15 



subligneous, usually in two layers, each 1 to 3 mm. thick, the 

 upper rich cream to light brown, the lower white. Stipe 

 mesopodial, 5-15 mm. thick, 2-6 cm. long. Pores small, 

 roundish or irregular, 2 to 3 mm. long. Spores abundant, 

 cylindrical, 2 x 6 jut,, hyaline, smooth." — Lloyd. We have 

 a fine series of specimens in various stages of devel- 

 opment, some showing the sclerotia in the making from 

 less than the size of peas, while other sclerotia are 

 fully developed, varying in size from 2 to 7 cm. in 

 diameter. Some specimens dug up out of the ground 

 at Hill Top in February, 1913, show the formation of several 

 minute sclerotia varying in size from 2x4 mm. to 6 x 9 mm., 

 attached by whitish rhizomorphs to decaying Eucalyptus 

 stumps. The series of specimens show • that the spores 

 germinate in moist soil, and that the hyphal strands absorb 

 nutrient matter from decaying stumps, ultimately forming 

 the sclerotia. In other specimens the sclerotia are soft and 

 spongy, and are being exhausted for the purpose of forming 

 the sporophore, as the surrounding soil is traversed by a mass 

 of branching mycelial cords forming an indefinite mesopodial 

 stem surmounted by the cap. 



Sporophores, in various stages of development attached 

 to mycelial cords arising from the sclerotia, have been 

 examined from the following localities in New South Wales : — 

 Killara and North Sydney (H. Selkirk, May, 1904, and 

 November, 1905); Hill Top, Main Southern Line (E. C, 

 April, 1912; February, 1913; March, 1914; and February, 

 1916). There are also specimens of sporophores in the 

 National Herbarium, Sydney, unattached to their sclerotia, 

 from the following localities: — Barber's Creek (J. H. Maiden, 

 December, 1897) ; Wahroonga (W. Buckingham, July, 

 1899) ; Leura (A. A. Hamilton, March, 1910) ; Glenorie 

 (E. C, February, 1910); Lawson (Miss D. Wiles, com- 

 municated by Mr. A. G. Hamilton in June, 1910). Speci- 

 mens of sclerotia without sporophores are from the following 

 localities: — Bibbenluke (Miss E. Edwards, August, 1899); 

 Bega (Miss M. E. Otton, May, 1905); Hurstville (H. W. 

 Hamilton, June, 1910); Hornsby (P. Williams, April, 

 1916). 



Other Sclerotia. 



In addition to the above we have also examined several 

 remarkable sclerotia, but so far their fruiting bodies have 

 not been found. They consist of: — 



83. Two very large sclerotia (pi. iii.), somewhat 

 resembling those "of P. mylittae, found by Mr. W. R. 

 Griffin, of Hurstville, Sydney, in the western suburbs of 



