CLASSIFICATION 431 



E. rhododendri. — Forming gall-like, bullate excrescences on the 

 leaves, which are at first of a pale, sickly green colour, gradually 

 becoming reddish and shining, and finely covered with a delicate 

 bloom due to the production of spores. 



On leaves, less frequently on petioles and stems of 'Rhododendron 

 ferrugineum and other species of Rhododendron. The galls or 

 blisters vary in size from a pea to that of a marble. 



Clavariace^ 



Sporophore erect, simple and more or less club-shaped, or vari- 

 ously branched and forming dense tufts ; hymenium usually 

 covering the whole surface of the sporophore. Flesh somewhat 

 brittle (not tough and leathery). 



The family presents a great variety of form from a simple, typical, 

 club-shaped body, through a slightly branched condition, up to 

 forms that are densely branched and resemble trees or various 

 corals in miniature. 



Several wideh' separated fungi closely resemble members of the 

 Clavariaceae in general habit, more especially Calocera viscosa, a 

 deep golden yellow, viscid fungus not uncommon on pine stumps. 

 The black species of Hypoxylon also come under this category, but 

 are distinguished by their colour and tough consistency. These 

 fungi are figured. 



Analysis of the Genera 



Forming a dense, compact body of large size, having the surface 

 covered with thin, anastomosing, plate-like lobes. Fleshy. 



Sparassis. 



Fairly large, erect, clubs simple, or the plant broken up into 

 numerous branches and branchlets. Fleshy. Clavaria. 



Minute, simple, filiform throughout or slightly club-shaped ; 

 sometimes springing from a small sclerotium. Pistillaria. 



Small. Branches filiform, very numerous, forming a brush-like 

 tuft, springing from a short, slender stem. Pteriila. 



NOTES ON THE GENERA 



Sparassis 

 The species rank amongst the largest of fungi, and are rare 

 everywhere. I once found a fine specimen 9 in. in diameter, 

 near Lyndhurst, in the New Forest. The stout, main branches 

 spring from a thick, root-hke base, and are often so crowded together 

 that they appear to form a sohd, fleshy mass, which becomes 

 broken up at the surface into flattened, more or less contorted lobes, 

 which grow into eacii other. The general colour is a dingy white 

 when fresh. Its general appearance has been compared to the 

 heart of a cabbage ; it also closely resembles some of the laminated 

 corals. It is excellent eating, and the discovery of a specimen is 



