The Cordyceps of Australasia. 



Cordyceps are the most curious fungi that grow. They develop from insects 

 either in the larval, pupal or perfect stage. Two species of Europe grow on hypo- 

 geal fungi. 



In olden times these curious growths were thought to be a transmutation of an 

 insect into a plant, but of course it has long been known that Cordyceps are par- 

 asitic plants that grow on the insect and subsist upon its animal tissue. 



Like most mycology in Australia, Cordyceps are less known than from most 

 other parts of the world. This is due to the fact that there are so few collectors. 

 What little is known is mostly from specimens that were sent to Berkeley years 

 ago and are preserved at Kew. We have worked over this material and this pamphlet 

 is the result, but it is only a fragment. 



Up to the present time about 160 species of Cordyceps have been named. They 

 never have been critically monographed or studied, and probably about one-half of 

 them are good. Most of these are small species from a few millimeters tall to five 

 or six centimeters, and it is a curious fact that in Australia there are very large 

 species with clubs six to eight inches, and all the large species are known from Aus- 

 tralia. 



In Brazil, where the subject has been well worked, there are about twenty 

 species of Cordyceps listed, and in Australia only six, but the number could be in- 

 creased several fold if they were observed and collected. 



Cordyceps are usually club-shaped bodies. All the known Australian species 

 are, and consist of the fertile club, borne on a stalk which is attached to the host. 

 The large Australian species are all attached to buried larval ; only the club and stem 

 appearing above the ground, and they appear like simple Clavarias. In collecting 

 them for the museum, the buried host should always be dug up and dried attached 

 to the fungus. 



Fig. 611. 



Section of club enlarged. 



Fig. 612. 



An ascus highly magnified. 



