GROUP I. THALLOPHYTA : FUNGI : BASIDIOMYCETES. 315 



mycetes, the sporophyte is entirely unrepresented in consequence 

 of the complete disappearance not only of the sexual organs of 

 the ganaetophyte, but of any representative of the product of a 

 sexual process. The various forms occurring in the life-history 

 of any Basidiomycete belong to the gametophyte; these forms 

 are, however, less distinct from each other than are the corre- 

 sponding forms of the ^cidiomycetes, so that the life-history is 

 here more concise. 



The Basidiomycetes are classified as follows: 



Series I. PROTOBASIDIOMYCETES : basidia multicellular, four-celled, each cell 

 bearing a gonidium ; simple gonidiophores generally present. 



Fam. 1. Pilacrete. The septa in the basidia are transverse ; the compound 

 gonidiophore is differentiated into stipe and pileus, and is angiocarpous, the 

 hymenium, which is on the upper surface of the pileus, being covered by a 

 membrane (velum) which eventually decays ; each cell of the basidium pro- 

 duces a single gonidium. 



The family includes the genus Pilacre, with the two species P. faginea (on 

 Beech), and P. Petersii (on Hornbeam). 



Fam. 2. Auricular iece. The septa in the basidia are transverse ; the com- 

 pound gonidiophore, not differentiated into stipe and pileus, is gymnocarpous ; 

 the hymenium is irregularly folded and is gelatinous when wet ; each cell of 

 the basidium bears a single gonidium on a sterigma. 



The family includes the genus Aurieularia, growing on the stems of trees. 



Fam. 3. Tremellinea. The septa in the basidia are longitudinal ; the com- 

 pound gonidiophore, not differentiated into stipe and pileus, is gymnocarpous ; 

 the hymenium is irregularly folded and generally gelatinous ; each cell of the 

 basidium bears a gonidium on a terminal sterigma (Fig. 220). 



The family includes the genera Exidia, Tremella, Craterocolla, Sebacina, 

 and Gyrocephalus, growing on decaying wood, tree-trunks, etc. 



Series II. AUTOBASIDIOMYCETES. Basidia unicellular ; simple gonidiophores 

 in some forms. 



Order 1. Hymenomycetes. Compound gonidiophore gymnocarpous, or 

 hemi-angiocarpous, or rarely angiocarpous ; in any case the hymenium is ex- 

 posed before the maturity of the basidiogonidia ; each basidium bears 2-6 

 (usually 4) apical sterigmata each of which bears a gonidium. 



Fam. 1. Dacryomycetes. Basidia elongated, with two sterigmata ; compound 

 gouidiophores sometimes gelatinous, gymnocarpous, presenting in some forms 

 (e.g. Dacryomitra) rudimentary differentiation into stipe and pileus, sometimes 

 branched (e.g. Calocera). 



The family includes the genera Dacryomyces, Guepinia (with a cup-like 

 gonidiophore resembling the apothecium of Peziza), Dacryomitra, and Calocera 

 the gonidiophore of which resembles that of the Clavariese. 



Fam. 2. Clavariece. The compound gonidiophore is fleshy and gymnocarpous, 

 either uubranched (e.g. Pistillaria), or branched, cylindrical (e.g. Clavaria, Fig. 

 221), or flattened and expanded (e.g. Sparassis), not differentiated into stipe 

 and pileus ; the hymenium covers the whole surface of the gonidiophore, or is 



