98 FUNGUS-FLORA. 



CONIOPHORA, D.C. (emended), (figs. 1-3, p. 94.) 



Broadly effused, adnate ; margin defined or indeterminate ; 

 hymenium without cystidia, when mature powdered with 

 the smooth, coloured spores. 



ConiopJm-a, D.C, Flor. Fr. vi. p. 34 ; Mass., Mon. Thel., 

 p. 128. 



Corticium, sub-gen. Coniojphora, Pers., Myc. Eur., p. 153; 

 Fries, Hym. Eur., p. 657 ; Cke., Grev. v. 8, p. 88. 



The species constituting the present genus usually form 

 hroadly expanded patches on dead wood or bark, agreeing in 

 this respect with the species of Corticium and Peniophm-a, but 

 readily distinguished by the coloured spores. In some 

 iSpecies of Hymenochaete the spores are coloured, but the hyme- 

 nium bristles with projecting coloured spines or cystidia, 

 which give to the surface a velvety appearance under a 

 pocket-lens. In the genus ThelepTiora, again, the spores are 

 generally coloured, but rough with minute warts, and the 

 hymenium has a tendency to become uneven, whereas in 

 Coniophora the hymenium is even, but may appear to be 

 nodulose or irregular when very thin, and following the 

 inequalities of the matrix. The leading features of the 

 present genus are, the close attachment of every portion of 

 the fungus to the substratum, and the even, smooth hyme- 

 nium powdered with the smooth, coloured spores. 



The species are closely allied, and represent a very primi- 

 tive type of the Basidiomycetes ; the hymenium is uppermost, 

 and there is no tendency shown by any one species to depart 



^urpii/reum, showing the elements of the hymenium — basidia and para- 

 physes — springing from a densely compacted stratum of hyphae, below 

 which there is a layer of loosely interwoven mycelium; the presence of 

 this dense subhymenial layer is an important morphological distinction 

 between Stereum and the allied genus Corticium; highly mag. ; — Fig. 15, 

 CkidoderHs minima; nat. size; — Fig. 16, a single specimen of same; 

 slightly mag. ; — Fig. 17, spores of same ; highly mag. ; — Fig. 18, Soppit- 

 tiella cristata ; nat. size ; — Fig. 19, basidium and spores of same ; highly 

 mag. ; — Fig. 20, Aldridgea gelatirwsa, portion of a specimen; nat. size ; — 

 Fig. 21, basidium and spores of same ; highly mag. ; — Fig. 22, Exobasidivm 

 vacoinii, showing the buUate patches formed by the fungus on the leaves 

 •of Vaooinivm myrtillus ; nat. size ;^Fig. 23, portion of the under side of 

 Thelephora laoiniata, showing the rugose hymenium and laciniate margin ; 

 nat. size ; — Fig. 24, basidium and spores of same ; highly mag. 



