66 FUNGI. 



almost even. In the two remaining orders, there is a still further 

 divergence from the mushroom form. In the one called Clavariei, 

 the entire fungus is either simply cylindrical or club-shaped, or 

 it is very much branched and ramified. Whatever form the 

 fungus assumes, the hymeniuni covers the whole exposed surface. 

 In the Tremellini, a peculiar structure prevails, which at first 

 seems to agree but little with the preceding. The whole plant 

 is gelatinous when fresh, lobed and convolute, often brain-like, 

 and varying in size, according to species, from that of a pin's 

 head to that of a man's head. Threads and sporophores are 

 imbedded in the gelatinous substance,* so that the fertile threads 

 are in reality not compacted into a true 

 hymenium. With this introduction we 

 may state that the technical characters 

 of the family are thus expressed : 

 Bl/x^' ^ Hymenium free , mostly naked, or, if 

 enclosed at first, soon exposed ; spores 

 naked, mostly quaternale, on distinct 

 spicules = HYMENOMYCETES. 



In this family some mycologists be- 

 lieve that fungi attain the highest form 

 of development of which they are ca- 

 pable, whilst others contend that the 



FIG. 37. Agancus nudus. * , 



fructification of the Ascomycetes is more 



perfect, and that some of the noblest species, such as the pileate 

 forms, are entitled to the first rank. The morel is a familiar 

 example. Whatever may be said on this point, it is incontro- 

 vertible that the noblest and most attractive, as well as the 

 largest, forms are classed under the Hymenomycetes. 



In Gasteromycetes, the second family, a true hymenium is 

 also present, but instead of being exposed it is for a long time 

 enclosed in an outer peridium or sac, until the spores are fully 

 matured, or the fungus is beginning to decay. The common 

 puff-ball (Lycoperdon) is well known, and will illustrate the 

 principal feature of the family. Externally there is a tough 



* Tulasne, L. and C. R., " Observations sur 1'Organisation des Tremellin&s," 

 "Ann. des Sci. Nat." 1853, xix. p. 193. 



