145 



NEW OR CRITICAL FUNGI. 



By George Massee, F.L.S., F.R.M.S. 



(Plate 357.) 



Clypeum, nov. gen. (PI. 357, figs. 1-3). Peiithecia discoid, 

 applanate, fixed to the substratum by a small point ; central 

 portion umbonate, sterile; peripheral part with numerous radial 

 ridges, each ridge is structurally an elongated perithecium, de- 

 hiscing by a narrow, persistently closed slit running its entire 

 length; asci cylindric-clavate, 8-spored; spores irregularly 2-seriate, 

 hyaline, smooth, 1-septate, elliptical; paraphyses numerous, septate. 



A very remarkable genus without close affinities ; superficially 

 somewhat resembling Actidium, but difi'ering in the perithecium 

 consisting of an applanate circular disc attached by a central point. 

 The central portion of the upper surface is slightly umbonate and 

 sterile ; the remainder consisting of radiating ridges which some- 

 times fork near the margin. Each ridge corresponds in structure 

 to the simple perithecium in such genera as Hijstenum, hence the 

 present may in a sense be considered a compound structure, as in 

 FAdtjpa or Hijjjo.vi/lon. The lips of the perithecia (forming the 

 radial ridges), and the stroma connecting the same, consist of 

 brown, stout, thick-walled, interwoven hyphas. The present genus 

 is certainly the most highly evolved of any included in the 

 Hi/steriacetB. There are certain superficial points of resemblance 

 with certain genera included in the Microthijriaet'cF., but the present 

 differs essentially from all in the perithecia dehiscing by a narrow, 

 elongated slit, which does not open and expose the disc at maturity. 



Clypeum peltatum Mass. (PI. 357, figs. 1-3). Perithecia 

 epiphyllous, orbicular, plane, gregarious or crowded and over- 

 lapping, black, somewhat membranaceous, fixed by a central 

 point ; perithecia forming ridges radiating from a central, sterile 

 portion, 2-3 mm. diameter ; asci cylindric-clavate, 8-spored, 

 100-110 X 14-15 /x ; spores irregularly 2-SLriate, hyaline, smooth, 

 elliptic-clavate, 1-septate, upper cell slightly largest, 15 x 8-9 /x; 

 paraphyses numerous, septate, sometimes branched, slightly thick- 

 ened at the olive-brown tips, which are 4-5 //. thick. 



Crowded and nearly covering the upper surface of some un- 

 determined coriaceous leaf. 



Napier ; New Zealand (Cvlenso). 



When seen under a lens, the perithecia closely resemble the 

 pileus of Coprinus plicatilis. 



Dasyscypha trabinelloides Mass. (PL 357, fig. 4). Gre- 

 garious or sometimes crowded, sessile, at first globose and closed, 

 then expanding, becoming again contracted when dry, entirely 

 orange-coloured, 0-5-1 '5 mm. diameter; substance thin and soft; 

 excipulum formed of radiately parallel, septate hyphae about 4-5 /x 

 thick ; externally pubescent, the hairs often arranged in groups, 

 septate, cylindrical, obtuse, minutely rough, overtopping the entire 



Journal of Botany. — Vol. 34. [Apeil, 1896.] l 



