CHAPTER XIV. 



SUB-CLASS BASIDIOMYCETES. 



GROUP GASTROMYCETES. 



Gastromycetes is from two Greek words : gaster, stomach ; mycctcs, fungus. 

 We have already seen that, in the group, Hymenomycetes, the spore-bearing 

 surface is exposed as in the common mushroom or in the pore-bearing varieties, 

 but in the Gastromycetes the hymenium is inclosed in the rind or peridium. The 

 word peridium comes from pcridio ( I wrap around) ; because the peridium entirely 

 envelops the spore-bearing portion, which, in due time, sheds the inclosed spores 

 that have been formed inside the basidia and spicules, as will be seen in Figure 2. 

 The cavity within the peridium consists of two parts : the threaded part, called 

 the capillitium, which can be seen in any dried puffbali, and' a cellular part, called 

 the gleba, which is the spore-bearing tissue, composed of minute chambers lined 

 with the hymenium. The peridium breaks in various ways to permit the spores 

 to escape. When children pinch a puffbali to "see the smoke," as they say, issue 

 from it, little do they know that they are doing just what the puffbali would have 

 them do, in order that its seeds may be scattered to the winds. 



In case of the Phalloides, the hymenium deliquesces, instead of drying up. 



Berkeley, in his "Outlines," gives the following characterization of this family : 

 "Hymenium more or less permanently concealed, consisting in most cases of 

 closely packed cells, of which the fertile ones bear naked spores in distinct spicules, 

 exposed only by the rupture or decay of the investing coat or peridium." 



The following families will be treated here : 

 I. Phalioideae Terrestrial. Hymenium deliquescent. 



II. Lycoperdacese Cellular at first. Hymenium drying up in a mass of 

 threads and spores. 



III. Sclerodermace?e Peridium inclosing sporangia. 



Phalloidccc. Fr. 



Volva universal, the intermediate stratum gelatinous. Hymenium deli- 

 quescent. Berkeley's Outlines. 



The following genera will be represented: 



I. Phallus Pilcus free around the stem. 



II. Mutinus Pileus attached to the stem. 



(522) 



