MASSEE.^r/(e Ftciigus Flora of New Zealand. 41 



Growing oil living moss. Middle Island, JS'ew Zealand. Cuba. 



Becoming opaque and remaining even when dry, which, in 

 addition to the different spores, distinguish it from Clavaria 

 paupercula. Berk, and Curt., a small species also growing on 

 moss. 



60. Pistillaria, Fries. 



Minute, club-shaped, simple, becoming cartilaginous when dry. 



Pistillaria, Fries, Hym. Eur., p. 686. 



Verv' closely allied to Clavaria, if distinct as a genus. Dif- 

 fering mainly in minute size, and in becoming cartilaginous and 

 rigid when dry. 



Pistillaria ovata. Fries, Syst. Myc, i, p. 497 ; Hdbk. N.Z. Flora, 

 p. 615 ; Sacc, Syll. vi, no. 8259. 



Club obovate or ellipsoid, often more or less compressed, 

 sometimes slightly lobed, white, hollow ; stem short, glabrous, 

 pellucid : entire plant 3-7 mm. high ; spores elliptical, 7-8 

 X 3-5 /x. 



On dead leaves, herbaceous stems, &c. Northern Island, New 

 Zealand. Europe. 



Variable in size and form, but always minute ; distinguished 

 by the short, polished, hyaline stem. 



Tremelline.s;. 



The members of this group are characterized by the more or 

 less gelatinous nature of the entire fungus when growing. Dur- 

 ing the process of drying the plant shrinks very much, and be- 

 comes hard and horny, expanding and becoming gelatinous 

 again when soaked in water. 



As representing the simplest structure presented by the 

 Basidiomycetes, the basidia depart from what may be termed 

 the normal or t}q)ical form in various genera. In Dacryomyces 

 the basidium is cylindrical, with two much elongated and stout 

 sterigmata at its apex. In this genus the spores are septate. 

 In Tremella the basidium is stout and broadly clavate or obpyri- 

 form, with four stout sterigmata at its apex. When the sterig- 

 mata are just commencing growth the basidium, viewed from 

 above, shows two apparent lines crossing at right angles, and 

 the basidium has been spoken of as cruciate. This appearance 

 is caused by the bases of the four incipient sterigmata. In 

 the genera Auricularia, Hirneola, and Septohasidium the basidia 

 are transversely septate, each cell bearing a single spore. This 

 form of basidium agrees morphologically with the sporophores 

 in the Uredinece, with which, according to Brefeld, the Basidio- 

 mycetes are allied. 



