﻿TAB. XL 



Sphmria Robertsii. 



fSecL Cordyceps.J 



Nigra suberosa, stipite elongate flexuoso simplice (vel ramoso), 



capitulo elongato acuminato vermiculiformi. 



Hab. New Zealand; parasitic on the larva of an insect. Mr. 

 Roberts. 



^ This vegetable production^ so remarkable for its locality, was 

 given to my friend Dr. Wingate Johnston, (to whom I am in- 

 debted for the specimens here figured,) by Mr. Roberts, who 

 brought it from New Zealand. It is there not uncommon, always 

 growing on the dead larva of a peculiar insect which feeds upon 

 the Sweet Potatoe ( Convolvulus Batatas ) \ and, in all the speci- 

 mens that I have seen, it springs from the back of the neck, just 

 belowthehead. The larva though, probably when living, of a very 

 soft or fleshy character, when dead becomes perfectly hard and 

 almost horny; so that were it not for the colour, it would appear 

 to form one substance with the parasite. Although my speci- 

 niens are simple, yet there is on each an appearance that would 

 indicate the stipes to be sometimes branched. The whole plant 

 is of a perfectly black colour, and both the stipes and bead 

 are very much elonorated. 



