=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.). =469. Order Hymenogastrales (Hymenogastrineæ).=—The basidia form a distinct hymenium which does not break down at maturity. Some of the plants resemble Boletus or Agaricus in the way the fruit bodies open (Secotium, etc.), while others open irregularly on the surface (Rhizopogon) or like an earth star (Sclerogaster), or portions of the surface become gelatinized (Phallogaster). The last-named one grows on very rotten wood, while most of the others grow on the ground. =470. Order Lycoperdales (Lycoperdineæ).=—These include the “puff-balls,” or “devil’s snuff-box” (Lycoperdon), and the earth stars (Geaster). The basidia form a distinct hymenium, but at maturity the entire inner portion of the plant (except certain peculiar threads, the capillitium) disintegrates and with the spores forms a powdery mass. =471. Order Nidulariales (Nidulariineæ).=—These are known as bird-nest fungi. The fruit body when mature is cup-shaped, or goblet-shaped, and contains minute flattened circular bodies (peridiola) containing the spores. The intermediate portions of the fruit body disintegrate and set the peridiola free, which then lie in the cup-shaped base like eggs in a nest.