56 ON SOME FUXGI OF NEW SOUTH WALES AND QUEENSLAND, 



TricTwhasis ruhigo-vera, Lev., is common on Memarthna. The last 

 observation is very important and answers a part of the question 

 as to whence our red rust plague is derived and where it finds a 

 home. If an attentive observation should render as familiar with 

 those plants it affects we might not despair of its eradication. 

 The common black moulds Cladosporium herlarum, Lk., which 

 attacks IschcBuiimi and Paspalum, and the Helmmthosporium 

 ravenelis, Curtis, which destroys the panicles of the several species 

 of Sporololus belong to the Sub-order E'ypJiomycetes or floccose 

 fungi with simple or branched filaments and terminal spores. 



Many of our readers will be familiar with the large luminous 

 mushroom which is so common at certain seasons about the bases 

 of old gum stumps. Until quite lately we took this fine species 

 for Agaricus Gardner i, Berk., but upon careful examination 

 Messrs. Berkeley and Broome find it a new species of Paniis and 

 from its luminous character have named it P. incandescens, it seems 

 to have a wide range, being met with in nearly all parts of 

 Australia. The beauty of the appearance of this kind at night 

 cannot be exaggerated. It is a pale luminous glow which seems 

 to permeate the whole substance except the skin of the cap. The 

 light does not come off on the hand, neither does it emit any 

 unpleasant smell. Some specimens found by one of us at 

 Wallerawang on the Divide, in March 1878, were 12 inches in 

 diameter, and gave a light which was sufficient to enable one to 

 read a newspaper when laid upon it ; the kind is said not to be 

 poisonous. Other luminous kinds are noticed by Hooker in the 

 Journal of Botany, 1840, Vol. II., p. 426. Probably we have 

 five or six in Australia including the Javanese Agricus Gairdneri. 

 It is as well to note that the common large luminous one is 

 poisonous. 



In conclusion we beg to call attention to the very great 

 importance which the study of Fungi possesses for a young 

 country like ours, wliich depends so much upon its agriculture. 

 Sad experience has already taught us how its prospects may be 



