206 



FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND. 



[Fungi. 



taming multitudes of curved sporidia y^o of an inca lon S- — &. vei T distinct species, well characterized by its peculiar 

 surface and fructification. — Plate CVI. Fig. 5. a. Ascus of Sphceria rasa, filled with sporidia, magnified, b. Spo- 

 ridia, magnified 250 diameters, c. Portion of the cellular tissue of the outer coat, magnified, to show the open cells. 



* Sphaeria (CsespitosEe) Saubinetii, Mont, et Durieu, Fl. Alg. p. 479. 

 Hab. On dead leaves of some Monocotyledon, Colenso. 



Perithecia solitary, or slightly aggregate. Sporidia yJ-g-o of an incn lon S> as in authentic specimens from 

 Algiers. 



* Sphceria (Csespitosse) pulicaris, P. 

 Hab. On dead sticks, Colenso. 



Perithecia crowded, more minute. Sporidia Y to °f an hich l° n g- 



4. Sphaeria (Obtectse) livida, Fr. Syst. v. 2. p. 479. 

 Hab. On dead, bleached twigs. 



The perithecia are irregular, and the sporidia y-jVo of an mon m diameter ; they have a pale spot at each end 

 of the endochrome, and do not agree exactly with any of the forms figured by Montague in the 'Flora of Algiers,' all 

 of which I have verified. I have great doubts about the stability of the two species there separated from S. livida, 

 with which the plant from New Zealand has about an equal right to be considered a species. 



5. Sphseria (Caulicolse) coffeata, Berk.; tecta, peritlieciis subglobosis epidermide tosta designatis, 

 ascis cylindricis, sporidiis flliformibus. (Tab. CVI. Eg. 3.) 



Hab. On sheaths of Grasses, Colenso. 



Perithecia scattered, subglobose, indicated by little brown, shining, convex specks in the cuticle. Asci cylindri- 

 cal. Spores filiform, elongated. — Resembling externally S. phceosticla, but differing very much in fructification, 

 which is like that of S. eucrypta. — Plate CVI. Fig. 8. Portion of ascus and sporidia of Sphceria coffeata, magnified. 



6. Sphaeria herharum, P. 



Hab. On the sheaths of Grass-leaves, Colenso. 



Quite concealed beneath the cuticle, but agreeing exactly in fruit, especially with that form of the species 

 noticed under the name of S. herbarum, var. glumarum, Ann. of Nat. Hist. vol. ix. p. 378. There is a second form, with 

 immature sporidia, which I refer to this species, which has a peculiar appearance, from the cuticle being so closely 

 applied to the sides of the perithecia as to give the centre, where it is free, a white sclerotioid aspect. Without 

 mature sporidia it is impossible to say whether it is a distinct species or not. 



7. Sphferia (Poliicolse) acetabulum, Berk.; hypo- et epiphylla, peritheciis tectis depressis subirregu- 

 laribus omnino astomis supra collapsis subtus convexis, ascis oblongis attenuato-truncatis. (Tab. CVI. 

 Fig. 2.) 



Hab. On dead leaves of Corynocarpus laevigata, Te Apiti, Colenso. 



Minute, black, covered by the cuticle. Perithecia slightly irregular, depressed, convex below, concave above, 

 adnate with the cuticle in the centre, but without any trace of an orifice. Asci oblong, attenuated above, and 

 truncate. Sporidia oblong (immature). T have in vain hunted for mature sporidia ; there can be no doubt, however, 

 that the species is undescribed. — This grows with Phoma acmella, which is possibly the spermatogonous form of the 

 species. — Plate CVI. Fig. 2. Asci and immature sporidia of Sphceria acetabulum, magnified 250 



Gen. LXVIL DOTHIDEA, Fries. 

 Perithecia spuria, 1. cellulee in stromate plus minus immersae, demum ore simplici apertee. Asci per- 



fects 



