr. vi. p. 34 ; Mass., Mon. Thel., 

 p. 128. 



Corticium, sub-gen. Coniophora, Pers., Myc. Eur., p. 153; 

 Fries, Hym. Eur., p. 657 ; Cke., Grev. v. 8, p. 88. 



The species constituting the present genus usually form 

 broadly expanded patches on dead wood or baric, agreeing in 

 this respect with the species of Corticium and PeniopJiora, but 

 readily' distinguished by the coloured spores. In some 

 species of Hijmenochaete the spores are coloured, but the hyme- 

 nium bristles with projecting coloured spines or cystidia, 

 which give to the surface a velvety appearance under a 

 pocket-lens. In the genus ThclepJiora, again, the spores are 

 generally coloured, but rough with minute warts, and the 

 hymenium has a tendency to become uneven, whereas in 

 Coniopliora the hymenium is even, but may appear to be 

 nodulose or irregular when very thin, and following the 

 inequalities of the matrix. The leading features of the 

 present genus are, the close attachment of every portion of 

 the fungus to the substratum, and the even, smooth hyme- 

 nium powdered with the smooth, coloured spores. 



The species are closely allied, and represent a very primi- 

 tive type of the Basidiomycetes ; the hymenium is uppermost, 

 and there is no tendency shown by an}' one species to depart 



purpnrt'um, showing tlic clenients of the hymenium — basidia and para- 

 pliyses — s])rinf^ing from a denstdy compacted stratum of hyphae, below 

 which there is a hiyer of loosely interwoven mycelium; tlie presence of 

 this dense subhynieniid layer is an important morpholDgieal distinction 

 between Stereuia and tlie allied genus Corticium: highly mag.; — Fig. 15, 

 Clndoih'rrix minima; nat. size; — Fig. 1(J, a single specimen of same; 

 slightly mag. ; — Fig. 17, spores of same; liigldy mag.; — Fig. 18, Soppit- 

 liella cridata; nat. size; — Fig. 19, basidium and spons of same; highly 

 mag. ; — Fig. 20, Aldridffca rfcJatinom, portion of a specimen; nat. size; — 

 Fig. 21, basidium and spores of same ; higiily mag. ; — Fig. 22, Exohaddium 

 vacrinii, showing the buUate i)atches formeil by tiie fungus on the leaves 

 of Vaccinium myrlillua; iiiit. size ; — l^'ig. 23, portion of the under side of 

 Thelephora laciniata, showing tiie rugose hymenium and laciniate margin ; 

 nat. size ; — Fig. 24, basidium and spores of same ; highly mag. 



