Fungi.'] FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND. 197 



Hab. On the tips of the leaves of Forstera clavigera, Colenso. 



Peridia large, solitary, seated near the tips of the leaves on the upper side, persistent, surrounded by a strong 

 wall arising from the tissues of the matrix, somewhat toothed and elongated. Spores pale, subglobose or slightly 

 oblong, -g-L of an inch long, pale orange. A very singular and well-marked species. — Plate CV. Fig. 15. Me- 

 dium monoeystu, natural size, a, portion of peridural ; b, spores : — magnified 250 diameters. 



Gen. XL VIII. GYMNOSPOBIUM, Corda. 

 Sporce superficiales., conglobate, simplices ; episporio glabro ; stromate evoluto nullo. 

 - Minute pulverulent Fungi, forming a thin stratum on vegetable substances. Some of the species approach to 

 Ustilago, but are distinguished by their free mode of growth. (Name from yu/wos, naked, and a-n-opa, seed.) 



* Gymnosporium culmigenum, Berk. • aterrimum, soriforme, sporis subglobosis, episporio tenui. 

 Hab. On dead grasses, Colenso. 



Soriform spots, a line or more long, half as much broad, deep black. Spores subglobose or subelliptic, 30 V d 

 of an inch long. 



Gen. XLIX. PITACBE, Fries. 

 Peridiam capitatum; supra membranaceum, tenerrimum, fatiscens. Sports subglobosse, in strato 

 supero peripherico coacervate. 



This genus has just the habit of Onygena, but the fructification is very different. The morphosis is rather that 

 of Isaria than of the Trichogastres, and therefore it is placed here in Hyphomycetes, rather than in Gastewmycetes. 

 (Name from mAos, a hat, and aicpov, the top of anything.) 



1. Pilacre divisa, Berk.; capitulo globoso argillaceo, stipite diviso fusco, floccis rectis. 

 Hab. On bark, Colenso. 



Stem 2-3 lines high, compressed below, and somewhat creeping, subfasciculate, brown, paler, and tomentose 

 when young, forked above. Heads globose, argillaceous. Spores subglobose, -^Vo of an inch long, sometimes 

 elliptic; endochrome distinct. — Allied to P.faginea, but more dingy in colour, and branched; the fiocci also are less 

 flexuous. 



Gen. L. STILBUM, Tode. 



Stipes solidus, contiguus, capitulo gelatinoso-flexili terminatus. Sporce minute. Capihilum facile 

 deciduum. 



Alractium is distinguished from this genus by its fusiform, septate spores. If habit alone were considered, the 

 two genera ought certainly to be combined ; but as there is no reason to believe that the subglobose spores are in 

 any case merely accessory, it seems imperative to keep the two distinct. Two or three highly-coloured species 

 abound in the tropics, and occasionally occur in more temperate regions ; most of the species however are extra-tro- 

 pical. (Name from crTiXjirj, brilliancy) 



1. Stilbum lateritium, Berk, in Ann. of Nat. Hist. v. 4. p, 291. t. 8./. 2. 



Hab. On dead branches still covered with the bark, Middle Island, Li/all, Bidwill. 



In Mr. Colenso's collections there is a Fungus exactly resembling the scattered shields of some Biatora ; there 

 is however no trace of crust, neither does the disc contain asci. The absence of spores forbids its being united to 

 Tubercularia. It is probable that its true place is with neither of these genera, but that it is a Corticium, allied 

 to 0. polygonimn. 



Gen. LI. EPICOCCITM, Zk 



Receptaculum cellulosum, pulvinatum, raro basi fibrillosum. Sports magnse, subglobosEe, peripherica?. 

 vol. ii. 3 E 



