HYPOORBACE^ ZEYLANICiE. 95 



an error. The brief description is " Hemisphserica, luride 

 rufa ; sporidiis globosis 16 (No. 42). On leaves of palms, 

 November, 1867." As noted imder Hypocrea ariocreas, 

 Thwaites united Hypocrea palmicola and Hypocrea artocreas 

 with Hypocrea rufa, and his specimens submitted to Berkeley 

 and Broome may have been mixed. The only species in these 

 three which could be called " hemisphaerica " is that attri- 

 buted to Hypocrea rufa. 



The specimens in Herb. Kew and Herb. Peradeniya are 

 all immature. They are discoid, circular, up to 2 mm. 

 diameter, with the upper surface plane and minutely wrinkled, 

 and the sides sloping backwards to the base, so that the basal 

 area of attachment is regularly circular, and slightly narrower 

 than the top. The upper edge is acute. The stromata are 

 about 0"75 mm. thick. Some of them are now dark brown, 

 others almost black. 



The mature form of this species was sent to Berkeley and 

 Broome as Thwaites 1008, and was assigned by them to 

 Hypocrea lenta Fr. But Hypocrea Idnta has hyaline spores, while 

 the present species has green spores. Berkeley and Broome's 

 specimen of Hypocrea lenta from Ceylon has green spores. 



The stromata are circular, up to 3 mm. diameter, and 1 mm, 

 thick, with the upper surface plane or slightly convex, and 

 the upper edge usually acute, contracted below to a broad 

 circular base. Specimens from Peradeniya (1,600 ft.) are 

 usually flat-topped, those from Hakgala (5,600 ft.) tend to be 

 more convex and have a less acute edge. The colour is dull 

 green, with blackish ostiola, becoming blackish -olive, and 

 black when dry. Internally the stromata are fleshy, and 

 pinkish or pale Jlesh-coloured when fresh, becoming blackish 

 when dry. The surface is plane, but becomes rugose on 

 drying. The perithecia are crowded, globose, 160 \}. diameter, 

 or ovoid, 160 ^ diameter and 200 (x high. The asci are 70-85 

 X 4-5 jjL, The part-spores are vivid green or dark green, 

 olive in old herbarium specimens, spherical, 3-4 \i diameter, 

 or oval, 5-6 X 3-4 \x, spinulose. 



This species sometimes grows on other fungi. I have 

 collections on Stereum lobalum and on Poria Ravenalse. It 

 has a green Trichoderma stage. . 



6(1)20 (14) 



