4-20 FETCH : 



months on a Hevea log which stood upright in a vessel of water 

 on the laboratory verandah. On one side of the log grew 

 typical H. polytricha, on the other side typical A. tremellosa ; 

 but there were no intermediate forms. 



On the Ceylon evidence, therefore, Hirneola polytricha 

 Mont, must be regarded as distinct from Auricularia tremellosa 

 Ft., and both of them distinct from Auricularia auricula 



judce. 



Beccari's Ceylon specimen of Auricularia lohata was recorded 

 with a query, as it was " vix determinandum." I have 

 collected this species at Hapugastenne in almost the wettest 

 district in the Island. The colouration of the upper surface 

 agrees with Bref eld's figure (Untersuchungen Heft. VII,, 

 Taf. IV., Fig. la), while the hymenial surface of the young 

 specimens matches in configuration and colour his figure of 

 Auricularia mesenterica (Taf. IV., Fig. Ih). This species is 

 apparently rare in Ceylon. 



56. — Sarcosoma Thwaitesii (B. & Br.) Fetch. 



Rhizina Thwaitesii B. & Br., Fungi of Ceylon, No. 920, 

 Journ. Linn. Soc, XIV., p. 102. 



" Rhizina spongiosa Berk. & Curt." Massee in Journ. Linn. 

 Soc.,XXXL,p. 470. 



Up to 5 cms. diameter, 1 to 3 cm. thick. With the exception 

 of the thin disc (about 0-75 mm. thick), the whole fungus 

 is strongly gelatinous when fresh, large specimens being 

 semi -liquid internally in wet weather. The general form is 

 subhemispherical, with the flat side uppermost, and the edge 

 rounded ; the disc is sunk into the upper surface for a depth 

 of about a miUimetre, leaving a regularly convex swollen 

 margin up to 5 mm. broad. The disc is pale brown or yellow- 

 brown, circular, plane, bordered by a vertical, fawn-coloured, 

 tomentose edge. The margin and under- surface are dark 

 brown, or blackish-brown, almost black at the base, minutely 

 tomentose, regularly convex, not lacunose. It is attached by 

 a central point ; there are no attacliing rhizoids. Internally 

 it is almost black and gelatinous. 



The asci are up to 520 a* long, 17-24 /^ broad, cylindric, with 

 a rounded apex and a slightly curved pedicel, operculate, 



