REV. M. J. BERKELEY ON SOME NEW FUNGI. 131 



5. Mesophellia, nov. gen. (Tab. XXV. C.) 



Peridium crassum, coriaceum, substratosum ; capillitium fasciculato-anastomosans, ad columellam cen- 

 tralem suberosam liberam radians ; flocci subflexuosi ; sporae breviter fusiformes utrinque obtusius- 

 cula;.— Genus Cyclodermati, Klotzsch, affine ; species hypogaeae. 



M. ARENARIA, Berk. 



From 1-1 inch across, elliptic, somewhat depressed, subterraneous, clothed externally 

 with wliite flocci which attach themselves to little gi-ains of sand. After the external 

 down has become exolete, dark branched veins are seen to run over the peridium, without 

 however giving off free threads, as in Systeromyces. Peridium single, coriaceous, appa- 

 rently consisting of several compacted strata like wasp pasteboard ; flocci pinkish-grey, 

 radiatmg in little fascicles from the peridium to the large central corky columella, which 

 is either entirely free, or attached by one or more tendinous threads ; spores fusiform, 

 short, slightly obtuse at either end, ^^ of an inch long, of the same colour as the flocci. 



Tins genus approaches close to Cycloclerma, Klotzsch, which appears to have been seen 

 by no other botanist ; but there is no inner peridium, the columella is not a prolongation 

 of a stem, and the spores are not globose. It is a most interesting addition to the Hypo- 

 gseous Fungi, and, like Cycloderma, connects Trichogastres with Myxogastres through 

 Lycogale. The early condition of the plant is, however, quite unknown. The colour of 

 the spores reminds one of Lycogale, and the veins of Eysteromyces. A Fungus was 

 found by Mr. Drummond on the Swan River, resembling a large cocoon, which is 

 undoubtedly congeneric with this, if not identical. The specimens were, however, very 

 imperfect. 



EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE. 

 Tab. XXV. A. 



Fig. 1. Skepperia convoluta, nat. size. 



Fig. 2. Single plant, magnified. 



Fig. 3. Section of pileus before the stem completely vanishes. 



Fig. 4. Section of ditto more highly magnified. 



Fig. 5. Hymenium. 



Tab. XXV. B. 



Fig. 1. Mitremyces Ravenelii, nat. size. 



Fig. 2. Section slightly magnified. 



Fig. 3. Flocci from young peridium and spores. 



Fig. 4. Flocci from old peridium. 



