100 



ON A NEW CORDICEPS. 



By L. Rodway. 

 Plate. 



The genus Cordyceps comprises a well circumscribed' 

 group of Sphaeriaceous Fungi, all very similar in habit, 

 structure, and fructification. 



Their habit is to commence life within the bodies of 

 insects ; usually when these are in the larval stage. Here 

 the ordinary vegetative growth proceeds, namely, develop- 

 ment of hypbal tissue. This soon disturbs the comfort and 

 health of the host, who, in most instances, then seeks 

 seclusion and dies. The fungus continues to grow, and 

 absorbs all but the hard chitinous parts. When food runs 

 short, fructification commences. One or more stems, some- 

 times of considerable length, grows from the host-remains, 

 and towards the end of each stem are developed numerous 

 partially or entirely sunk little sacks. Each sack contains 

 several cylindrical bags or asci. Each ascus contains eight 

 thread-like spores, and each spore splits up into numerous 

 segments. Each segment is the unit of a new individual. 



The species of the genus are distinguished by the shape 

 of the spore-bearing body or club. The species are fairly 

 numerous, but the earlier found specimens were small, and 

 consequently interested few, except students of mycology. 

 The discovery of giant forms in New Zealand and Austra- 

 lia, however, brought them within the ken of the curiosity 

 gatherer. 



The first to gain this attention was the caterpillar 

 fungus of New Zealand, C. larvarum, W., also known as 

 C. robertsii, Cooke. This fungus grows on a large cater- 

 pillar, the larva of a Pielus, but possibly also on other 

 hosts. The club of this species is very slender, many 

 inches in length, and pointed at the apex. The sporiferous 

 portion is very slightly thickened. A few forms closely 

 allied to, if not absolutely identical with this have been 

 found in New South Wales, so it is possible it may yet be 

 found in Tasmania. 



