Identification of the Larger Fungi

by Roy Watling

Key to major groups based on character of basidium and fruit-body shape

• 1. Basidia either produced in a hymenium or in a mass, and until maturity contained within a closed fruit-body Gasteromycetes
• Basidia produced in a layer of cells (hymenium) and exposed to the air before the maturity of the spores (Hymenomycetes) [2]
• 2. Basidia simple, a single cell ([fig. 5]) (Homobasidiae) [3]
• Basidia usually septate, or if simple then fruit-body gelatinous and often collapsing to form a skin when dried (Heterobasidiae) [4]
• 3. Fruit-body usually fleshy, soft and easily decaying (putrescent), hymenium spread over the surface of gills, ridges or within tubes Agaricales ([p. 22])
• Fruit-body with hymenium smooth or spread-out on teeth, ridges or plates or if within tubes then fruit-body tough and leathery Aphyllophorales ([p. 135])
• 4. Basidia divided [5]
• Basidia simple and apex drawn out into two long necks [Plate 61] ([p. 185]) Dacrymycetales ([p. 180])
• 5. Basidia divided transversely by one to three horizontal septae [Plate 60] ([p. 183]) Auriculariales ([p. 182])
• Basidia divided into two or four cells by vertical septae [Plate 61] ([p. 185]) Tremellales ([p. 184])