146 



INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF FUNGI 



clavate, forked at the apex, each limb furnished with a single 

 spicule. Under these three subfamilies the different genera 

 are located after the following manner. (1) The Auricularieae 

 includes the typical genus Auricularia 

 (Fig. 60), in which the Fungi are 

 leathery and somewhat resemble Stereum, 

 but with a gelatinous hymenium, which 

 is veined in a reticulate manner. (2) 

 Rimeola differs in the substance being 

 more membranaceous, and often cup- 

 shaped or ear-shaped, becoming carti- 

 laginous 'when dry ; the gelatinous 

 hymenium being either even or plicate. 



, . , . And (3) Platyqlaea is wholly gelatinous, 



Fig. 60. — Awncularm mesen- w ' Ja n ■ 



terica, with section and mostly small, erumpent or superficial, 



spores - either wart-like or effused. Perhaps 



the nearest relation of this small group will be found in Laschia, 

 amongst the Polyporeae. 



The most important subfamily is that of the Tremel- 

 lineae, in which the basidia are subglobose. Of these, Exidia 

 includes a variety of forms, either discoid, cup-shaped, gyrose, 

 tubercular, or effused (Fig. 61); some of which are even, and 

 others papillose or spiculose. The 

 basidia are rather ovoid, immersed in 

 the gelatine, partite in a cruciate 

 manner, and typically tetrasporous. 

 Spores reniform, and for a long time 

 continuous ; at length, preparatory to 

 germination, two or more celled, each 

 cell producing a very short filament 

 crowned with a narrow curved sporidio- 

 lium. In the genus Tremella the form 

 may be pulvinate or effused, often fig. 61.— Exidia, -with section 

 brain-like, with sinuosities, but with- an spores- 



out papillae. The basidia are globose, and divided as in 

 Exidia, and the spores subglobose. The promyeelium result- 

 ing from germination produces globose or elliptic sporidiola. 

 Conidia have been observed in some species, but neither 

 spores, sporidiola, nor conidia are ever septate. In form 



