ISO 
THE LARGER FUNGI 
In lilerulius, tlie pores assume the appearance of anastomosing wrinkles. The 
notorious Merulius lacrymantt, so called from exuding drops of moisture, forming 
sheets of a yellow ferruginous colour, has been found in this State; it is very 
destructive to worked wood in buildings to which moisture has had access. 
Fistulina hepotica, the "vegetable beef -stea.k, ” an edible si)ecies but tough, 
and somewhat resembling on section a piece of steak, has been found on logs at 
Mount I^ofty. 
In the llydnaceae, the hymenium or spore-bearing surface, instead of covering 
gills, as in the Agaricaceae, or lining tubes, as in the Polyporaceae, covers the 
surface of spines or nodular elevations which may themselves be further divided 
into processes. In Ilydmim the pileus m;iy be stalked, bearing spines on the 
under surface, and the fruiting body may be fleshy but is usually firm and 
coriaceous. Hydnum repandirm is a fleshy, buff-coloured species which is edible. 
Most of the species in the va.rious other geneia are moie or less effused and 
cnistaceous, the surface being covered with spines, warts, or tubercles. Some 
play a j)art in the disintegration of timber. 
In the Thelephoraoeae the hymenial surface is smooth or at the most rugose 
or ribbed and does not cover gills, line tubes, or extend over spines or tubercles. 
The plants are mostly thin, dry, coriaceous or membranaceous, and in most cases 
reflexed or effused and encrusting. Some species of Sterdum, such as S. elegans 
found near trees in the National Park, are stalked but our other species of this 
genus are reflexed. Sterenm hirsutum, with the hymenial surface warm buff, 
IS very common especially on dead stumps. In Corticium and its allies, the 
receptacles are effused over the woody substratum on which the plant is growing 
and in some cases when coloured mav suggest a splash of paint. We have a 
considerable number of species but so' far only a few have been identified. 
In the Clarariaoeae, the receptacles are coral-like or club-shaped and mostly 
fleshy. The clubs may be simple or more or less branched or antler-like, or the 
whole plant from a fleshy base may branch rejieatedly like a piece of coral or 
may even resemble a cauliflower. 
A short general account of the Gasteromycetales, of the Auriculariales, 
Tiemellales, I ulasnellalles, and Calocerales, of some of the larger Ascomycetes 
Mid of the Myxomycetes will be found pireceding the respective systematic 
descriptions. 
