272 PHARMACEUTICAL BOTANY 



Division a. Hymenomycetes 



(Hymenium or spore-bearing surface exposed) 



This division of Autobasidiomycete or higher basidiomycete 

 fungi comprises the following orders: Dacromycetales, Exobasidiales, 

 Thelephorales, Clavariales and Agaricales. 



Order i. Dacromycetales. This order includes the "weeping 

 fungi." One of the most common is Dacromyces deliquescens which 



FIG. 142. Coral-like fruit-bodies of Clavaria flava. (Harshberger, from Photo 

 by W. H. WalmsJey.} 



occurs as a gelatinous body of bright red color on dead wood. The 

 basidiospores are formed during a wet period and the fungus swells 

 up in the water forming a slimy mass. In addition to basidiospores 

 the mycelium may break up into oidiospores, if the wet period is 

 prolonged. In consisting of slimy gelatinous masses the "weeping 

 fungi" approach the Tremellacea but are distinguished from them 



