i8o RESEARCHES ON FUNGI 



on far less massive fruit-bodies in a Clavaria than in a Polyporus 

 or Boletus but, owing to their mode of support, it is impossible 

 for them to be so fine and numerous in a Clavaria as in a Polyporus 

 or Boletus. Hence, in a Clavaria, although the form is very simple 

 and obviates the production of a thick pileus-flesh, the simplicity 

 and the saving of flesh are accompanied by the production of a 

 comparatively limited hymenial area. Moreover, in a Clavaria, 



FIG. 61. Clavaria pistillaris. The fruit-body has a simple club- 

 shaped form and typically takes up an upright position. The 

 fruit-bodies here shown have been somewhat damaged and 

 disturbed by a rodent. Photographed in the Wienerwald, 

 near Vienna, by Somerville Hastings. Natural size. 



the hymenium is directly exposed to the sun and air and is there- 

 fore much more liable to suffer from the effects of dry or rainy 

 weather than the hymenium of a Polyporus or Boletus. As 

 judged by number of species and frequency of occurrence, the 

 Clavarieae as a group are much less successful than the Polyporeae 

 and the Agaricineae. In all probability this is due, in part at 

 least, to the relatively small amount of hymenium and therefore 

 to the relatively small number of spores produced by even the 

 largest fruit-bodies, and also to the hymenium being exposed 

 on the surface of the fruit-body instead of being protected by 

 being disposed upon gills or in tubes on the under side of the 

 fruit-body. 



