Fungi?^ 



FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND. 



207 



A genus abounding in species, comprising such Sphmrim as are destitute of true perithecia. (Name from SoOitjv, 

 a tubercle, and eiSos, resemblance.) 



* Dothidea Ribesia, Er. <S^. ». 3. p. 550. 

 Hab. On Gooseberry twigs, Colenso. 



* Dothidea filioma, Mont. MSS. 



Hab. On the under side of Fern-leaves, Colenso. 



Dr. Montagne's specimens are from Otaheite, on some species of Adiantum ; and a form occurs in Ceylon, of 

 which a description will shortly appear in the ' London Journal of Botany.' In that the asei are short, obovate, 

 and the sporidia obovate, uniseptate, -^^ of an inch long. I have seen no fruit in the New Zealand specimens, 

 but they have the same brittle stroma and Rhytismoid aspect. 



* Dothidea Colensoi, Berk. ; orbicularis, utrinque fertilis, cellulis minutissirnis. 

 Hab. On decaying leaves, Colenso. 



Orbicular, about one line broad, pitch-black, minutely granulated, fertile on either side. Cells minute, white 

 within. — I have not seen perfect fruit, but it is a very distinct species. 



Gen. LXVIII. PEMPHIDIUM, Mont. 



Perifjiecia spuria, convexa, scutiformia, atra, ab epidermide nigrefacta formata, apice papillula, interdum 

 bilabellata, coronata vel astoma. Nucleus gelatinosus. Asci perfecti ; sporidia elongata. 



The spurious perithecia separate this genus from its neighbours. The habit is very peculiar. It is analogous 

 to Phlyctana. Only two species are known, one of which occurs in Cayenne. (Name from ttc/^is, a bubble.) 



1. Pemphidium opacum, Berk. ; maculis minoribus nigris opacis hie illic aggregatis, sporis fusifomu- 

 bus utrinque valde attenuatis. (Tab. CYI. Pig. 9.) 



Hab. On dead stems of RMpogonum, Titiokura, Colenso. 



Forming little patches 1-2 lines broad, consisting of round, black, opake, flat specks, which are generally 

 without any trace of an ostiolum. Beneath each speck is an ovate, transparent mass of asci, arising from an 

 evident base, but without any visible perithecium. Asci moderately long, cylindrical or slightly swollen in the 

 middle ; spores fusiform, attenuated into a thread at either extremity ; endochrome divided irregularly into two or 

 three masses, without any dissepiments. — A very distinct species from Pemphidium nitidum, which forms large 

 patches of convex, shining spots. The sporidia are far more attenuated than in that species, though in that I find 

 them more acuminate than they are represented in Dr. Montagne's figure.— Plate CVI. Fig. 9. a. Asci of Pemphi- 

 dium opacum, magnified, b. Sporidia of the same, magnified 250 diameters. 



Gen. LXIX. MICROPELTIS, Mont. 



Perithecium liberum, carbonaceum, dimidiato-scutatum, orbiculatum, applanatum, poro centrali per- 

 tusum. Asci clavati, erecti, sporidia septata hyalina foventes. 



A single species only of this genus is known, which abounds in the tropics, and occurs on a variety of leaves. 

 Its place in colder regions is supplied by Microthyrium and Sacidium, from which the septate spores are scarcely a 

 sufficient distinction. (Name from juiKpos, small, and mXrrj, a target.) 



1. Micropeltis applanata, Mont. Cuba, p. 325. t. 12./. 6, 



Hab. On leaves of Panax arborea, Ship Cove, Lyall. 



The specimens are young and without fruit, in the absence of which there is some uncertainty. 



Gen. LXX. ASTERINA, Lev. 

 Perithecia fragilia, applanata, minuta, epiphylla, e mycelio fimbriata. Asci perfecti ; sporidia octona. 



