300 FUISTGUS-FLORA. 



Lamellae radiating from the centre or from a lateral point, 

 simple or forked, rarely irregularly anastomosing, often 

 connected transversely by thin ridge-like ribs or veins. 

 Basidia normally tetrasporous, cystidia often present in the 

 hj'menium. Spores continuous, colourless or coloured. 



The great majority of species are fleshy, and soon decay ; 

 others, however, are tough, coriaceous, or woody and per- 

 sistent. 



ANALYSIS OF SJEGTIONS. 



I. Melanospoeae. 



Spores black. The gills black or dark grey and speckled 

 with the black spores. No tinge of purple at maturity. 



II. POEPHYKOSPORAE. 



Spores purple-black. Gills black or brown, with a purple 

 tinge at maturity. 



III. OCHROSPOEAE. 



Spores ochraceous, bright brown or bright rust-colour. 

 Gills at maturity dingy ochraceous, brownish or bright fer- 

 ruginous, no tinge of purple present. 



IV. EHODOSPORiE. 



Spores salmon-colour or pink. GiUs salmon-colour or 

 rosy at maturity ; the colour in some species is very pale, 

 and liable to be mistaken for members of the Leucosporae, 

 unless attention is paid to the colour of the spores in the 

 mass. In some of the PorpTiyrosporae the gills are pale rose 

 at an early stage of development, but become dark purple 

 later. 



V. Leucosporae. 



Spores white. Gills in most species white at maturity ; 

 in many species, however, the gills are from the first, or at 

 some stage of development, grey, yeUow, rusty, &c., but 

 these tints are not due, as in the other sections, to the 



