66 



FUNGI. 



almost even. In the two remaining orders, there is a still further 

 divergence from the mushroom form. In the one called Clavarieij 

 the entire fungus is either simply cylindrical or club-shaped, or 

 it is very much branched and ramified. Whatever form the 

 fungus assumes, the hymeniuni covers the whole exposed surface. 

 In the Tremellini, a peculiar structure prevails, which at first 

 seems to agree but little with the preceding. The whole plant 

 is gelatinous when fresh, lobed and convolute, often brain-like, 

 and varying in size, according to species, from that of a pin's 

 head to that of a man's head. Threads and sporophores are 

 imbedded in the gelatinous substance,* so that the fertile threads 

 are in reality not compacted into a true 

 hymenium. With this introduction we 

 may state that the technical characters 

 of the family are thus expressed : 



Hymenium free, mostly naked, or, if 

 enclosed at first, soon exposed ; spores 

 naked, mostly quaternate, on distinct 

 spicules = H'YMENOMYCETES. 



In this family some mycologists be- 

 lieve that fungi attain the highest form 

 of development of which they are ca- 

 pable, whilst others contend that the 

 fructification of the Ascomycetes is more 

 perfect, and that some of the noblest species, such as the pileate 

 forms, are entitled to the first rank. The morel is a familiar 

 example. Whatever may be said on this point, it is incontro- 

 vertible that the noblest and most attractive, as well as the 

 largest, forms are classed under the Hymenomycetes. 



In G aster omycetes, the second family, a true hymeniuni is 

 also present, but instead of being exposed it is for a long time 

 enclosed in an outer peridium or sac, until the spores are fully 

 matured, or the fungus is beginning to decay. The common 

 puff-ball (Lycoperdon) is well known, and will illustrate the 

 principal feature of the family. Externally there is a tough 

 * Tulasne, L. and C. R., " Observations sur 1'Organisation des Tremellin^es," 

 "Ann. des Sci. Nat." 1853, xix. p. 193. 



FIG. 37. Ayaricus nudus. 



