144 INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF FUNGI 



A type of structure in the hyphae of the basal stratum in 

 some species of Corticium is worthy of note, as affording a 

 means of discrimination in allied forms ; and this constitutes 

 the basis of a new genus, proposed by Massee, under the name 

 of Asterostoma. The species alluded to are distinguished by 

 the brown stellate hyphae that are present in the subiculum. 

 " Erect branches at about the level of the base of the basidia 

 develop at the apex a stellate arrangement of branchlets, all 

 situated in one plane, parallel to the surface of the hymenium ; 

 the number of rays varies from three to seven, five being the 

 most frequent, and differ from the supporting hyphae in being 

 aseptate, with very thick walls, which soon become bright 

 brown. When the spores are ripe, the erect hyphae, sup- 

 porting both stellate threads and basidia, along with the latter 

 disappear, leaving the coloured star-shaped bodies mixed with 

 the spores, resting on the horizontal interwoven basal stratum 

 of the plant." An analogous differentiation is pointed out as 

 existing in the basal stratum of Bovista, in the Gastromycetes. 

 Thus, then, we close our remarks on the first four primary 

 sections or families of the Hymenomycetes, in which the 

 hymenium is normally inferior, and either spread over radi- 

 ating gills, lining the cavities of tubes, investing teeth, warts, 

 or projections, or finally forming a plane, even, or nearly even, 

 fructifying surface. 



The fifth family, or Clavarieae, has a vertical hymeno- 

 phore, with the hymenium on all sides, and not distinct from 

 the stem. Sometimes the entire Fungus is a simple club, and at 

 other times it is much branched, with the lower portion barren, 

 forming the stem, and the upper portion fertile, covered with 

 the even or^wrinkled hymenium. In most genera the substance 

 is either fleshy or waxy, rarely somewhat gelatinous. The most 

 highly developed genus is Sparassis, in which the branched 

 hymenophore has the branches flattened into leaf-like expansions. 

 The largest genus, however, is Clavaria (Fig. 59), in which the 

 hymenophore is club-shaped and simple, sometimes solitary and 

 sometimes in clusters or branched, often very much branched, 

 but always fleshy. In Calocera the form is similar, but the sub- 

 stance is toughly gelatinous, becoming horny when dry. The 

 species of Clavaria are for the most part terrestrial, those of 



