66 FUNGI. 
almost even. In the two remaining orders, there is a still further 
divergence from the mushroom form. In the one called Clavarie?, 
the entire fungus is either simply cylindrical or club-shaped, or 
it is very much branched and ramified. Whatever form the 
fungus assumes, the hymenium covers the whole exposed surface. 
In the Tremellini, a peculiar structure prevails, which at first 
seems to agree but little with the preceding. The whole plant 
is gelatinous when fresh, lobed and convolute, often brain-like, 
and varying in size, according to species, from that of a pin’s 
head to that of a man’s head. Threads and sporophores are 
imbedded in the gelatinous substance,* so that the fertile threads 
are in reality not compacted into a true 
hymenium. With this introduction we 
may state that the technical characters 
' of the family are thus expressed :— 
Hymenium free, mostly naked, or, tf 
enclosed at first, soon exposed ; spores 
naked, mostly quaternate, on distinct 
spicules = HyMENOMYCETES. 
In this family some mycologists be- 
lieve that fungi attain the highest form 
of development of which they are ca- 
pable, whilst others contend that the 
j fructification of the Ascomycetes is more 
perfect, and that some of the noblest species, such as the pileate 
forms, are entitled to the first rank. The morel is a familiar 
example. Whatever may be said on this point, it is incontro- 
vertible that the noblest and most attractive, as well as the 
largest, forms are classed under the Hymenomycetes. 
In Gasteromycetes, the second family, a true hymenium is 
also present, but instead of being exposed it is for a long time 
enclosed in an outer peridium or sac, until the spores are fully 
matured, or the fungus is beginning to decay. The common 
puff-ball (Lycoperdon) is well known, and will illustrate the 
principal feature of the family. Externally there is a tough 
* Tulasne, L. and C. R., ‘‘ Observations sur l’Organisation des Trémellinées,” 
‘Ann. des Sci. Nat.” 1853, xix. p. 193. 
Fic. 37.—Agaricus nudus. 
