188 



FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND. 



\_Fungi. 



ceived resembling Aseroe rubra in colour, though exactly agreeing in other respects ; I have consequently been obliged 

 to alter the specific name. — Plate CY. Fig. 13 : — a. Section of a young Aseroe Hoolceri magnified : the hymenium 

 forms a spongy, tender mass, connected with the rays up to the point of their bifurcation, by a little light-coloured, 

 tendinous substance, which is given off from the centre : this is at length absorbed, and there is then a perforation 

 from the centre to the cavity of the stem. b. A transverse section below the point of bifurcation, showing the mass 

 bulging out between each ray. c. Spores, which are rather smaller than those of A. rubra, magnified 250 diameters. 



Gen. XXV. ILEODICTYON, Tul. 



Volvo, universalis, globosa, intus gelatinosa. Beceptaculum sessile, cancellation; ramis late fistulosis 

 nequaquam porosis ilia mentientibus. Hymenium retis parieti interno adherens. 



This genus was very properly separated by M. Tulasne from ClatJirus, on account of the hollow branches of the 

 network, which are besides not porous, as in that genus. The species, as at present known, are nearly confined to 

 Australia and New Zealand ; /. gracile, however, occurs in Chili. (Name from aAeos, an intestine, and Slktvov, 

 a net.) 



1. Ueodictyon cibarium, Tul., Ann. des So. Nat. 1844. Aug. p. 114. 



Hab. On the ground, Raoul, Colenso, Sinclair, etc. 



The volva was formerly eaten by the natives when they were in less favourable circumstances than at present, 

 and was known under the name of Paru watitiri (Thunder-dirt). The smaller species has not yet occurred in New 

 Zealand. 



Gen. XXVI. PAUROCOTYLIS, Berk 



Peridium simplex, durum, tenue; gleba floccosa, sinubus paucis magnis flexuosis percursa, sporas 

 magnas globosas pedicellatas e superficie proferentibus. — Genus Lycoperdineum AracJmio affine, Glomo 

 quodam modo quod ad sporas attinet analogon. (Name from vravpo^few, and kotvXij, a cavity.) 



1. Paurocotylis pila, Berk. (Tab. CV. Eig. 9.) 



Hab. On the ground, Tehawera, Colenso. 



Globose, slightly sinuated, bright crimson, somewhat rufous, and much contracted and waved when dry. Peri- 

 dium hard, thin, rigid, consisting of flocci closely laced into a compact network ; trama floccose to the naked eye, but 

 under a high power consisting of loose, interwoven, membranous bodies, which give rise on the surface of the sinuses, 

 which are very few in number, to pellucid peduncles, of greater or less length, each of which bears a large globose 

 spore y-jVo °f an mca m diameter, whose endochrome contains a small globose nucleus. The spores, when seen 

 together on the walls of the fructifying cavity, are of a pale tan-colour. — This is one of the most singular species in 

 the collection, but unfortunately only a solitary specimen has at present occurred. The characters are, however, too 

 striking to leave much room for hesitation. The Fungus looks at first like a young dried egg of some Phalloid. — 

 Plate CV. Fig. 9 : — Paurocotylis pila, natural size; (the colour changes, when dry, to a dull pale rufous.) a. Por- 

 tion of tissue and sporidia, magnified, b. Sporidia in situ, magnified 250 diameters. It is probable that in the fresh 

 plant there are asci, as in StepAensia; if so, the peduncles are merely the base of the withered asci. 



Gen. XXVII. GEASTER, Mich. 



Peridium duplex; exterius discreturn, persistens, radiis stellatis expansis dehiscens. 



Puff-balls, varying greatly in size, and at once distinguished by their distinct outer peridium, which splits in a 

 stellate manner, and turns back, so as to present a very striking appearance. They occur in almost all parts of the 

 world, where Fungal growth is possible. (Name from yrj, the earth, and aa-rrjp, a star.) 



* Geastei Jimoriatus, Fr. Sysl. v. 3. p. 16. 



