MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 533 



II. OKDER— Fungals (Fungales). 



Living mostly in air ; nourished through their 

 thallus ; reproduce by spores, which are sometimes 

 enclosed in asci ; green gonidia wanting. 



I. SUB-ORDER. — Sporiferotts-Fungals (Sporiferi). 



Reproduction by spores attached externally, and 

 often supported on sporophores. 



1. Family — Membranous-Fungi (Agaricaceae). Hy- 



menium distinct, naked ; receptacle long or 

 expanded, superior ; spores generally quater- 

 nate, on distinct sporophores. To this family 

 belong many edible species, chiefly Agarici 

 and Boleti ; some, again, as Amanita, are 

 poisonous ; Polyporus and Merulius are the 

 chief agents of destruction in what is termed 

 "dry-rot" in timber. (Hymenomycetes.) 



2. Family. — Ventricose-Fungi (Lycoperdonacese). 



Hymenium enclosed in a membrane (peri- 

 dium) ; spores generally in sets of four, on 

 distinct sporophores. The genera Phallus 

 and BovistO;, are remarkable for the extreme 

 rapidity of their growth ; Lysurus mokusin 

 is applied by the Chinese to foul ulcers ; 

 Ileodictyon is eaten in New Zealand. (Gas- 

 teromycetes.) 



3. Family. — Blighting-Fungi (TJredmsbceds). Spores 



single, often partitioned, on more or less dis- 

 tinct sporophores ; flocci of the fruit obsolete 

 or mere peduncles. Puccinia and Uredo 



