560 CLASS BASIDIOMYCETEAE 



part of the stipe penetrates the gleba to the apical portion of the peridiiim, 

 rarely not quite reaching this far. The peridium pulls free from the stipe 

 below or splits near the latter exposing the powdery gleba. In 1933 Fischer 

 placed Podaxis in a separate family but in 1934 he recognized its close 

 relationship to Phellorinia. Miss Morse (1933) made an extensive study of 

 Podaxis and came to the conclusion that the various species that have 

 been described are all based upon specimens of various ages and grown 

 under extremes of habitat. She recognizes therefore only the one species 

 P. pistillaris (L. ex Pers.) Fr. (Fig. 188.) 



Key to the Orders and Families of Gasteromyceteae 



Small, hypogeous or epigeous, with a single hymenial cavity lined by an even 

 hymenium. Order Protogastrales 



No columella, hymenial cavity more or less spherical. 



Family Protogastraceae 

 Hymenial cavity annular, surrounding the percurrent columella. 



Family Hemigastraceae 

 Small to large, hypogeous or epigeous, with one to many hymenial cavities pro- 

 duced in the lacunar or coralloid manner. If only one hymenial cavity 

 is formed that is lined at maturity by a folded or lobed hymenial 

 layer. In some genera the cavities are filled with a gelatinous sub- 

 stance into which the basidia project. 

 Gleba at maturity not undergoing much change. With or without a stipe. 

 Hymenial cavities typical or gelatine-filled. 



Order Hymenogastrales 

 Columella mostly lacking (present in some of the Hysterangiaceae and in 

 Gasterellopsis in the Hymenogastraceae) . 

 Hymenial cavities typical, lined by hymenium. 

 Gleba fleshy, not clearly coralloid in development. 



Family Hymenogastraceae 

 Gleba cartilaginous to gelatinous, plainly coralloid. 



Family Hysterangiaceae 

 Hymenial cavities filled with gelatinous substance or with irregular masses 

 of basidia. Family Melanogastraceae 



Columella reaching the apex and spreading to form the pileus, no marked 

 stipe at maturity. Development pseudoangiocarpic. 



Family Hydnangiaceae 

 Columella produced downward below the pileus to form a distinct stipe. 

 Gleba free from the stipe at maturity, at least below. 



Family Secotiaceae 

 Gleba at maturity deliquescing to a slimy, usually evil-smelling mass, which 

 covers or is supported by a definite framework (the receptacle). 



Order Phallales 

 Receptacle lattice-like or irregularly branched or lobed, with or without a 



stipe. Family Clathraceae 



Receptacle occupying the upper portion of a stout, hollow stipe, either grown 

 fast to it or forming a bell-shaped structure (pileus) attached at the 

 top of the stipe. Family Phallaceae 



Medium to large, mostly epigeous at maturity and usually with a thick peridium. 

 Hymenial cavities lacunar in origin, obliterated or replaced by nests 



