266 FLORA OF TASMANIA. [ Fungi, by M. J. Berkeley. 
5. Lycoperdon australe (Berk.); sessile, radicans, globoso-depressum, minute aculeato-verruco- 
sum, glabrescens, strato sterili parvo L obsoleto, sporis capillitioque umbrinis, ore demum conico aperto. 
Has. On the ground, J. D. H., Gunn. 
This was sent under the same number with Z. glabrescens, which it much resembles, but the barren stratum is 
small or obsolete, and if present differently coloured. The spores are not pedunculate, and are rather smaller. 
Gen. XL. SCLERODERMA, P. 
Peridium firmum, irregulariter 1. stellatim dehiscens. F%oceö peridio undique adnati, vacuolis im- 
mixtis minutis in quibus glomeruli sporarum apicibus floccorum oriundarum absque peridiolo nidulantur. 
Resembling Truffles, especially when growing in sand, but differing very materially in structure. (Name from 
orAnpos, hard, and 8eppa, skin.) 
l. Scleroderma Geaster (Fr. Syst. Myc. p. 46). 
Has. On the ground, Archer. 
Gen. XLI. MITREMYCES, Nees. 
Peridium externum, corneum, ore determinato dentibus sguameeformibus coloratis clauso, velum rup- 
tum cartilagineum ; interius sacciforme, discretum, minutum, ex ore suspensum. 
A very curious genus of plants, occurring in the United States, the Himalayas, etc., but not in Europe. (Name 
from purpa, a bonnet, and puxns, a fungus; in allusion to the calyptriform deciduous veil.) 
l. Mitremyces fuscus (Berk. in Ann. Nat. Hist. iii. p. 325). 
Has. On the ground, Gunn, Archer, etc. 
Gen. XLII. MESOPHELLIA, Berk. 
- Peridium crassum, coriaceum, substratosum, capillitium fasciculato-anastomosans ad columellam cen- 
tralem suberosam radians. Flocci flexuosi. Spore breviter fusiformes, utrinque obtusiuscule.—Genus 
Cyclodermati, Klotzsch, affine. Species unica hypogzea. 
(Name from peros, middle, and eAXos, cork.) 
1. Mesophellia arenaria (Berk. in Linn. Tr. xxii. p. 181. t. 25 C). 
Has. In the sandy soil, Archer. 
From ¿-1 inch across, elliptic, somewhat depressed, subterrancous, clothed externally with white flocci, which 
attach themselves to little grains of sand. After the external down has been removed, in old specimens dark 
branched veins are seen to run over the peridium, without however giving off free bundles of threads, as in Hystero- 
myces. Peridium single, coriaceous, apparently consisting of several closely compacted strata, like wasp pasteboard. 
Flocci pinkish-grey, radiating in little fascicles from the peridium to the large central corky columella. Spores fusi- 
form, short, slightly obtuse at either end, ¿955 of an inch long, of the same colour as the flocci. 
This genus approaches close to Cycloderma, Klotzsch, but there is no inner peridium ; the columella is not 
attached, and the spores are fusiform instead of globose. It is a most interesting addition to Fungi, and, like 
Cycloderma, connects Trichogastres with Myxogastres. The early condition of the plant is however quite unknown. 
The colour of the spores reminds one of Lycogala, and the veins of the peridium of Hysteromyces. 
Gen. XLIII. ATHALIUM, L. 
Peridium indeterminatum, membranoso-cellulare, fragile, fatiscens, extus strato floccoso evanescente 
corticatum, intus e floccis in strata membranacea coalitis cellulosum. 
