' Í
guislied by the predominance of tlie gelatinous element. Rotten
sticks in our hedges or woods often present bright, tremulous,
gelatinous masses of bright-orange, purple, or dark-brown,
which at once attract our notice, while the trunks of the elder
and some other trees afford ear-shaped, flaccid masses, which
almost escape notice when dry, but with the first shower arc
exposed to the most careless observer. Sometimes, again, on
an old stump, or at the base of a living oak, enormous masses
are found resembling the convolute intestines of some animal,
but distinguished by their rich ferruginous or yellowish
tints. These Fungi are very curious in point of structure, but
at present I am only endeavouring to give a general view of
the different objects which form the immediate study of the
Fungologist. The Fungi of this group are called Tremellini,
from their soft, flaccid character. (See Plate 18, fig. 6, 7, 8.)
These six groups form subdivisions of one great association
of Fungi, cliaracterized by their hymenium being more or
less exposed, and at the same time bearing naked Spores attached
to the tips of certain cells called Sporophores (Plate 1,
fig. I.e .), and distinguished from other Fungi with an exposed
hymenium in which the reproductive bodies are contained in
sacs called asci, and have the name of Sporidia (Plate 1, fig. 2.
a. b.). These distinctions can be ascertained only by the microscope;
but a very little practice will at once decide which
structure prevails in the larger and more conspicuous species.
The general name of the division is Hymenomycetes, the hymenium
being the prominent character.
The hymenium, or fructifying surface, has hitherto been
more or less exposed. I t may indeed at first be concealed,
but ultimately it has free access to the air, though, except in
the lower species, not to the light. The second main division
of Fungi has, on the contrary, the fructifying surface concealed,
till the sac in which it is contained is ruptured for the
dispersion of the spores. This division has received the common
name of Gasteromycetes. The Puff-balls are the most generally
known example. Some of the most curious and typical
genera in this division do not occur in this country.
Very few of my readers will probably have observed the
underground species which constitute the first British group
of this second division. They abound however in many parts
of England, and may he detected like little tubers by simply
raking the surface. One of the largest, Melanogaster Broo-
meianus is commonly sold as a substitute for Truffles in the
market at Bath, and may he familiar to some. They differ,
however, materially in structure from real Truffles, as will be
seen hereafter. I f the stem of a Boletus were removed, and
the pileus contracted into a ball, so as to conceal the hyménium
entirely, we should have a tolerable representation of one
of one of these tubers, especially if the tubes should become
complicated and sinuous and constantly cross one another.
Indeed, so much is this the case, that the beautiful orange-
coloured species, Hydnangium carotæcolor, was first taken for a
diseased Boletus, and on the contrary, a badly dried diseased
Boletus has been inserted in my own herbarium as an Hydnangium.*
This first group is called Hypogæi, from the subterraneous
growth of the species which it comprises.
A very curious group of Fungi is closely connected with
these, though the similarity is visible only in a young state ;
I mean the Phalli (Plate 20, fig. 3). We have but few species
in this country : but one is the pest of pleasure-grounds,
as at Kew, from its odious smell. In a young state they resemble
eggs. The pileus (if it may so be called) is closely
* We have no British representative o f the Podaxinei, which resemble in
many respects Boleti and Agarics.