Chapter XII. 



Fungi. Kinds of Fungi. Basidium-bearing Fungi. 



The palisade fungi (Hymenomycetes). All of the remaining 

 groups of the basidium-bearing fungi have one common charac- 

 ter, viz. : the structure of the basidium. Like that of the weep- 

 ing fungus the basidium is a single cell, not, however, fork-like. 

 It usually bears its spores at the summit. The spores are com- 

 monly four in number. 



The palisade fungi possess such single-celled basidia. The 

 basidia are borne on fruiting bodies and are always arranged in 

 a palisade which at least at maturity is exposed to the open air. 

 This palisade of basidia lines special surfaces and only in a few 



cases does it cover the entire fruiting 

 body. The fruiting body therefore 

 exhibits a great variety of forms each 

 of which is a special solution of the 

 problem of furnishing large spore- 

 bearing surfaces and exposing them 

 to the wind for advantageous distri- 

 bution. The simplest forms are pros- 

 trate and mold-like. From this to 

 the highly-organized pore and gill 

 fungi we find an enormous variety of 

 fruiting bodies. Comparatively few 

 accessory spore-forms are known 

 though some exist. The palisade 

 fungi constitute an enormous group 

 of fungi and since the basidia are sim- 

 ilar in all, the shape of the fruiting body is utilized in arranging 

 the forms into groups. The group may be divided into the fol- 

 lowing seven sub-groups : 



Gall-producing fungi {ExobasidiinecB}. These fungi are all 

 parasites, chiefly of the blueberry and heath families. The my- 



FiG. 81.— Basidia and basidio- 

 spores of all of the higher 

 stalked or basidium-bearing 

 fungi. 1. The usual type. 2. 

 The basidium of a stalked puff- 

 ball. Highly magnified. 1. 

 After Brefeld; 2. After Schroe- 

 ter. 



