Systema Mycologicum, Vol 2

Helvelloid genera. Pers. syn. p. 610. Hymenom. Uterini. Syst. Myc. Introd. I. p. LIV, LV.

Char. The hymenium the spore-bearing layer of a fungus is distinct, superior, and ascigerous. The asci sac-like cells containing spores are elongated, sub-clavate, erect, and paraphysophorous bearing sterile filaments known as paraphyses, generally filled with 8 sporidia spores. The receptacle the fungal structure bearing the hymenium is determinate, always distinctly margined, tending toward an orbicular, dilated form, concave above or below, and always open or quickly becoming so. There is no velum veil, or it is flocculose-villose, not forming a distinct uterus womb or perithecium. The texture is floccoso-fibrous. The substance is fleshy-waxy, sub-membranous, and rarely gelatinous.

Obs. The natural form of the receptacle is cup-shaped, but in more perfect specimens the cup reflects itself and is called a mitre or pileus cap; however, in the lowest forms born upon a matrix, the receptacle is almost obliterated. Resupinate pileate fungi differ from these in their superficial position, their immarginate form, and their asci.

Affin. The order stands between the hymenous Hymenomycetes and the Gasteromycetes a class of fungi including puffballs; it is joined to the former by the stipitate Clavatae club-shaped fungi, which also possess elongated asci; among the latter, the Angiogastres a group of enclosed-fruiting fungi (e.g., Phallus, Thelebolus, Atractobolus, etc.) are very similar; yet they differ abundantly from these in the orientation of the receptacle and from those in their fructification. It is also easy, as follows from the idea of the System, to see how they pass into the Tremellinas and Pyrenomycetes, of which I shall speak in their proper places. Remaining similar forms should only be called analogous.

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