A VIEW OF THE ACTIVE BASIDIUM IN HETEROBASIDIOMYCETES

Those orders of Basidiomycetes in which the basidiospores, on germination, give rise to secondary spores and/or yeast-like cells are regarded as belonging to the class Heterobasidiomycetes. The active basidia in selected species in orders of this class are described and illustrated, as is the germination of their discharged basidiospores. It is considered that the class Heterobasidiomycetes represents an assemblage of orders not readily accommodated in Homobasidiomycetes. It is suggested that the nature of the asexual blastosporic stage formed in culture may help in suggesting affinities among some of the orders. There is a brief consideration of possible relationships between active and passive basidia.