g horizontal
septate basidia in closed receptacles; and (4) Tremellineae, having
vertically divided basidia borne in gymnocarpous receptacles--that is,
those in which the hymenium is exposed while the spores are growing.

The Autobasidiomycetes are characterized by undivided basidia, bearing
spores only at the apex. This group is subdivided into three sections:
(1) Dacryomycetes, which includes the lowest of the Tremelloid forms,
with club-shaped basidia, nearly approaching the true Hymenomycetal
type, together with several groups of minor import; (2) Gasteromycetes;
and (3) Hymenomycetes, with Phalloideae placed in the group as a
subsection of Gasteromycetes.

The above can only be considered as a very brief abstract of the system
of classification proposed by Dr. Brefield, but it will serve to give
some idea of the principle on which the system is based, which is
sufficient for our present purpose. Those who wish to study the system
in detail will find it treated in a comprehensive manner in Dr. Von
Tavel's summary as it appears in the _Vergleichende Morphologie der
Pilze_, Jena, 1892.

CONIOMYCETES AND HYPHOMYCETES.

In the original classification of Fries two of the primary divisions of
the sporiferous Fungi were termed, respectively, _Coniomycetes_ and
_Hyphomycetes_. This arrangement was accepted by Berkeley, the term
_Coniomycetes_ being applied to all fungi in which the naked spores,
appearing like an impalpable dust, were the principal feature of the
plant, and the term _Hyphomycetes_ to fungi in which the threads or
hyphae bearing the spores were the most conspicuous feature.

Coniomycetes, as broadly interpreted by Berkeley and other mycologists
of his day, included the Uredineae or "rust fungi," the Ustilagines or
"smut fungi," the Sphaeropsideae, and the Melanconieae. This arrangement
was very unsatisfactory on account of the distinctively different
character of the methods of reproduction of the respective groups, and
they have since been disassociated and by some authors ranked as
distinct orders or families. Others combine Uredinei and Ustilaginei in
one group under the name Hypodermei.

Familiar examples of Uredinei are seen in the rust of the Barberry leaf,
etc., and of the Ustilaginei in the "smut" of corn and the "bunt" of
wheat.

Some authors combine the Sphaeropsideae with the closely allied
Melanconieae. M. C. Cooke contends that the _Sphaeropsideae_ should be
considered apart fro