384 



THALLOPHYTES 



are divided into a number qf orders. The most familiar orders 

 are those represented by the Toadstools and Mushrooms (Hy- 

 menomycetes) , Puff balls (Gasteromycetes), Smuts (Ustilaginales), 

 and Rusts (Uredinales). 



Toadstools and Mushrooms (Hymenomycetes). This is the 

 most familiar order to most people, because it includes so many 

 forms like the Toadstools and Mushrooms, which have conspicu- 

 ous sporophores. In addition to the Toadstools and Mushrooms, 

 the order contains some other rather familiar kinds of Fungi. 



The Fungi of this order are chiefly 

 saprophytes, living on decaying wood, 

 leaf mold, rich humus, and manure. 

 Often the organic matter upon which 

 they are living is not visible and they 

 seem to be growing right out of the 

 soil. As the name of the order sug- 

 gests, they have a hymenium, and 

 the hymenium, which consists of 

 basidia commonly intermingled with 

 sterile hyphae, is borne exposed. 

 Usually the hymenium is on the 

 under side of the sporophore where it 

 is protected from rain. 



Those of the order having umbrella- 

 shaped sporophores are popularly 

 called Toadstools and when edible 

 they are popularly called Mushrooms. 

 The term Mushroom, however, is 

 often applied to Morels and all kinds 

 of Fungi that are edible. There are 



several hundred species of edible Fungi in the United States 

 and more than one hundred of them are of the Toadstool type. 

 Some of the Toadstools are deadly poisonous, as the one shown 

 in Figure 337, and many that are not poisonous are tough, 

 fibrous, or ill-tasting and hence not edible. Between edible and 

 non-edible Fungi there are no botanical distinctions or guides. 

 By experience people have learned that some species are edible 

 and some non-edible, and many sad accidents have occurred as a 

 result of not being able to distinguish the poisonous from the 

 edible ones. 



FIG. 337. A poisonous 

 Toadstool, Amanita bulbosa. 

 Xi 



