SECT. I 



CRYPTOGAMS 



415 



is nearly allied. According to Holterman, the mycelium of Agaricus rajab is 

 cultivated in their nests by termites in tropical Asia (^-). 



Economic Uses. — Pobjporus fomentarius (Fuxcus chirurgorum). Polyporus 

 officinalis {= Boletus larieis) gives Agaricus albus, 

 Agaricinum, and Acidum Agaricinum. 



Order 6. Gasteromycetes ("") 



The Gasteromycetes are distinguished from the 

 Hymenomycetes by their closed fructifications, which 

 open only after the spores are ripe, by the rupture of 

 the outer hyphal cortex or peridii'M. The spores are 

 formed within the fi-uctifications in an inner mass 

 of tissue termed the gleba ; it contains numerous 

 chambers, which are either filled with loosely inter- 

 woven hyphae with lateral branches terminating in 

 basidia, or their walls are lined with a basidial 

 hymenium. 





i-j^ 



>o- 



/.. 



Fio. 352. — 1, Sdernderma vvtgare, fiuctification ; '2, basidia of same. 

 (After TuLASNE.) 3, Lycoperdon rjeiamatii.m, ; U, Geaster gro nulosus. 

 (1, 3, It, nat. .size ; 2 enlarged.) 



Fir;. 35.3. — Phalhis impudicus. 

 (After Krombholz, i nat. 

 size.) 



The Gasteromycetes are saprophytes, and develop their mycelium in the humus 

 soil of woods and meadows. Their fructifications, like those of the Hymenomycetes, 

 are raised above the .sm-face of the substratum, except in the group of the Hjnneno- 

 gastreae, which possesses subterran'fcan, tuberous fructifications I'eserabling those of 

 the Tuberaceae. 



