192 FLORA OP NEW ZEALAND. [Fungi. 



farinaceous, brittle, not umbilieate, black and persistent when rubbed. Flood much branched, strongly crisped, so 

 as sometimes to appear spiral. Spores globose, black to the eye, purplish under the microscope, ^rro °f an mcn 

 long. — This species differs from D.farinaceum in its thicker, crisped flocci, and larger spores. Those in D.farina- 

 ceum I find 3-J^ 7 of an inch long, while the flocci are nearly straight and very slender. 



2. Didymium cinereum, Fr. Syst. v. 3. p. 126. 



Hab. On the naked soil, Colenso. 



The specimens vary from adnato-confluent to stipitate, in which case there is a close approach to D. costatum. 

 The spores are about 2~oVo °f an nlon l° n g'> as I nn( l them also in South Carolina specimens, which are exceedingly 

 crowded, and have a white central mass, assuming somewhat the appearance of a columella. The little white specks 

 which are so conspicuous amongst the dark spores, consist of solid, variously-shaped bodies, from the angles of which 

 are given off in some cases delicate white threads, in others membranous expansions, meeting similar offsets from 

 neighbouring bodies. 



Gen. XXXV. STEMOXTTIS, Gled. 



Peridium simplex, tenuissiimim, membranaceum, fugax, evanescens. Capillitium determinatum, stipite 

 (nigro) intrante adnatum; floccis reticulatim connexis. 



The peculiar habit and penetrating stem in most cases indicate clearly the species, a few of which approach 

 Physarum. S. fusca, and one or two more, occur in all parts of the world, if indeed all the forms usually referred to 

 that species really belong to it. It is represented, as at present appears, in New Zealand, by S. ferruginea, which 

 bears a close external resemblance to it. (Name from <jTf]\uav, a thread, or stamen?) 



1. Stumomiis ferruginea, Ehrenb. Sylv. Ber.p. 26./. 6. A. B. 

 Hab. On dead wood, Colenso. 



2. Stemonitis typhoides, DC. Fl. Fr. v. 2. p. 257. 

 Hab. On a decayed Polyporus, Hawke's Bay, Colenso. 



Spores -g-aVo' whereas those of S. fusca are not less than ^Vo-- The specimens are nearly intermediate between 

 S. ferruginea and S. typhoides, resembling the latter in characters, and the former in general aspect. 



Gen. XXXYI. CYATHUS, Pers. 



Peridium primum obovatum vel fusiforme, obtusum, apice demum centrali dehiscens, et velo can- 

 dido tympani instar clausum, e membranis tribus arete invicem applicatis compositum. Sporangia plana, 

 umbilicata, funiculo parietibus addicta. Sporce sporopboro innatse. 



A most curious genus, attracting the notice of every observer, from its resemblance to little nests full of eggs. 

 It occurs in all parts of the world ; and while some of the species are cosmopolites, others are purely tropical. It is 

 distinguished from CruciMum by the structure of the peridium. The mode of growth of the spores has been 

 happily indicated by M. Tulasne, as being like that of the higher Hymenomycetes. (Name from cyathus, a cup.) 



1. Cyathus Novce-Zelandicn, Tul. in Ann. des Sc. Nat. Set: 2. 1844. Jan. p. 66. t. 6./. 1-5. 



Hab. On decayed wood, Banks' Peninsula, Eaoul. 



This species is fully described by Tulasne in the place quoted above. I have seen no specimens. 



* Cyathus Colensoi, Berk. ; condensatus, tenuis, papyraceus, estriatus, furfuraceo-sericeus, tunica spo- 

 rangiorum. crassa, sporis minimis ovoideis. 



Hab. On the ground in Mr. Colenso's garden. 



Densely crowded, cyathiform, i of an inch high, pale dirty umber, thin and flexible, clothed with short, branny 

 pubescence, which does not, however, form distinct scales ; even within, and brownish, without any trace of stria?. 



