232 



FORMS OF THE AGARICALES 



rusts, but the spores are formed in the same manner at the end 

 of two or four small tubes that grow out from the apex of the 

 basidia. It should be stated that a series of intermediate forms 

 exist that connect the divided basidia with the present form. 

 The spores are mature and begin to drop off as soon as the pileus 

 opens, when they are scattered by the wind and develop under 

 favorable conditions into a new mycelium. If the pileus of a 

 freshly opened mushroom is placed on a sheet of gray paper and 

 tightly covered with a dish, so as to exclude all air currents, the 

 spores will fall directly upon the paper and in a few hours form 

 an exact copy or a spore print of the gill arrangement. There 

 are several very widely distributed and familiar families of the 

 Agaricales, distinguished by the arrangement and distribution of 

 their hymenium. 



A. Thelephoraceae. These fungi form membranous, leathery 

 or woody incrustations or shell-like structures or branching bodies 

 on soil or wood (Fig. 169, A, B). The hymenium forms a 

 smooth or slightly wrinkled surface on the under side or exposed 

 surface of the fungus. 



c 



FIG. 169. Forms of the Agaricales : A, Stereum, top view. B, underside, 

 showing the characteristic smooth hymenial surface of the Telephoraceae. 

 C, a coral fungus, Clavaria, with hymenium confined to the tips of the 

 branches. D, a prickly fungus, Hydnum, with the hymenium on spine-like 

 projection. 



