450 



CLASS BASIDIOMYCETEAE 



or somewhat clavate. The two nuclei unite and then divide once sticho- 

 basidially, and then a second time in the same direction. The broadened 

 apex of the basidium becomes lobed to produce two "epibasidia" of the 

 same diameter and often of almost the same length as the "hypobasid- 

 ium." The upper two nuclei migrate into the two epibasidia and then 

 through the sterigma at the tip of each into the basidiospores. The two 

 nuclei remaining in the hypobasidium degenerate. The mature basidium 

 often resembles a tuning fork. Clamp connections are frequent in the spore 

 fruits but in the primary mycelium produced by the germination of the 

 spores they are lacking. Just how and when diploidization occurs has not 

 been demonstrated. Eight to ten genera are recognized, in temperate as 

 well as in tropical regions. 



Fig. 148. Order Dacrymycetales, Family Dacrymycetaceae. (A) Daciymyces 

 lulescens Bref., habit sketch. (B) Dacrymyces deliquescens Duby, various stages in the 

 development of basidia and basidiospores. (C) Guepiniopsis sp., habit sketch. (D) 

 Basidiospores of Guepiniopsis. (A, after Brcfeld: Untersuchungen aus dcm Gesammt- 

 gcbiete der Mykologie, Heft 7, pp. 1-178. B, after Dangeard: Le Botaniste, 4:119- 

 181. C-D, courtesy, Martin: Mycologia, 24(2):215-220.) 



