460. Order Dacryomycetales (Dacryomycetineæ).—This order includes certain fungi of a gelatinous or waxy consistency, usually of bright colors. They resemble the Tremellales, but the basidia are slender and fork into two long sterigmata. (Example, Dacryomyces.) Gyrocephalus rufus is quite a large plant, 10-15 cm. high, growing on the ground in woods.
461. Order Exobasidiales (Exobasidiineæ).—The fungus causing azalea apples is an example (Exobasidium).
462. Order Hymeniales (Hymenomycetineæ).—In this order the basidia are usually club-shaped and undivided, and bear usually four spores on the end (sometimes two or six). There are several families.
463. Family Thelephoraceæ.—The fruit bodies are more or less membranous and spread over wood or the ground, or somewhat leaf-like, growing on wood or the ground. The fruiting surface is nearly or quite even, and occupies the under side of the leaf-like bodies (Stereum, Thelephora) or the outside of the forms spread out on wood (Corticium, Coniophora).
464. Family Clavariaceæ.—This order includes the fairy clubs, and some of the coral fungi. The larger number of species are in one genus (Clavaria, [fig. 248]).
465. Family Hydnaceæ.—The fungi of this order are known as “hedgehog” fungi, because of the numerous awl-like teeth or spines over which the fruiting surface is spread, as in Hydnum (figs. [246], [247]).
466. Family Polyporaceæ.—The tube-bearing fungi (Polyporus, Boletus, etc., [fig. 245]).
467. Family Agaricaceæ.—The gill-bearing fungi (Agaricus, Amanita, etc., see [Chapter XXI]).
The above five orders, according to the earlier classification (still used at the present time by some), made up the order Hymenomycetes, while the following five orders made up the Gasteromycetes. The Hymenomycetes, according to this system, included those plants in which the fruiting portion (hymenium) is either exposed from the first, or if covered by a veil or volva (as in Agaricus, Amanita, etc.) this ruptures and exposes the fruiting surface before, or at the time of, the ripening of the spores, while the Gasteromycetes included those in which the fruit body is closed until after the maturity of the spores.
468. Order Phallales (Phallineæ).—The “stink-horn” fungi, or “buzzard’s nose.” Usually foul-smelling fungi, the fruiting portion borne aloft on a stout stalk, and dissolving (Dictyophora, Ithyphallus, etc.).