238 TEXT-BOOK OF FUNGI 



Family. Sclerodermeae. 



,, Nidularieae. 



,, Lycoperdeae, 



Phalloideae. 



Order. Deuteromycetes. 



Sub-Order. Sphaeropsidiaceae. 



Family. Sphaeroideae. 



Nectrioideae. 



Leptostromeae. 



Excipuleae. 



Sub-Order. Melanconieae. 



Family. Melanconieae. 



Sub-Order. Hyphomycetes. 



Family. Mucedineae. 



, ; Dematieae. 

 Stilbeae. 



,, Tubercularieae. 



FUNGI 



In our present state of knowledge, it is impossible to 

 give a concise definition that shall include all fungi, and 

 at the same time exclude all other forms of plant life. 

 Negative characters perhaps afford the clearest conception 

 of the group, as contrasted with other plants. 



The absence of chlorophyll and consequent necessity for 

 organic food, coupled with the absence of true parenchy- 

 matous tissue, which is replaced by more or less compacted 

 strands of cells or hyphae not organically joined laterally, 

 constitute the most pronounced characteristics. It is im- 

 portant to bear in mind that the two features indicated 

 must be in combination to constitute a fungus, as both 

 characters are not uncommon in other groups of plants. 



