464 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



resupinate forms of Polyporei. Several of the species are fleshy and 

 edible, but others are of a corky texture. 



In the Auricularini the hymeuium is confluent with the hvmenophore, 

 which is even and very rarely veined. The habit is generally the same 

 as in the Pofyoorei. 



The hymenium of the Clavarinei is scarcely distinct from the hymeno- 

 phore, and is amphigeous, and reaches to the apex of the plant, which 

 is sometimes club-shaped, and sometimes in the form of spines usually 

 growing together at the base. The surface is at first smooth, but becomes 

 wrinkled afterwards. The plants are never incrusting nor leathery, but 

 are usually at first gelatinous and afterwards horny. It is said that 

 several species are esculent. 



Suborder 3. GASTEEOMYCETES. Fungi forming roundish angio- 

 carpous receptacles consisting of an outer layer or peridium enclosing 

 masses of tissue on which are borne the bvmenia. The spores are 

 borne at the points of basiclia, one basidium often producing as 

 many as eight spores. The spores are liberated either by the simple 

 bursting of the peridium, or by the development of particular 

 masses of tissue. Illustrative Genera : Phallus, L. ; Ly coper don, 

 Tournef. ; Hymenogaster Vitt. ; Nidularia, Fr. 



Structure and Life-history. In Phallus the peri di urn resembles the 

 universal volva of some Agarics in the wav in which it envelopes the 

 internal part of the receptacle, and also in its manner of bursting. 

 Within the volva is a gelatinous stratum, and within that again the 

 hymenium, which is very deliquescent and covered by an inner peridium. 

 On the bursting of the peridium (or volva) the hymenium is elevated in 

 a sort of pileus by a stalk, as in the volvate Atjaricini. In Clathrus, an 

 allied genus, the receptacle forms a globose network. In Batarrea there 

 is also present a universal volva, and the hvmenium is similarly elevated ; 

 but in Lycoperdon, Hymennyaster, Nidularia, &c., the bursting of the 

 peridium sets free the spores without any such elevation, the hymeninm 

 remaining in the interior. The spores reproduce the mycelium, on which 

 the same plant prows ajniin without any intermediate stage as far as is 

 known. The Puff-balls (Lycoperdori) and Stink-horns (Phallus) are 

 typical of this Order. 



ASCOMYCETES. 



Diagnosis. Fungi growing chiefly on the dead parts or remains 

 of plants, more rarely on living plants or organic solutions. The 

 spores of this Order are formed in asci by free cell-formation, 

 and are distinguished by the name of ascnspores. From the germi- 

 nating ascospore there proceeds a mycelium consisting of denselv 

 branching hyphae, which develops either within the host or spreads 

 on its surface, and is sometimes short-lived, and sometimes per- 

 sists for years. In most cases it is in a position to produce 

 asexual reproductive organs co-nidia, stylospores, and xpermatia. 

 The conidia are borne on conidiophores or special branches of the 



