Fungi. ~\ 



FLORA OP NEW ZEALAND. 



203 



Gen. LXII. NECTRIA, Fries. 



Perithecia libera vel mycelio insidentia, tenera, lsete colorata, verticalia. Sporidia ut plurimum octona, 

 translucida. 



This genus bears the same relation to Hypocrea that Sphseria does to Hypoxylon. Many of the species are very 

 pretty ; a few only are tropical. Occasionally, as in TV. cinnabarina, the perithecia have a thick coat, but in general 

 they arc very delicate. (Name from vijKrpis, a swimmer, in allusion to the fluxile contents of the perithecia.) 



1. ^edna polythalama, Berk. ; csespitosa, peritheciis ovatis subglobosisve apice umbilicatis depressisve 

 coccineis, umbilico obscuro, sporidiis multiseptatis. (Tab. CVI. Pig. 15.) 



Hab. On dead bark, Bay of Islands, J. D. II. 



Caespitose, dull scarlet. Perithecia ovate, umbilicate at the apex, or depressed, the depression being darker 

 than the rest of the surface, which is of a dull scarlet, inclining sometimes to orange. Sporidia about T oVo °f an 

 inch long, but very variable, oblong, nmltiseptate. — Eesembling N. cucurhitula, but with very different fruit. I have 

 not seen perfect asci. — Plate CVI. Fig. 15. Sporidia of Nectria potythalama, magnified 250 diameters. 



2. Nectria illudens, Berk. ; sparsa, globosa, cellulis hie illic conglomerates, rugosa, ochracea cinnabari- 

 naque, apice collapso umbilicata, sporis ellipticis uniseptatis amplis. 



Hab. On bark, Bay of Islands, /. D. R. 



Scattered, or slightly crowded, but not csespitose, globose, bright yellow-ochre, or cinnabar, rough with little 

 warts, which are composed of large cells, dimpled at the apex. Sporidia elliptic, subcymbiform, 11 ' 62 of an inch 

 long, ■§- as much broad. — This has some resemblance to N. ochracea and cinnabarina, if the two are really distinct, 

 but may be known by the larger size, the more ample cells of which the warts are composed, and the far larger and 

 broader sporidia. In different specimens of S. cinnabarina, they vary from 1> 1 B0 to 20 1 00 of an inch long. I have 

 an authentic specimen of Dr. Greville's 8. ochracea, which is very different from that before us, but unfortunately 

 the fructification is immature. The cells of the warts are, however, far smaller, and resemble those of N. cinnabarina. 

 I have no specimen of Dr. Montagne's plant from Chili ; but were there so striking a difference in the size and form 

 of the sporidia, he could not have failed to point it out. They resemble, indeed, those of N. discophora, as figured 

 in the 'Mora Chilena.' 



Gen. LXIII. XYLARIA, Fries. 



Stroma clavatum, subsuberosum, demum ut plurimum friabiie, nigrum. Stipes saepe distinctus. Peri- 

 thecia peripherica; sporidia octona. 



This genus contains a vast quantity of species, many of which are the ornaments of the tropical forests, in which 

 especially they abound. A few only are found in more temperate regions, but some of these, as Xylaria Hypoxylon, 

 occur very frequently. All the species grow on vegetable substances, or the dung of graminivorous animals. (Name 

 from ivXov, wood.) 



1. Xylaria Hypoxylon, Fries. Sphseria Hypoxylon, Ekr. 

 Hab. On dead wood, River Manawatu, etc., Colenso. 



2. Xylaria multiplex, Kze. 

 Hab. On dead wood, Colenso. 



Exactly the Juan Fernandez species, except that the stem is clothed with brown hairs. Having no authentic 

 specimen of Kunze's plant, I depend upon my friend Dr. Montague for the right determination of the species. 1 

 find the sporidia about TT V"2- of an inch long, as also in Dr. Montagne's plant. In both, the perithecia are nearly 

 globose, with ostiola scarcely visible externally. 



