THE CLASSIKICyVTION OF FUNGI 31 



fleshy body, called a stroma. In the genus Xylaria, one species 

 of wliich is often cahed the " candle-snuff fungus," the stroma 

 grows erect, and is often more or less club-shaped, and might be 

 mistaken for a Clavaria until carefully examined. A section across 

 the fungus will reveal the presence of a row of minute, pear-shaped 

 perithecia or ascus-producing bodies arranged round the periphery 

 of the stroma. In the genus Hypoxylon, the stroma forms warts 

 or crust-like patches on wood and bark. All the species are black 

 in colour, and mostly hard or carbonaceous. 



Hypocreace.e 



The members of this family agree in general appearance with 

 those belonging to the Sphaeriaceae, some having an erect club- 

 shaped stroma, others a flattened, crust-like expansion. The most 

 obvious point of difference consists in the fact that the species 

 belonging to the present family are never black, but often brightly 

 coloured, and the general consistency of the fungus is soft and 

 fleshy, not rigid and carbonaceous or brittle. Several of the species 

 are parasitic on insects, more especially in the chrysalis or cater- 

 pillar stage. 



Having given brief descriptions of the leading features of the 

 principal groups of fungi, we are in a position to reduce such de- 

 scriptions to the form of a ke}', just indicating the most constant 

 and important structural characters of each family, and its sub- 

 divisions included in the Basidiomycetes. Some of the features are 

 microscopic details, but it is hoped that such may be taken up, 

 after the student has made a certain amount of progress. 



Order : BASIDIOMYCETES 

 Sub-Order : Hymenomycetes 

 Family : Agaricacece. Hymenium borne on lamellae or gills. 

 Sub-Families : LeucosporcB. Spores white. 

 ChlorosporcB. Spores green. 

 Rhodospora. Spores pink. 

 OcJirosporcE. Spores ochraceous or brown. 

 Melanosporce. Spores black or l:)lackish purple. 

 Family : Polyporacece. Hymenium borne on the inside of tubes or 



pits. 

 Family : HydnacecF. H\'menium borne on the surface of spines 



or warts. 

 Family : TJiclephoracece. Surface of hymenium smooth. Fungus 

 incrusting, or when erect, tough and dry, or leathery. 

 Family : ClavariacecB. Hymenium smooth. Fungus erect, club- 

 shaped, or much branched, fleshy and brittle. 

 Family : TremellacecB. Hymenium smooth. Substance of fungus 

 gelatinous when moist, rigid and horny when dry. 



