52 ON SOME -ETJNGl OF NEW SOUTH WALES AND QUEENSLAND, 



Linn., and several other Agarics are found. These plants do not 

 figure largely in collection on account of the great difficulty in 

 preserving them. A. coniciis, sometimes is met with in New 

 South Wales and is supposed by some to have been introduced. 

 It may be easily known by turning black when bruised. The 

 species is eaten in Europe. In Queensland amongst old grass 

 during continued wet we met with quantities of Stereum nitidulum 

 Berk., (Hook., Lond. Journ., 1843, p. 638.) The curious dark- 

 coloured, flat-topped, puff-ball, Bovista lilaeina, Mont, et Berk., 

 is not uncommon on plains. This species does not seem very 

 esculent, but according to Messrs. Berkeley and Broome in 

 their account of the Ceylon fungi in (Linnean Society Journal, 

 Vol XI v., p. 78.) that it is regularly sold as an article of food in 

 the Indian bazaars. The same pasture is often dotted with 

 another puff-ball. Scleroderma Bovista, Fr., but in New Zealand 

 Lijcoperdon pusillum, is the one met with, S. Bovista while youug, 

 cut into slices is considered an excellent addition to sauces and 

 stews. 



Our open forests have their peculiar fungi, on the ground about 

 stony dry ridges the beautiful Trametes ferennis, Fr., may 

 frequently be seen as well as several species of Clavaria and 

 Pohjsaccum olivaceum. This last is a very dark, hard fungus, and 

 has somewhat the appearance of the common puff-ball, but on 

 examination it will be found to be formed very differently inside. 

 Amongst the many Pohjyori found on forest trees none will so 

 frequently be seen as P. ignarius. This very dark brown species 

 seems to be particularly fond of the rugged bark of our Casuarina. 

 Some of the large Pohjpori are known to bushmen by the name 

 of '* Punk." P. igniarius is said to be used in some parts according 

 to one author (Gardiner's Chron., 1862, p. 21) for holding sereal 

 plants in lieu of flower pots, for which purpose the pores and part 

 of the inner substance is removed. The pileus is then inverted 

 and fastened in some position where it can be filled with light 

 soil and used for plants requiring but little moisture. Fine red- 



