s.A. mvxo.m\ci:ti:s. 459 



A. /"oinifoniiis (Rest.). 

 A. imfaiis ( ( 'jvcv. ). 

 A. Oersted I a (Rost.). 

 Pcrirlucna coriicalis ( Rost.). 

 P. dcf^rcssa (Lil)j. 



Apart from the ])ossil)ility of obtainins; new species in South 

 Africa, or of addins: to the number of African representatives 

 of those ah-eady recognized, it is of interest to record the i^eo- 

 o^raphical distril)ution of forms and their relative frecjuency 

 throughout the country, and the extent and direction ni variation 

 in indivickial species. 



One of the most abundant and widely distributed species 

 noted thus far is Pliysanmi vernuiu, which differs in its darker 

 s]^ore-colour from the closely related P. cinereiim. Gatherings 

 of this species from numerous localities in the rrans\aal are 

 ]jreserved in the Pretoria Herbarium. I have recently received 

 it from Rhodesia, while in the Knysna district it appears in 

 great abundance a few days after stunmer rain, covering 

 ])atches of living grass five or more inches in diameter with a 

 greyish mould-like growth. 



In March. 1916, the same species was observed growing on 

 turf within the College Scptare, as many as nine large patches 

 being scattered over an area of some sixteen square feeL Per- 

 haps the most variable sj^ecies 'found in South Africa is Phy- 

 santiii luiifabilc. A f(M'm of this frcnn Pretoria with 



stalked cylindrical sporangia, another from Knysna with sessile 

 sporangia, and a third with exi)anded plasmodiocarjjs, are ex- 

 hibited side by side. 



Man}- of the specimens of Rcticidaria lycoperdon collected 

 in the Knysna district develop from a white i^lasmodium which 

 rapidlv changes to flesh-])ink. The small fragile ?ethalia with 

 cop])er-colGured surface walls are \erv different in a])pearance 

 from the large silver-grey fruit bodies with smooth cortex which 

 are so abundant on pine-stumps in the Stellenbosch district and 

 at Kirstenbosch. 



J am glad of this opportunitv of enlistinj^' the helj) of 

 students and general collectors in vari(^us parts of the Union, 

 and shall lie grateful for any speciiuens that may be sent to me 

 from time to time, as well as for notes as to habitat, colour o'f 

 Plasmodium, etc. 



While deca\-ing vegetation in native forest forms i)erhaps 

 the best collecting ground for the fructifications, they are found 

 on old logs. bark, the underside or broken ends of fallen 

 branches, near the surface of heaps of straw and dead leaves, 

 and not intre(|uent!\' on li\ing moss, seedlings, etc. The warm 

 moist atmcjsphere of a greenhouse seems Sj^ecially favourable ; 

 representatives of six genera have apjieared in the plant-house on 

 the College Scpiare. 



The si)ecimens shuuld be well dried before l)eing packed, 

 as they are lial)le to mould. If they are to be ke])t for anv 



