122 INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF FUNGI 



trophied basidia, and the atrophied basidia. It is not 

 necessary to discuss the question, when we are occupied rather 

 with the form than the functions of the hymenium. It will, 

 however, be borne in mind that it has of late been the custom 

 of some writers to apply the term " basidia " also to the short 

 sporophores which are present in the Sphaeropsideae and else- 

 where, which support the solitary spores. Against such a. mis- 

 appropriation of terms it will be advisable to guard ourselves, 

 and restrict the name of basidia to the spore-supporters in the 

 Basidiomycetes, where they are not simple sporophores in the 

 sense that they support a single spore, but tetrasporous 

 hymenial cells, surmounted by spicular sporophores. The 

 same term cannot, therefore, be equally applied to the ap- 

 pendages of a proper and distinct hymenium and the filiform 

 spore -bearers developed from the base or side walls of a 

 diminutive receptacle. A true hymenium always consists of 

 closely -packed hymenial cells ; and we shall find in the 

 HymeTwmycetes that not only may it assume the form of gill- 

 plates, as in the Agaricini, but also as a lining to porous 

 tubes, as in the Polyporei, be diffused over the surface of teeth 

 or spines, as in the Hydnei, spread over a plane on one side 

 only, as in the Thelephorei, or covering both sides of a vertical 

 hymenophore, as in the Clavariei. 



In the other order, the Gastromycetes, the basidia closely 

 resemble those of the ITymenomycetes, and have the same func- 

 tion, bearing spicules at the apex, usually quaternary, some- 

 times in pairs, and each surmounted by a spore. The 

 examination must be made in a young state to discover the 

 basidia, because when mature, and the periderm is ruptured, 

 nothing will be observed except a mass of free spores, some- 

 times with the spicule attached and a number of threads. 

 This is the normal condition in the Lycoperdaceae, but varied in 

 the Phalloideae, and also in the Nidulariaceae and Hypogeae. 

 In all it will be recognised at once that the hymenium is less 

 highly developed than in the Hymenomycetes, and more fugitive. 

 Paraphyses may be present as abortive basidia, but the 

 cystidia are scarcely distinct. 



Berkeley records the results of his examination of a cut 

 section of young Zycoperdon. " If a very thin slice be taken, 



