490 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION D. 
ASCOMYCETES. 
Hydnocystis cyclospora, Mass. et Rod. ; Stephensia varia, Rod. ; 
Genebea tasmanica, Mass. et Rod. ; Endogone australis, Berk. 
The solitary Octaviana has not been found, I believe, since its 
original discovery, and only very meagre material has existed, and 
that not available for local examination. There is no reason to 
infer the description is not accurate, so we may trust to meeting 
with it again. The large spores, if accurately measured, indicates 
its distinction from its allies. The sterile base in Octaviana 
appears to serve no useful purpose, and would apparently indicate 
descent from a stipitate sporocarp. Hydnangium australiense 
occupies a connecting position, and is often referred to Octaviana. 
In Tasmanian specimens the sterile base is obsolete or quite absent. 
There is one feature I have not seen noticed. The fungus, until 
past maturity, bears a copious latex of white milk. This plant, like 
the last, is generally met with lying free on the surface of the 
ground. How it gets there appears amystery. It is not due, as 
in many similar cases, to denudation. Probably it is a result of 
low specific gravity and considerable shrinkage on loss of moisture. 
H. carneum is interesting from its wide distribution. It is the 
only underground fungus common to Tasmania and England. 
H, tasmanicum departs from the type in the cells, being very 
large and not very tortuous. They soon became filled with dark- 
brown spores, which on section gives the fungus a marbled appear- 
ance. Hydnangium only differs from Octaviana artificially, 
namely, in the absence of a sterile base. 
The genus Hysterangium differs from adjoining forms by the 
gleba being at first gelatinous, and becoming almost cartilaginous ; 
but in most Tasmanian forms it appears to remain permanently 
of a gelatinous or waxy consistency. As the fungus matures, the 
tortuous hymenial canals develop, and more or less obliterate the 
trama. In JZ. fusisporum and H. membranacewm the canals are 
very numerous, tortuous, and closely packed. In H. viscidium 
and //. clathroides, on the contrary, the trama remains abundant. 
H, affine is a pretty and common little fungus that, from its free 
distribution throughout Tasmania, would lead one to expect its 
existence on the mainland. J/. membranaceum is small and 
delicately white, and becomes blotched with indigo wherever 
bruised. HH. fusisporum is very close to Hymenogaster albellus, 
and, like it, possesses bisporous basidia. It forms a distinct link 
between the genera. Tasmania is evidently very rich in this 
genus, for, besides the five here referred to, I know of three not 
yet determined. The mainland does not yet boast a single species, 
and in the large fungus flora of England we find but two. The 
genus Gymnomyces we founded upon two species, to which I drew 
Mr. Massee’s attention. The marked peculiarity is the almost or 
