HIDDEN MARRIAGES 



549 



[. Step. 



FIG. 695. FAIRY CLUBS (Clavaria argillacea). 



A wax-like reenish-vellow fungus, found rarely upon heaths. An example of the unbranched (simple) species 



of Clavariese. 



from the first (see also fig. 201 for a photograph of an example in a younger 

 condition than those shown in fig. 688). The Pyrenomycetes include the 

 Truffle (Tuber cestivum), which is wholly subterranean in habit, the Hart- 

 truffles (Elaphomyces, fig. 196), Cordyceps (figs. 195, 196), the familiar 

 Candle-snuff Fungus (Xylaria hypoxylon, fig. 693). and Ergot (Claviceps, 

 fig. 686) already described. 



Little more than mere mention can be made of the remaining Orders. 

 The Hysteriacese consists of Fungi which vegetate under the epidermis of 

 plants and whose ascophores burst through and present the appearance of 

 a black elongated low excrescence with a longitudinal slit. Some take [a 

 stellate form, and others rise vertically in the shape of a miniature musst 

 shell. They are all minute species. 



The Phycomycetese is a small Order of Mould-like Fungi whose myce 

 consists of unicellular threads, that is to say there are no transverse 

 partitions breaking the thread up into cells or compartments. A familiar 



