13 



fresh specimen. D. McAlpine, Government Vegetable 

 Pathologist of Victoria, in 1893 (The Australian Journal of 

 Pharmacy, Melbourne, viii., p. 291, Sept. 20 [1893], and 

 Journ. Agric, Vict., ii., p. 1012 [figs, i.-v.], 1903), gives a 

 very interesting and complete account of this species, together 

 with photographic figures showing various stages of develop- 

 ment. Professor A. J. Ewart (Proe. Roy. Soc. Vict., vol. 

 24, N.S., p. 59 [1911]), gives an account of some experiments 

 in which he induced some sporophores to develop which 

 measured 5 in. across. As showing the size to which these 

 sclerotia may attain, we may mention that W. H. Breton 

 (Tas. J., ii., p. 463, 1846) refers to a specimen of "Black- 

 fellow's Bread" weighing 25 J lb. J. H. Maiden (Agric. 

 Gaz., N.S. Wales, iv., p. 909, 1893) states that A. P. Miller, 

 of Hobart, had sent a specimen weighing 39 lb., and that 

 a sclerotium obtained at Bundanoon, in New South Wales,, 

 measured 24 J in. in circumference and weighed 5 lb, 

 14f oz. when fresh. He also mentions another Tasmanian 

 specimen weighing 14 lb. (Tas. Cat., Exhib., 1851). 



In the National Herbarium, Sydney, there are quite 

 a number of sclerotia which we believe belong to this species, 

 but so far no sporophores have been forwarded with them. 

 The localities from which these have been received are as 

 follows : — 



New South Wales — Wolumba (P. J. 0. Poole, Novem- 

 ber, 1899); Garra, Great Western Railway (J. H. Maiden, 

 1899); Box Point, Barber's Creek (J. H. Maiden, October, 

 1905); Burragong (C. Miller, April, 1905); Robertson (P. 

 Williams, May, 1909); Eastwood (C. Lund, July, 1910); 

 Wallangarra (F. Jaeger, September, 1912); Epping (J. 

 Cole, January, 1915) ; Sassafras, via Nowra (R. C. Sturgis, 

 December, 1915); Inverell (T. McDonough, March, 1916). 

 Victoria — Ex Kryptogamae exsiccatae (No. 211), Vienna, 

 section only; Upper Ferntree Gully (J. M. Griffiths, March, 

 1909). Tasmania — Haweah, Bellerive (Miss Murphy, July, 

 1901). 



The following are in the Technological Museum, 

 Sydney: — (1) Sporophore (pi. i.), now quite velvety on pileus 

 and stem, whitish. Pores dirty brownish -white. Sclerotium 

 about 6 in. x 4 in. Its outer-surface irregularly bossed 

 and folded with large brownish flakey crusts weathering to' 

 expose a light-brownish, almost white, surface. Cut surface 

 alveolar, walls of alveoli white, polygonal area about 5 mm. 

 in diameter, waxy-yellow. 



(2) Another sclerotium is wrinkled with an earthy-brown 

 cuticle, which is thin and peeling off. 



