Fungi.~\ 



FLORA OP NEW ZEALAND. 



189 



Hab. On the ground, Colenso. 



Gen. XXVIII. TBICHOSCYTALE, Corda. 



Peridium externum suberoso-ligneum, rugosum ; internum floccosum, externum demum superans, 

 fimbriatum. 



A very curious genus, first figured by Junghuhn, from Java. It has occurred also in Sikkim, and in South 

 Carolina, — in the latter instance on some species of Laurus. Though at first sight extremely anomalous, a section at 

 once shows its affinity with Geasler. (Name from 6pi£, a liair, and anvTaXr), a club ; published originally under 

 the name of Trieliocoma, which is pre-occupied by a genus of Asteracece.) 



1. Trichoscytale paradoxa, Corda, Anleitung, p. 196. — Trieliocoma paradoxum, Jungh. 

 Hab. On dead wood, Bay of Islands, /. D. H. 



Gen. XXIX. BOVISTA, Dill. 



Peridium papyraceum, persistans, cortice discreto, demum secedente. Capillitium subcompactum, 

 sequale, peridio undique adnatum; sporis inspersis, pedicellatis. 



Distinguished from Lycoperdon by its distinct outer peridium, which is, in typical species, nearly even, and 

 ultimately shells off. The species are few in number, the individuals of which abound in exposed pastures under a 

 temperate sun. One or two, at present imperfectly understood, occur in the tropics. (Name Latinized from the 

 German Bqftst, a puff-ball.) 



1. Bovista brunnea, n. s. ; globosa, peridio papyraceo-flexili brunneolo, cortice innato omnino evanes- 

 cente, capillitio sporisque pallide argillaceo-olivaceis. 



Hab. On the ground, amongst Moss, in grassy spots, head of Manawatu River, Colenso. 



Globose, 1 inch across, attached by a central point, opening by a narrow aperture ; outer peridium subinnate, 

 at length entirely evanescent ; inner brownish-umber. Capillitium and globose pedunculate spores subolivaceous. — 

 This appears to be quite a distinct species from B. plumbea, which it resembles in the spores and in outward form, 

 but not in colour, nor in the nature of the outer peridium. 



Gen. XXX. LYCOPERDON, Town,. 



Peridium membranaceum, flaccescens, aut superne evanescens, cortice adnato, subpersistente, in squa- 

 mas 1. verrucas varias abeunte. Capillitium molle, densum, basi compacta, sterili peridioque adnatum. 



Few Fungi are more widely dispersed or abundant than the species of this genus, which occur under varied 

 forms in every climate. It is possible, however, that many very distinct kinds are confounded under one name, as 

 the genus has never been studied monographically. Most of them, when young, are excellent for food, and the 

 gigantic L. Bovista is the best of all Fungi. (Name from Xdkos, a wolf, and -rrepSa, in allusion to the ancient 

 notion as to their origin.) 



1. Lycoperdon Fontanesii, D. R. et Lev., Fl. Alg. t. 22. 



Hab. On the ground, Waihekeh, Colenso. 



This splendid Puff-ball resembles so closely the Algerian species, of which I have an exolete specimen, exactly 

 in the condition in which it is represented by Desfontaines, that I am unable to find any characters by which it may 

 be separated ; it has the same turbinate form, the same areolate peridium, with depressed stellate warts occupying 

 the areolae, the same mode of rupture, minute sessile spores -^-oVo of an mcn * on S> an ^ ^e same f° r ked flocci. Like 

 that also, it maintains for a long time its firm base, after the spores are dispersed, when it assumes a reddish tint. 

 It sometimes weighs from one to three pounds. The natives roast and eat it, under the name of Pukurau. 



VOL. II. 3 c 



