Australian Ascortiycetes. 155 



hymenium was almost completely surrounded by the peridium; for 

 this reason he suggests that these forms do not belong to the Hel- 

 vellineae, but should probably be regarded as members of the 

 Pezizineae, and restricts the genus SpJiaerosoma to them. The reticu- 

 late-spored forms known at this time did not agree in this respect, and 

 Setchell considers them to belong more properly with the Helvellineae 

 as the hymenium covers the entire outer surface, 2 and to fall into the 

 genus Ruhlandiella, Hennings. 



The genus Sphaerosoma then, according to Setchell, contained 

 .2, or perhaps 3, species: — 



1. 8. fuscescens, Klotzsch, identical with <Sf. Janczewskiana, 



Rouppert. 



2. 8. echinulatum, including 8, echinulatum, Seaver, the 



American form, and ^S. echinulatum, Rehm and Rouppert, 

 the European form. 



These members agree in possessing a peridium and having echin- 

 ulate spores. The Australian specimens (8. alveolatum) should un- 

 doubtedly be included in this genus, they resemble the known forma 

 in their structure, but as they possess reticulated or alveolated spores 

 they illustrate another species of 8phaerosoma. The echinate spore 

 marking cannot therefore be regarded as a generic character, and 

 Setchell's idea of the genus as restricted to echinate-spored forms 

 must in consequence be enlarged. 



This is the first record of the genus for Victoria. Rodway (8) has 

 recently published a form under the name 8. tasmanica^ Rod., which, 

 however, shows no affinities with 8. alveolatum, McL. & C. His plant 

 is described as " hollow, closed or opening on one side towards the 

 base, the hymenium lining the internal surface," and, as possessing 

 elliptic spores. These characters differ so widely from the accepted 

 limitations of the genus as to probably exclude from it this Tas- 

 manian form. 



Lamprospora areolata, Seaver, var. australis, var. nov. 

 (Text figure I.). 



Plantis 1-3 mm. diam. Hymenio aurantiaco, margine in morem in- 

 stitae exstanti circumdato. Ascis 20-22^ diam., cylindricis. Sporis 

 globosis reticulatis, Areolis 2^, altispora tota 18-20^ diam. Para- 

 physibus simplicibus, clavatis 4-6^x diam., granulorum aurantiacorum, 

 refertis. 



Plants gregarious but not crowded, 1-3 mm. diam., at first closed, 

 globose, later expanding, hymenium bright orange-red plane, or slightly 

 convex, at first smooth, later roughened by protruding asci, finally 

 spongelike, surrounded by a raised frill-like margin. Asci 20-22yx diam., 

 cylindric, operculate, tapering at the base into a curved pedicel. 

 Spores uniseriate, globose, at first smooth, later the wall becoming 

 reticulate, reticulations 3-6 sided, sides being equal or unequal, areolae 



2. See Setchell (loc. cit.), PI. 15, figs. 1 and 2, and Hennings (7) text 

 figs. 2 aJid 3. 



