272 
THE IjAKGEK FUXGI 
Tlio Australian species of the Gasteroniycetes have been thoroughly studied 
by Dr. G. H. Cunningham, Mycologist to the Dominion Giovemment of Xew 
Zealand. All the collections, totalling over 9()0, made by myself have passed 
through his hands and been critically examined by him. The results of his 
work have appeared mostly in the Transactions of the Linnean Society of New 
South Wales from 1924 to the present time. By his peianission I have been 
allowed to abstract from th.cse papers the detailed descriptions that he has so 
carefully prepared, and incorporate those portions that apply to South Aus- 
tralia in the present work. I would like here to express my siincere gratitude 
to him for this generosity. 
CLASSIFICATORY KEY TO THE GASTEROMYCETES.* 
I. PHALLALES. 
Peridium of two or three layers, enclosing the receptacle and gleba, rupturing 
apically and remaining at the base of the receptacle as the volva. Rece})taclo 
of pseudiOparenchyma, bearing the gh'ba on some portion of its surface. Gleba 
at maturity mucilaginous, olivaceous, and usually foetid. Basidia 4 to 8-spored. 
Spores smooth, usually elliptical. 
PHALLACEAE. 
Receptacle stipitate, cylindrical or fusoid, with or without an apical campanulate 
pileus, and indusium; gleba biOrne upon the exterior of the pileus, or directly 
upon the modified apex, of the stem. 
Gleba borne directly upon the apical portion of the 
receptacle. 
Gleba covering the apical portion of the 
receptacle . M-utinm. 
Gleba forming a collar-like constriction below the 
inflated apex of the receptacle (Staheliomyces) \ . 
Gleba cocering a net-like pileus loosely attached to 
the apical portion of the receptacle (Floccomutiniis). 
Gleba borne on a campanulate pileus. 
Jndusium absent, or present only in rudimentary 
form. 
Dileus formed of radiate plates (Aiyorop'hiilhis) . 
Pileus formed of lamellate plates (itajahya) . 
Pilous even; exteriorly rugulose, papillate or 
reticulate Itftypnalius. 
Indusium present and well developed. 
Pileus strongly convoluted (Clmitravia). 
Pileus reticulated Dictyophara. 
CLATHRACEAE. 
Receptacle stipitate or sessile; clathrate, columnar or stipitate when divided 
above into several arms. Gleba borne on the interior, exterior of or between the 
arms. 
STBLLATEAE. 
Receptacle stipitate, of simple arms borne at the apex of a simple hollow stem; 
arms either apicall.v organically united, connected with a membrane, free and 
oonnivent, or laterall.v expanded. 
Arms organically united apically, or united by a 
mendrrane. 
Glebifei'ous layer of irregular pseudoparenchy- 
matous processes (Mycopharus) . 
Glebiferous layer consisting of the unaltered walls 
of the ehandrers of the arms Anthurus. 
* T'ka terminology is tliat' adojited Ijy Dr. ('uiiiiinttliam, who has kindly supplied this Key. 
t Genera not recorded for Australasia. 
