Part 54

Those species of resupinate fungi which resemble members of this genus, i.e. those with a distinct tough, although poorly developed, cap, are called stereoid.

‘Red thread disease’ of grass which often causes unsightly red patches on lawns and school and corporation playing-fields is caused by Corticium fuciforme (Berkeley) Wakefield. Fungi belonging to this genus produce fruit-bodies which ‘scramble’ over the substrate; for example, if one searches old elder trees throughout the year one will certainly find a ‘white wash’ fungus of this type, Hyphodontia sambuci (Pers.) J. Eriksson. Fungi with this type of fruit-body are called corticoid.

The two major types are illustrated along with some of the bizarre microscopic structures one finds in the resupinates; such structures are useful in classification and identification, and their beauty and intricacy make up for the surprisingly simple fruit-body shape and texture.

C. THE JELLY FUNGI

Key to the major groups

The jelly fungi or Hymenomycetous heterobasidiae is a complex group of fungi and not only includes our common jelly fungi but many microscopic forms some of which are parasitic. The group is divided into three main divisions depending on the position of the cross-walls within the basidium, or whether the basidium is in the shape of a tuning-fork. They are probably not closely related one to another.

=Auriculariales= (Basidia divided into cells by transverse walls)

1. Fruit-body lacking a cap and more or less forming a gelatinous coating on plant-debris Helicobasidium

Fruit-body with more or less distinct cap, gelatinous but tough 2

2. Fruit-body ear-like or cup-shaped; upper surface with grey hairs and lower surface lilaceous brown or wine-coloured Hirneola

Fruit-body at first cup-shaped but then spreading; upper surface grey and hairy, and lower surface purplish. Auricularia

=Tremellales= (Basidia divided into cells by longitudinal walls)

1. Fruit-body with distinct stem and spines on lower surface Pseudohydnum

Fruit-body lacking a well-developed stem, either reduced to a small lobe or entirely absent 2

2. Fruit-body flattened or disc-shaped, often with warts or veins on the surface; spores more or less sausage-shaped Exidia

Fruit-body brain-like or with irregular bumps, sometimes lobed or irregular and encrusting 3

3. Fruit-body brain-like or with bumps or bosses; spores rounded or ovoid Tremella

Fruit-body encrusting woody or herbaceous material; spores ellipsoid Sebacina

=Dacrymycetales= (Basidia resembling the shape of a tuning-fork)

1. Fruit-body club-shaped or coral-like Calocera

Fruit-body top-shaped or with irregular bumps 2

2. Fruit-body top-shaped Femsjonia

Fruit-body cushion- or brain-like, or with irregular bumps Dacrymyces

~Dacrymyces stillatus~ Nees ex Fries

Fruit-body: 3-6 mm.

Description:

Fruit-body: cushion or brain-like, often irregular, lacking any evidence of stem, yellow or orange, gelatinous, covered entirely by spore-bearing tissue.

Spore-print: yellowish.