176 



FLOKA OE NEW ZEALAND. 



[Fungi. 



of tropical countries are for the most part neglected, these are often carefully preserved, and the more especially as 

 many of them are extremely handsome. — They abound far more in warmer than less genial climates, and therefore 

 are few in number in Europe and analogous countries. The species with entire gills are now separated, under the 

 name of Scleroma. (Name from lentus, tough ; in allusion to their tenacious substance.) 



1. Lentinus Novce-Zelandim, Berk.; minor, subimbricatus, pileo flabelliformi tenui rufo-badio postice 

 velutino, larnellis angustis tenuibus pileo concoloribus. 



Hab. On dead wood, Colenso. 



Subimbricated. Pileus 1 inch or more long and broad, thin, flabelliform, suborbicular or reniform, bay- 

 brown, clothed behind with short velvety olive down. Stem obsolete. Gills of the same colour as the pileus, 

 narrow, decurrent behind ; edge thin, lacerated.— Closely resembling Lentinus castoreus, of which I have an authentic 

 specimen, but differing in size and in the narrow gills. 



Gen. V. SCLEROMA, Fries. 



Characteres Lentini, excepta acie lamellarum integra. 



The species generally grow on the bare soil, binding it and the little stones it contains into a solid mass by 

 their mycelium. They differ from Parens in the absence of a distinct trama. (Name from aKXijpmfm, hardness ; 

 in contradistinction to the softer substance of Agaricus.) 



1. Scleroma me/maum, Berk.; parvum, pileo umbilicato tenui glabro striatulo, stipite gracili pulveru- 

 lento radicante, larnellis subdistantibus longe decurrentibus interstitiis lsevibus. 



Hab. On wet decayed logs (April), forest at Tehawera, Colenso. 



Dirty white. Pileus about 1 inch across, umbilicate, slightly striate, smooth, very thin. Stem 1-2 inches 

 high, scarce a line thick, pulverulent, rooting, slightly rufous. Gills rather distant, decurrent ; interstices even. 

 — Smaller than any known species of the genus. 



Gen. VI. PANUS, Fries. 



Carnoso-coriaceus, tenax, arescens. Lamella perfectae, tenaces, insequales ; acie acuta, integerrima ; 

 trama distincta, fibrosa, in bymenium radiante. 



Distinguished from Lentinus, with which they agree in their persistent nature, by the tough, firmer, entire gills, 

 and fibrous trama. (Name horn panus, a web ; in allusion to the nature of the trama.) 



1. Panus stypticus, Pr. Fp.p. 399. 



Hab. On dead wood, Ruamahanga River, Colenso. 



The same species clearly as that which is so common in Europe, but with a deep vinous tinge in younger 

 specimens. 



2. Panus maculatus, Berk.; imbricatus, ampins, pileis renifbrmibus convexis carnosis primitus tomen- 

 tosis demnrn glabris rimoso-squamosis, stipitibus connatis subobsoletis, larnellis latis subdistantibus inte- 

 gerrimis. 



Hab. On dead trunks, Colenso. 



Closely imbricated. Pilei reniform, convex, at first innato-tomentose, the cuticle cracking up into shortly reflexed 

 scales, at length quite smooth ; margin slightly involute. Stems connate, scarcely visible, except in young pilei. 

 Gills rather distant, decurrent, broad, crisped when dry ; margin quite entire. Spores white, oblong, with a lateral 

 hilum 3 oVo of an inch long. — This is a very distinct and beautiful species. The scales arise from the cracking of 

 the cuticle, in consequence of which a slight portion is reflected in front, while that behind is not at all disturbed. 

 The only species with which it can be compared is P. areolatus, Berk., a Ceylon species of a much smaller size, 

 brightly coloured, and different in habit. 



