CLASS, FUNGI 



SUB-CLASS BASIDIOMYCETES 



COHORT HTMENOMTCETES. Gr.-a membrane, a fruit-bearing sur- 

 face; Gr. a mushroom. (So called from the hymenium or fruit-bearing surface.) 



UNGI composed of membranes, fleshy, woody or gelatin- 

 ous, growing on wood or on the ground. The hymenium 

 or spore-bearing surface exposed at an early stage. The 

 spores are borne on basidia, spread over the surface. 

 The common mushroom is typical of the family. All the 

 members resemble it, more or less, in organization and reproductive 

 organs. These latter, in the mushroom, are spread over lamella; or 

 gills. The spores, after ripening and dissemination, germinate and 

 produce a mycelium or thread-like vine, which in turn develops the 

 spore-producing part of the plant. Hymenomycetes is divided into the 

 following six Families: 



a. HYMENIUM FIGURATE. 



I. Spread over the surface of lamellae or gills AGARICACE^E. 



II. Lining the interior of tubes or pores POLYPORACE^E. 



III. Clothing the surface of spines or protuberances of various forms HYDNACE^E. 



b. HYMENIUM EVEN. 



IV. Horizontal and mostly on the under surface THELEPHORACE^:. 



V. Vertical and produced all over the surface CLAVARIACE^. 



VI. Superior, gelatinous fungi .TREMELLACE^E. 



FAMILY I. AGARIC ACE^J. 



In the Agaricaceae the hymenium is spread over lamellse or gills 

 which radiate from a center or stem. The gills are composed of a 

 double membrane, and are simple or branched. 



The parts of an Agaric may all be present as in Amanitae, or severally 

 absent in other genera. When the young fungus is entirely enclosed in 

 a wrapper or case, this case is called the universal veil. When this 

 veil is ruptured by the growth of the stem, that part which remains 



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