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TASMANIAN FUNGI. 

 By L. Eodway. 



The importance of the study of fungi need not be enlarged 

 upon. Everyone at all acquainted with modern botanical 

 research is aware of the practical importance and great 

 possibilities of this pursuit. In Cooke's Australian Fungi, 

 and subsequently in McAlpine's Systematic Arrangement, we 

 have our fungi up to their date included, but in view of 

 recent numerous additions and probable immediate increase, 

 it is desirable to have a more concise and available list to 

 which new forms may year by year be added. 



Had I followed my own inclination, I should have adopted 

 a classification more in accordance with modern ideas, but in 

 the interest of the student I considered it as well not to 

 depart more than necessary from the order used by Cooke. 

 The student must be prepared in this study to find much 

 that is provisional. The subject is so enormous, the proper 

 pursuit of it is so intricate, and the time devoted to it so 

 recent that much incorrectness is permitted to remain until 

 research is more complete. Thus many forms are still main- 

 tained as distinct plants when there is almost proof that they 

 are but subordinate forms. This is very common amongst 

 the Uredinese and Pyrenomvcetes, and perhaps almost uni- 

 versal amongst Hyphomycetes and Spha3iopsidese. 



There is one plant included here in two forms that might 

 with safety be simplified only for its distinction being still 

 maintained in Europe. It is possible I have been more 

 fortunate than other observers in noting its development. 



Lasiosphceria ovina, Cesati, is a minute globular fungus, 

 about ^th of an inch diameter, covered with white wool, and 

 growing gregariously on rotting wood. The nucleus of each 

 ascus takes up a position at the apex ; the cytoplasm then 

 arranges itself in eight sausage-like masses ; in this form it 

 is L. ovina, Cesati. In the fulness of time the head of 

 each mass develops a hard dark epispore, or coat, into 

 which the cytoplasm retreats, with the epispore contracting 

 below forming an elliptical spore with, in the young con- 

 dition, a hyaline tail formed of the unabsorbed membrane- 

 like surface of the sausage-like body. The fungus is then 

 recognised as Sordaria caudata, Sace. 



There is one new fungus I would record here : Stephensia 

 varia, n.s., subterranean, irregularly spherical. Peridium 

 rather thick, sub-cartilaginous. Gleba of one or more broad 



