162 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



known simjjly to represent a stage in the history of a fungus in 

 which it remains dormant, and goes into winter-quarters at the 

 end of the growing season. There are quite a number known in 

 connection with various fungus diseases, and the one belonging 

 to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Massee, is considered to surpass any 

 other parasitic fungus in the variety of species it attacks and kills. 



A well-known form is the Ergot of Rye, but perhaps you are 

 more familiar with the " Native Bread," which is the Sclerotium- 

 stage of what is now called Polyporus mylittce. 



The distribution of these fungi is rather interesting. Puccinia 

 aucta is only known from Australia on the single species L. 

 anceps, and in fact from a single locality. Port Lincoln. Since 

 the host-plant on which it occurs is found in all the Australian 

 States, as well as in New Zealand, South Africa, and South 

 America, I see no reason why this rust should not be found 

 elsewhere if carefully searched for. 



Gceoma lobelice is the jEcidvum. lobelue, Thuem., and the 

 /Ecidium microstomum, Berk. It is given in Cooke's " Hand- 

 book of Australian Fungi " as the ^cidium-stage of Puccinia 

 aucta, but that connection must now cease. It likewise occurs 

 on a single species of Lobelia (Z. j^ratioides), although it is also 

 found on Pralia erecta, P. pediinculata, and P. platycal jx. It 

 has been found both in Victoria and New South Wales. The 

 remaining nine species of fungi are confined to L. gibbosa, with 

 the exception of Coniothyrium olivaceum, which is common on 

 a great variety of plants in different parts of the world, and were 

 all discovered at Sandringham or Carrum in December and 

 January. 



I have confined my attention in this paper to a single genus 

 of plants, and, although limited in its scope, it shows how rich and 

 varied our fungus-flora is, and also indicates that a number of 

 our native plants which at present are supposed to be free from 

 fungi may, by the intelligent collector, be made to yield a rich 

 harvest. 



But while individual genera are thus studied, it is more satis- 

 factory from a scientific point of view to take some well-defined 

 family of plants and see the assemblage of fungi which affect it 

 as a whole. This is at present being done in the family of 

 orchids, and Mr. French, jun., has already added several to the 

 list. 



It is commonly stated that there is no family more free from 

 the attacks of parasitic fungi than the orchids, owing to their 

 generally hard leaves being furnished with a compact epidermis, 

 a very thick cuticle, and very small stomata, but I find that even 

 here they are not so scarce when particular attention is directed 

 to them. 



If this brief account of the fungi found on our Australian 



