586 TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION K. 
Scrub Woodland.—The tendency to form scrub on settled dunes has been 
noticed. A woodland of Callitris propinqua formerly characterised much of the 
level area behind the dunes that is slightly raised above the level of the salt 
swamps, but few trees now remain. Under the influence of settlement the 
vegetation is either passing back to that of dunes or is becoming that of grass- 
land, largely composed of Cynodon dactylon, and Sporobolus, with tussocks of 
Xerotes leucocephala. 
4. On the Xerophytic Characters of Bossizwa scolopendria (Sm.). 
By A. G. Hamiuton. 
Bossicea scolopendria is one of a group of leafless species of the genus, and 
is common on the Hawkesbury Sandstone formation in the neighbourhood of 
Sydney, and.on the Blue Mountains. 
Tt is leafless, but seedling plants have small elliptical leaves at first, and in 
very wet seasons leaves grow out on the mature branches in some instances. The 
leaves are set vertically on the branches, and have stomates on both sides, and 
yet the general appearance is that of a dorsi-ventral leaf, the midrib projecting 
on one side, the two halves being at an angle, and the colour differing, the 
side which should be lower being much lighter in colour. 
The branches are flattened and winged, narrow in the lower part, but widen- 
ing upwards to as much as three-quarters of an inch. The epidermis of the 
branches is covered with a network of ridges and, in the hollows between, the 
stomates occur. They are very numerous. The cuticle is fairly thick. The 
palisade tissue is closely packed round the stomates, and absent under the 
ridges. The individual cells are small in diameter and rather short. There is 
no distinct spongy tissue. The vascular system includes large areas occupied by 
sclerenchymatous fibres with thick walls and very small lumina. The whole of 
the tissues contain a good deal of tannin. — : 
5. Some Observations on the Life-history of Ophiobolus graminis. 
(Sacc.). By Professor T. G. B. Osporn. 
6. The Spores of Basidiomycetes. By J. Burton Curuanp, M.D. 
This paper presented a study of the spores of various Basidiomycetes found 
growing in Australia. In the systematic classification of species, the remark- 
able diversity met with as regards the character of the surface and the shape of 
the spores led to speculations as to the importance of these and as to their 
value in showing specific and generic relationships. Though the results are 
inconclusive, the facts are of interest, and seem worthy of still closer investi- 
gation. 
The spores have been considered from the following aspects :—(1) Size§ (2) 
Colour in the mass; (3) Character of the surface; (4) General shape. 
(1) Size.—The size of mature spores seems to be s}ecific within varying limits. 
The dimensions vary in different species from about 2” in some to 22” at the 
other extreme (as seen in Australian specimens). Undoubtedly very closely 
allied species may show considerable differences in the dimensions of their spores 
(e.g., Stropharia semiglobata and S. stercoraria). 
(2) Colour in the mass.—This has been taken as a basis for the arbitrary 
classification of the Agarics. Though of practical value, it tends to associate 
widely separated genera and to dissociate closely allied ones (e.g., Lepiota and 
Psalliota). Whilst white-spored species are, apparently, most numerous, various 
shades of brown are common. Brown spores are met with in the Agaricacee, 
Polyporacee, Thelephoracee, Clavariacee, and Gasteromycetes. Purplish or 
vinous-tinted spores are seen amongst the Agaricacee and Thelephoracee. As 
the loss or inhibition of colour is more likely to have taken place in the various 
sub-orders rather than its assumption in each case independently, the basic 
form from which the order sprang probably had coloured spores. 
(3) Character of Surface.—This may be (a) smooth, (6) echinately warty, 
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